The word church is an English translation of a Greek word meaning "assembly." Jesus promised that He would "build" a church Matthew 16:18.
He did not say that He would build more than one.

You can join many churches built by men. No one ever joined the church that Jesus built. God himself adds everyone who is saved to the church.

Acts 2:47

And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This shows that men have no right to set or change the entrance qualifications for the church: God adds everyone who is saved. It also shows that you cannot be saved without being a part of the church.

The church is synonymous with:

• The body of Jesus. I Corinthians 12:27

  Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

  Ephesians 1:22-23

  And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

  Colossians 1:18

  He is also head of the body, the church.

• The bride of Christ. Revelation 21:2

  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

Members of the church are in

• The kingdom of God or Christ. Colossians 1:13

  For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.

There are many other names for the church in the Bible. The Bible forbids the taking of human names for the church. It is to be called after the name of the One who died for it. I Corinthians 1:10-13

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Members of the church are to glorify God in the name "Christian."

I Peter 4:16

but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.

David Blackstone

Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com)