The Church Does Make a Difference
Charles G. Maples, Sr.
A commonly accepted philosophy, relative to one’s spiritual welfare, is that “the church doesn’t make any difference,” and so the conclusion is that one should just “join the church of his choice,” or “you don’t have to be a member of any church to be saved.” But I submit to you that this is NOT what the Word of God teaches! Following are some plain, concrete reasons why we must conclude that the church to which one belongs DOES “make a difference!”
THE CHURCH WAS IN THE “ETERNAL PURPOSE” OF GOD! Read with me in Ephesians 3:8-11, “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to His eternal purpose, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,…” Does this not suggest that the church would “make a difference!?”
CHRIST BUILT HIS CHURCH! (Even the thought of that Scriptural Fact, should surely suggest that “The Church DOES Make A Difference!”) After having asked His disciples about just Who did they consider Him to be; being answered by the apostle Peter “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God;” Jesus replied, “…upon this rock (Peter’s confession) I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:14-18) Surely, no thoughtful person would conclude that HIS “church doesn’t make any difference!”
JESUS PURCHASED THE CHURCH WITH HIS BLOOD! The apostle Paul urged the Ephesian Elders to “…take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28; cf. Ephesians 5:25) Can anyone even think that the Christ would be required by God the Father to die that cruel death of the cross; shedding His blood for something that “Makes No Difference?”
CHRIST PUTS ALL OF THE SAVED INTO THE CHURCH! In Acts two we read of the first preaching of the gospel of Christ under the great commission, and the first offer of “Remission of Sins.” We are told that what was preached “pricked the hearts” of many of those who heard, and when they asked “…what shall we do?” they were told to “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins…” (v. 38), then in verse forty-one Inspiration tells us that “…As many as gladly received the Word were baptized, and there was added to them that day about three thousand souls.” Then in verse forty-seven we see “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Could we possibly conclude that the in which all the “Saved” are admitted by God “makes no difference?”
ALL, IN BECOMING CHRISTIANS, ARE “BAPTIZED INTO THE ONE BODY.” “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13), and we read in Ephesians 1:22f that the “body is the church.”
THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM OF “KING OF KINGS!” In addition to the fact that in Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus used the terms “church” and “kingdom” synonymously, other Scriptures indicate the same. In Mark 9:31 Jesus assured His apostles that some of them would not die before His kingdom would “come with power.” In Acts 1:8 He promised that the “power” would come with the Holy Spirit, and in verse five He assured the apostles that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from the time of that statement. The apostles WERE baptized with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and we read of people being added to His church (as seen before) that day (Acts 2:1-47). In Hebrews 12:23 and verse 28 we see again the terms “church” and “kingdom used with reference to the same institution! Indeed, can anyone say that the KINGDOM of “the King of Kings” (I Timothy 6:15), “makes no difference!?”
“CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER…!” (Eph. 5:25-26) How could something that Christ loved enough to die for, be considered to “make no difference?” And then add to that, as seen in verse 27 of that same chapter, that Christ will finally “PRESENT HER (THE CHURCH) TO HIMSELF…!” Do you think that at the end of time, the Lord will present to Himself something that “makes no difference?”
IN CONCLUSION, let it be understood that all of the above Scriptures speak of THE LORD’S CHURCH; they have nothing to do with the many churches founded upon, and directed by the wisdom of men! THOSE CHURCHES, not only do not “make a difference,” in that they do not contribute to one’s salvation; but they believe, teach and practice doctrines which are CONTRARY TO SALVATION! In light of that, please read carefully 2 John 9; Colossians 3:17 and Revelation 22:18-19!