THE PROPERTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

By Gary Ray Branscome

From the Bible we learn that God’s heavenly kingdom has the following characteristics or properties.

First of all, the Bible tells us that, “The kingdom of God does not come in a way that is seen… for, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). In other words, because we cannot see into the hearts of those who profess to believe, we cannot see who the members of God’s heavenly kingdom are. So the first characteristic of God’s heavenly kingdom is that it is invisible. That is why Christ’s heavenly kingdom is sometimes called “the invisible church”. In theology we stress that fact in order to make it clear that the one true church is not a visible organization.

However, even though God’s heavenly kingdom is invisible to us, the words, “You, and you alone, know the hearts of all the children of men,” tell us that it is not invisible to God (1Kings 8:39). The words, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and they know me,” tell us that “The Lord knows those who are His” (John 10:14, 2Timothy 2:19). And, the words, “When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory,” tell us God’s heavenly kingdom will remain invisible to us until the resurrection (Colossians 3:4).

Secondly, because Christ’s heavenly kingdom includes everyone God has brought to faith in Christ, it is not divided. The words, “There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope in your calling,” tell us that all who share the “one hope” [i.e. trust in Christ] are one body, the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:4). As it is written, “We, being many, are one body in Christ,” and again, “For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Romans 12:5, Galatians 3:28). So the second characteristic of God’s heavenly kingdom is that it is one.

Because “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin,” everyone who is a citizen of God’s heavenly kingdom is sinless in the sight of God (1John 1:7). The words, “I have suffered the loss of all these things, and regard them as dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having any righteousness of my own, which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith,” tell us that the cleansing from sin that is ours in Christ makes us righteous in the sight of God (Philippians 3:8-9). And the words, “By one offering He [Christ] has perfected for ever those who are sanctified,” tell us that Christ’s death on our behalf makes us holy in the sight of God (Hebrews 10:14). So the third characteristic of God’s heavenly kingdom is that it is holy.

The words, “All the prophets testify of Him [Christ], that through His name whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins,” and the words, “Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved,” tell us that God’s heavenly kingdom includes everyone who has been saved in every period of history (Acts 10:43 and 4:12). So Christ’s heavenly kingdom is not only “one,” it is “universal”. Therefore, the fourth characteristic of God’s heavenly kingdom is that it is universal. Moreover, because the word “catholic” means “universal,” and no earthly organization can honestly claim to be “universal,” only Christ’s heavenly kingdom is truly catholic.

The words, “Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone,” tell us that Christ’s church [see Matt. 16:18] is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets [i.e. the ones God inspired to write Scripture] (Ephesians 2:20). The words, “His gift made some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers,” list the apostles first because the things that the prophets wrote are to be interpreted to agree with what the apostles taught (Ephesians 4:11). The words, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine,” tell us that the apostles’ doctrine is the doctrine that Christ wants taught (Acts 2:42). And, the words, “I pray for… those who will believe in me through their [the apostles] word,” tell us that those who “believe in” Christ, believe through the word of the apostles (John 17:20). So the fifth characteristic of God’s heavenly kingdom is that it is apostolic.

Originally there was no difference in rank between pastors, priests and bishops. Congregations chose some of the elder men in the congregation [presbyters] to be overseers [bishops] of the congregation, and these elder/overseers were called pastors [shepherds]. So the idea that bishops are above priests and pastors, or that “apostolic succession” is passed on through bishops, does not come from the Bible. Only those congregations where the doctrine of the apostles is taught can honestly claim to be “apostolic”. [Our English word “priest” originated as a slur of the Greek term “prēsbyter,” and both words mean “elder”.]

Finally, because Christ’s heavenly kingdom includes everyone who ever has or ever will be “born again,” no saved person is outside of it. Since I have already given the passages that tell us that God’s heavenly kingdom is “one” and “universal” I will not repeat those passages here. However, the sixth characteristic of God’s heavenly kingdom is that there is no salvation outside of it.