A good place to gain understanding of the Church of Christ and why and how it exists can be found in the Bible; beginning with the Book of Ephesians.

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In the Book of Ephesians 2:19-22, we can see that the Christian belief has as its foundation: the Apostles, the Prophets, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the chief corner stone. We may find the writings of Apostles in the book of Acts through Revelation. We may find the writings of the Prophets in the book of Genesis, through the book of Malachi. Then we may find the writings of the Lord Jesus Christ in the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. If then we turn to the Book of Ephesians chapter 4:3-6; we will discover that there is One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, and One God.

 

If we return back to verse 4: we may closely examine these verses better. In verse 4 we are told there is one body. What is the Body? To answer that question we may turn to the Book of Colossians, which is only two books to the right. Colossians 1:14-18 has a wealth of information! Verse 14 tells us “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

 

That verse tells us that it is Jesus Christ whom we have forgiveness of our sins, because of His sacrifice on the cross. Then the next verse 15, tells us “Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature.”

 

This verse tells us that Jesus Christ is God Himself. It is one of many, many verses that explain clearly, that Jesus Christ is God. The next verse 16 tells us,”For by Him Were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Verse 17 continues saying,”and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

 

In those few words, we learn that Jesus Christ created the World, the Universe, and everything that is in it. (We may also refer to the Gospel of John 1: 1-14) Then we move to verse 18, “And he is the head of the body, the Church….” And we find out that the Body is the Church. Now returning to Ephesians 4:4; we can clearly understand that by the word of God; the Body is the Church. By the Word of God we can now understand that God said, “the Body is One.” In other words, there is only one Church, not the several thousands we find in the world today. God is not divided, and His Word is not divided; therefore the Church must be One and not divided into the denominations of man.

 

Ephesians 4:4 continues saying, “there is one Spirit”. That Spirit is the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ. We can find that in the Gospel of John 14:1-31 (notice especially verse 26). Then we may read also in verse 4, “there is one Hope.” The One Hope, is that our salvation is secure because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross and his resurrection. Because He arose, we shall have our own bodies and souls resurrected and put on immortality with our Lord Jesus for all eternity.

 

Ephesians 4:5 tells us, “One Faith”, yet it we can plainly see that there are thousands of different churches with as many different doctrines. Yet God said in His Word, there was to be only One Faith. We know God did not lie; His Word is Truth. Ephesians 4: continued saying, “there is One Lord”, yet many churches pray to Jesus, some to God, Some to Mary. Is God divided? Of course not! Then why are the Churches divided over who Jesus Christ is? Jesus Christ is God Himself.

 

Ephesians 4:5 continued saying, “One Baptism”, yet again we find the church divided on that subject as well. Some teach to baptize in the name of Jesus, others in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; while others tell us baptism is simply symbolic and we do not need it: in truth there are 29 different versions of baptism throughout Christian churches and yet God said there was only One Baptism. Did God Lie or was He confused when He said, Only One Baptism? Of course not, God stated what should exist and His foundation which we are to stand.

 

Ephesians 4:6 tells us, “One God”, yet in Christian belief, some believe that Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit are not all the same person (even though the Scripture is plain on that subject. They use words like, the Holy Trinity to explain what they fail to read in the Word of God, which very plainly tells us in The Gospel of John 1:1-14, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And then in verse 10, “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not”; then in verse 14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”.

 

In the above paragraphs we can witness the foundation our Lord God gave unto us as a clear explanation of His foundation. In the world we live in today however, we also can see that the churches are deeply divided upon that very foundation. In Ephesians 4:11-16, we can discover that the Lord Jesus Christ set up His Church while He was upon this earth. It is plainly stated and exactly described. Beginning with verse 11 God said, “He gave some Apostles; and some prophets; and some Evangelists; and some Pastors, and Teachers.” We can understand that the He is Jesus Christ and that Christ created these responsibilities within His Church (see verse 12 as it states “for the edifying of the body of Christ “---and we know the body is the Church.) The Lord Jesus Christ created 12 Apostles and told us they would exist until we came to the unity of faith. (See verse 13)

 

Jesus did not give Bishops in His Church, yet in the churches man sat up; man has made the Bishop the head of the church. We can read in Acts 6:1-7 where bishops came from and their function within the church. Their function was to collect the tithes and care for the widows and orphans. Yet man, has them in his churches paying pastors, themselves, and others out of the tithes which God said was to support he widows and orphans.

 

Ephesians 4:14 tells us, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”, which is a true explanation of what finally did happen within the churches of the world. In the above paragraphs we have discovered that Christ set up His Church upon the earth and did so to edify the believers that they would not be led astray to other doctrines and belief of men; and remain grounded upon His foundation.

 

In a close examination of the Book of Ephesians and the foundation God set up for man and His Church; we can soon discover that the church has fallen away from what God intended and what God Himself set up for man to follow. In other words the Church fell into what is commonly known as the apostasy of the Church (which means the falling away from the word of God by the believers in the Church). The next thing that needs discussion is as the Scripture points clearly to the foundation of the Church and Christian Belief; it also clearly points out that the Church would fall away, as well as all mankind, from the Word and Doctrine of God. We can examine the foundation (the Apostles, the Prophets, and Jesus Christ himself) and find where it is written that His Church would fall away from the Doctrine of the Lord.

 

We can begin with the words of the Apostles contained in the first book of Timothy 4:1-3. It states, “Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” The largest “Christian church” in the world, (the Catholic Church) forbids it’s ministry to marry and the partaking of meat on Friday. God calls this the doctrines of devils. Do we desire to have the doctrines of devils? Yet understand that the protestant churches of the world came from the Catholic Church. Martin Luther who began the Lutheran Church was a Catholic Priest and really all protestant churches came from the Catholic Church and have their roots and doctrines connected to the Catholic Church’s Doctrines.

 

The Assembly of God churches and the Pentecostal churches also came out from the protestant churches, still tainted with the doctrines of the Catholic Church: which the Bible refers to as the mother of harlots and abomination of the earth (see revelation chapter 17.) We can continue in the writings of the Apostles and read in 2nd Peter 2:1-22 and find, “ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumberth not.” The Apostle Peter was not ignorant of the things yet to come; and that the world would fall away from the word of God. He continued in 2nd Peter 3:3-7 saying, “knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days…..” God had clearly showed His Apostles that the Church would fall away today and we have many examples of it everywhere we live and travel today.

 

The Apostle Paul said in 2nd Thessalonians 2: 1-10 that before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, “...there should be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” That is what the Catholic Church has done with the Pope. They believe his words to be the same as if from God. Then we have the words of the Prophets contained in Amos chapter 8:11-12, “Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from the sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it.” God had showed the prophets of the day we live in today and that the people would suffer for lack of the Word of the Lord and run to and fro and not find it."

 

We live in that time dear friends. Jesus Christ himself told us the very same thing. We may read in Matthew 24:1-2 and find, “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, see ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Who was the chief corner Stone. (read Ephesians 2:20) Jesus Christ was the chief corner stone and He himself, said that mankind would fall away from the very foundation which He had created for us to follow. So, we can see the Apostles (one part of the foundation which we are to be built upon in our Christian Faith) told us the entire Church would fall away from the Word and Doctrine of Christ. Then we can see where the Prophets (another part of the foundation which we are to be built upon), said we would fall away from the Word and Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then the Lord Jesus Christ (the final part of the foundation we are to built upon), said we would fall away from the Word and Doctrine for Christ. In the Word of God all of this was told unto us that we might be made aware and understand the time and place we live today by the Word of God.

 

We can then understand the words of 2nd John verse 9, wherein it states, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God…..” If we do not have God’s Doctrine, then whose doctrine do we have: the answer is simple: the doctrine of devils as is stated in 1st Timothy, chapter 4 verse 1. We truly need to understand God wants mankind to follow Him and not the devil. Doctrine (the Word of God is very important and very needful for us to follow and understand. It is in reality the difference between eternal life with Christ and eternal life in hell. The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father, which art in Heaven”. Indeed, the Lord is a loving Father and a just father and a Father whom has paid for our souls with his sacrifice upon the cross. He seeks truly to save us and have us abide in His Words and His Doctrines. He desires us to not wander in darkness, rather to walk in His Light and His Word and His Salvation. It is for that reason He promised He would send someone to restore His Church, that His people could worship Him in Spirit and in truth (Gospel of John 4:23-24, “the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.”

 

Jesus Christ said he would restore his Church in Matthew 17:9-11, “and as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying tell the vision to no man, until the son of man be risen again from the dead.” “And his disciples asked him. Saying, why say the scribes that Elias must first come?” The disciples were quoting Malachi 4:5-6 which said, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (that is to say the day of the second coming of Christ as he returns in judgment.) Keep in mind that Jesus continued his statement to the disciples and said in verse 11 of the 17th chapter of Matthew, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly SHALL COME AND RESTORE ALL THINGS.” In simple words: Jesus promised to send Elijah to restore all things before Jesus returns in judgment.

 

Moving to Malachi chapter 3: 1-3, we can read further where God said, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and I the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”…”and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Levi were the Old Testament ministry and the sons of Levi are the ministry or preachers of today. So who is the Elijah who will come before the day of Judgment and who is the messenger of the covenant who will purify the modern day ministry?

 

The answer is in Matthew chapter 11:7-14 and it is Christ himself who gives us the answers. Matthew 11:10 tells us, “For this is he, of whom it is written, behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” Jesus said John the Baptist is the Messenger of the Covenant. (Who is going to purify the ministry today) and in verse 14 of Matthew chapter 11, Jesus said, “and if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” Jesus declared unto us that John the Baptist is the Elijah which will come and restore all things before he returns in judgment.

 

That is what Jesus Christ said and that we can believe totally. We all know John the Baptist was beheaded (see gospel of Mark 6:14-29) and therefore was dead. How can John the Baptist come and restore all things today and purify the modern day ministry since he died over 2,000 years ago? The answer is contained in verse 11 of Matthew chapter 11 and in Matthew chapter 27:50-53. In Matthew 11:11 Jesus used the word raised when speaking of John the Baptist and then in Matthew 27:50-53, we read, “Jesus, when he had cried with loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared unto many.” Therefore we know John the Baptist was a saint, we know Jesus said he would arise and we have record of it in Matthew chapter 27:50-53.

 

The Word of God is not lacking if we seek the Lord and His guidance to understand it. Isaiah 28:9-10 told us, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept: line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” It is truly needful that we today understand the word of the Lord and follow it. God has sent the promised Elijah, the resurrected John the Baptist and he is restoring the Lord’s Church back to the everlasting gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which mankind has fallen away from. One of His first instructions is contained in the twelfth message and the forth verse, which said, “Behold, the Lord has rejected all creeds and factions of men, who have gone away from the word of the Lord and become an abomination in his sight. Therefore let those that come to the Church of Christ, be Baptized , that they may rid themselves of the traditions and sins of men; preparing themselves, that they may be fit and worthy for the Spirit and Power of the Holy Ghost, and as the greater power shall come, that they may be ready to receive it with joy. For this is the time of the restitution and restoration of all things, and this must come to all that shall be permitted to dwell in the presence of Christ, for sin cannot receive the glory of God, nor the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 

God also said in the last part of verse 19 of the twenty second message, “…..That the gospel may be preached and the Kingdom of God might be established on earth in it’s fullness, and the Church set in order in it’s completeness.” We live in an exciting time, a time just before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and we live in the time Christ promised that he would send His Messenger to prepare the people for His Second coming and Judgment. It is a time that men have waited for ever since the Resurrection of the Lord. We wait for the return of Christ and with the coming of His Messenger we know and rejoice that His Second coming is near.

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Therefore let all be up and doing and have oil in our lamps that we will be as the wise virgins spoken of in Matthew chapter twenty-five. God Bless you in this study and it is my hope you are blessed and understand it clearly and it will be of some small help in your teaching of the Doctrine, Foundation, and Plan of our Lord Jesus Christ for today.

 

Amen.

Your Brother in Christ, Apostle Norman D. Lyles