Choosing a Church Based on Biblical Principles
Choosing a church based on biblical principles involves discerning a community that aligns with scriptural teachings regarding faith, conduct, and the nature of the church itself. The Bible emphasizes the importance of making deliberate decisions in serving God, exhorting believers to seek God wholeheartedly and follow His commandments [3].
A fundamental principle is that the church is a company of believers in Christ Jesus, united for fellowship and spiritual growth [8]. The New Testament describes the church as those "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" [4, 2]. This election is of God, by Christ, and in Christ, according to God's purpose and foreknowledge [5].
Biblical principles for Christian conduct, which should be reflected in a church community, include believing God, fearing Him, loving Him, following Him, obeying Him, and rejoicing in Him [7]. This also extends to believing in Christ, loving Christ, following His example, and obeying Him [7]. The church should foster an environment where members are encouraged to live righteously and godly [7].
The early church, as seen in Jerusalem, served as a "mother Church of Christianity" [8]. This original church had the authority to commission and send forth members whom God had qualified for particular ministries [8]. This suggests that a biblically sound church should recognize and deploy spiritual gifts within its community.
Access to God, a core aspect of Christian life, is by God's grace, through Christ, and by the Holy Spirit, obtained through faith [6]. A church should facilitate this access, particularly in prayer and worship [6]. The Old Testament also provides insights into the nature of God's established community, the Church of Israel, which was established by God, had appointed places of worship, ordinances, feasts, and an ordained ministry, and experienced the divine presence [1]. This historical context underscores the idea of a structured, divinely-ordained community for worship and spiritual life.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Church of Israel — Established by God -- De 4:5-14; 26:18; Ac 7:35,38. Admission into, by circumcision -- Ge 17:10-14. All Israelites members of -- Ro 9:4. Was relatively holy -- Ex 31:13; Nu 16:3. Had An appointed place of worship. -- De 12:5. Appointed ordinances. -- Ex 18:20; Heb 9:1,10. Appointed feasts. -- Le 23:2; Isa 1:14. An ordained ministry. -- Ex 29:9; De 10:8. The divine presence manifested in it. -- Ex 29:45,46; Le 26:11,12; 1Ki 8:10,11. A spiritual church within it. -- Ro 9:6-8; 11:2-7. In covenant with God -- De 4:13,23; Ac 3:25. The depository of holy”
- I Peter “I Peter 1:2 (Darby) — elect according to [the] foreknowledge ofGod [the] Father, by sanctification of [the] Spirit, unto [the] obedience and sprinkling of [the] blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Peter 1:2 — Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Election — Of Christ, as Messiah -- Isa 42:1; 1Pe 2:6. Of good angels -- 1Ti 5:21. Of Israel -- De 7:6; Isa 45:5. Of ministers -- Lu 6:13; Ac 9:15. Of churches -- 1Pe 5:13. Of saints, is Of God. -- 1Th 1:4; Tit 1:1. By Christ. -- Joh 13:18; 15:16. In Christ. -- Eph 1:4. Personal. -- Mt 20:16; Joh 6:44; Ac 22:14; 2Jo 1:13. According to the purpose of God. -- Ro 9:11; Eph 1:11. According to the foreknowledge of God. -- Ro 8:29; 1Pe 1:2. Eternal. -- Eph 1:4. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:15,16; 1Co 1:27; Eph 1:11. Irrespective of merit. -- Ro 9:11. Of grace. -- Ro 11:5. Recorded i”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 11:22: The Church which was in Jerusalem - This was the original, the mother Church of Christianity; not the Church of Rome; there were Christian Churches founded in many places, which exist to the present day, before Rome heard the Gospel of the kingdom. A Christian Church means a company of believers in Christ Jesus, united for the purposes of Christian fellowship, and edification in righteousness. They sent forth Barnabas - It seems, then, that the Church collectively had power to commission and send forth any of its own members, whom it saw God had qualified for a parti”