A common view held by many is that the church is not important but salvation is. This tragic misconception has caused many to be lost.

The Bible refers to the church as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18). Concerning the love that Christ has for that body, the apostle Paul wrote, "...no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church" (Ephesians 5:29). The Lord loves the church as a man would care for his own body. The passage in Ephesians chapter five compares the love that a man has for his wife with the love that Christ has for the church. "Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (vs. 25, 32).

Jesus took great care to protect His church. In order to guarantee that the church could not be eternally subverted, He purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28). The Lord provided a secure foundation for His church. He built it Himself (Matthew 16:18) upon Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ, and He built it upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Himself being the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19, 20). God's eternal plan for Christ included His plan for the church (Ephesians 3:10, 11). It is no strange thing that God made such careful plans for the church, because God determined that the church was going to be the company of the saved (Acts 2:47). The saved would be secure as long as they remained in Christ, in that saved body, the church (1 John 5:11). The teachings of Jesus Christ and the teachings of these apostles and prophets of God are the foundation and guide for the church of Christ.

There are many who profess love for Jesus but who want nothing to do with the church. Their cry is "Jesus, yes! The church, No!" Some refer to this as the "We want the Man, but not the plan" philosophy. Few are those who would not desire the blessings which are in Jesus Christ; however many want these blessings on their own terms. Many who are not living according to the teachings of the Bible and who neglect the church still regard themselves as being faithful Christians. And yet the Bible teaches that in order to have God and Christ, one must "abide in the doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9).

But just what is meant by the doctrine of Christ? It certainly includes everything that the Bible teaches about Christ. To be sure, the term "doctrine of Christ" refers to the Bible's teaching about Jesus Christ (2 John 9). This doctrine includes who He is, His nature as well as His authority. When He arose from the dead He was declared to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4). When we consider His authority, the Bible teaches us that the risen Christ has it all (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, the term "doctrine of Christ" also refers not only to who He was, but to everything that He taught as well. Jesus told the apostles that he was going to leave them, but that He would teach them all things through the Holy Spirit after He ascended into Heaven (John 16:13-15). This means the entire New Testament is the doctrine of Christ.

Who would deny that the teachings of the Lord are the truth? Jesus said of the word of God that ". . . thy word is truth" (John 17:17). The doctrine of Christ is the truth. But by what means did the Lord plan for the truth to be taught? "But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). God entrusted the church with the responsibility of upholding the truth, the doctrine of Christ. Who could now deny the importance of the church of Christ? It is the pillar and ground of the truth and it is the company of the saved.

Since the Lord adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47); when one obeys the teachings of the Lord concerning salvation, the Lord places that one in His church. The doctrine of Christ concerning salvation is:

1. Hear God's word (Romans 10:17).

2. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24).

3. Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3).

4. Confess your belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37).

5. Be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

Upon obeying these teachings of God, the Lord will then add you to His church, the company of the saved. The Lord then admonishes us to be faithful 'till death in order to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10b).

Let us all go back to the Bible and accept its teachings concerning that church which is the company of the saved and which was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.