Answers to Questions for April

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
16. The Church is formed by believers baptized into one body by the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10:44,4844While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:44)
48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:48) we see a company of believers receiving the Holy Spirit before they were baptized.
17. Because it was in the Lord’s commission; Mark 16:1616He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16); because it was the practice of the apostolic church (1 Cor. 1:13,1613Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:13)
16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. (1 Corinthians 1:16)); because it typifies the Christian’s position as dead and buried with Christ (Rom. 6:3-43Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3‑4)).
18. Christ is looked at as the risen and ascended Head of His mystical body which is still on earth. As Head He directs the actions of His members on earth, just as the head to the human body directs the movements of the feet, arms, fingers, etc. (See Eph. 1:22-2322And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23); Col. 2:1919And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 2:19); Eph. 4:1515But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15)).
19. Never! He is vitally linked with the Head in heaven, and he can no more cease to be a member of that body than the Head can cease to be a part of the body. He possesses the same life as the Head. The Head is responsible to see that all His members are glorified with Him. (See John 10:28-2928And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29); 1 John 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11); Eph. 5:25,2725Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)
27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)).
20. Because the Church of God is composed of every member of the body of Christ. No single company of Christians can claim to be the Church of God any more than the state of New York can claim to be the United States. She may be a part of the United States, but that is all. So any company of real children of God may say they are a part of the Church of God (1 Cor. 1:22Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)).