In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised to build His church.
Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
This promise came to fruition on the first Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, recorded for us in Acts 2. What a great day it was when the church, which came about according to the eternal purpose of God (Ephesians 2:10-11), was established.
The church is made up of all the saved. The saved are those who obey the gospel, and we do not have to guess how that is accomplished because we have instructions given by Peter in Acts 2. After hearing Peter and the apostles miraculously speak in their own language, and then hearing a sermon preached by the inspired tongue of Peter, centering on the resurrection of Christ, some of the Jews who were gathered at Jerusalem for Pentecost were cut to their hearts. They asked the apostles, “Men and brethren, what must we do?” Peter answered them plainly.
Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Obeying the gospel, then, consists of a person, who believes in Jesus, repenting of sins and being baptized. On this occasion, thousands of people responded to the gospel invitation and the church came into existence.
Acts 2:41 (KJV)
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:47 (NKJV)
47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Jesus is the Head of this church (Colossians 1:18). He is the only Head the church has, and the only Head it needs. He has all authority (Matthew 28:18). Anything the church does, must be done by His authority (Colossians 3:17). The Pope might be the head of the Catholic church, but he has no authority over the Lord’s church. Denominations, with their councils and synods, might be able to change their laws and make up new ones to govern them, but they cannot change the law of the Lord that governs the church of Christ. The New Testament is the only law the church has, and we must do all things according to it. To do otherwise is to disrespect our Head and sin against God (2 John 1:9-11).
We should be glad to have Jesus as our head. The head of a family watches over and cares for all its members. That is what Jesus does for us. Paul portrays Him as a loving husband in Ephesians 5, who gave Himself for His bride, the church, that He might sanctify and cleanse her (Ephesians 5:25-27). Our job is to submit to Him in all things.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.