House to House

"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:46,47)

We must always remember that we, and when I say "we" I mean all those that have truly been born again and saved by Jesus Christ, are THE Church. This includes all those living now on the earth (sometimes called the Church militant) and all those in glory (called the Church triumphant). We are the Church—the body of Christ. The people comprise the Church not walls of a building. All those that are truly born again and know the savior we make up the entity called Church. No building, creed, or denomination can be the Church.

So if we say there is something wrong with the churches we mean those institutional denominations. Because according to God's definition there is nothing wrong with His Church. God created and sustains the true Church; man created and sustains denominations.

It's believers not a building

Adam was the Church, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28) In the beginning Church man and God had fellowship pure and undefiled.

Abel in Genesis 4:4 was chosen and added. As was Seth Genesis 4:25 then is when God's people began to call upon Him. And as was Abraham Genesis 12:1-3; and Isaac Genesis 21:1,3; as was Jacob Genesis 25:22,23; and the tribes of Israel Genesis 35:23-26. Moses was chosen Exodus 3 in which he led the congregation of Israel out. God feeds His true Children--the Church Exodus 16:32.

Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Children of Israel, the godly kings, and the prophets did not need a denomination or building to serve and worship God. The Old Testament Church was in the wilderness. We understand this when we read the words "congregation and assembly." The actual word "Church" does not appear in the Old Testament. Congregation appears in 331 verses, and 364 times the word appears. For an example.

"Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house." (Exodus 12:3)

The word "Assembly" appears in 49 verses. For an example.

"And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." (Exodus 12:6)

The word Assembly is kaw-hawl, it means assembly, company, congregation, or multitude. The word Congregation is, ay-daw', it means assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, or swarm. Both mean a group of people not buildings.

"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." (Genesis 18:19)

"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground. Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." (Exodus 3:1-6)

"Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be [as] still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, [which] thou hast purchased." (Exodus 15:16)

"Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name [is] in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off." (Exodus 23:20-23)

"And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy." (Exodus 33:19)

"And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD [am] holy, and have severed you from [other] people, that ye should be mine." (Leviticus 20:26)

"For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)

"For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:2)

"But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee." (1 Samuel 13:14)

"Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel: And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him [to be] my son, and I will be his father." (1 Chronicles 28:4-6)

"But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him." (Psalm 4:3)

"Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)

"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah…Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people." (Psalm 89:3,4,19)

"Blessed [is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance." (Psalm 94:12-14)

"The remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God." (Isaiah 10:21)

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." (Isaiah 42:1)

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine… [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him… Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me… The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise." (Isaiah 43:1,7,10,20,21)

"And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there." (Isaiah 65:9)

"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." (Ezekiel 34:11)

See also: Genesis 21:1-3; 17:1-4,5-9; 27:27-29; Exodus 2:1-3 (God chose Moses) 12:1-13; 15:13.16 (God reserves for Himself a people) 31:2,3,6; 40:15 (chosen priesthood fulfilled in Christ) Numbers 16:7; 17:5,8; Deuteronomy 4:37; 9:4-6; 10:15; 21:5; 26:18; 29:12-15; Judges 13:3,5,24,25 (chosen beforehand) 1 Samuel 2:24,25,28; 3:4,10; 2 Samuel 6:21; 7:8,10,12-16,23; 22:20; 1 Kings 8:53; 11:32; 14:8,13 (salvation before adulthood or infancy) 19:18; 1 Chronicles 11:3; 15:2; 16:13; 17:7,21,22; 29:1; 2 Chronicles 6:6; 21:7; 29:11; 32:31; Ezra 1:3; 2:1 (Divine calling) Nehemiah 9:7; Esther 2:2,2 (type election of God) Psalms 22:9,10,30,31; 31:19,23; 33:15; 37:18,23,24; 47:4; 48:14; 65:4; 71:5,6, 74:2; 94:5,7-11; 105:6,26,42-45; 106:31; 135:4,12; 139:1-3 Proverbs 24:14,16; Ecclesiastes 2:10; 4:8; Isaiah (all of chapter 1 gives a call of God to come back) 13:3; 14:1; 26:2,3; 28:5; 41:8,9; 42:16; 44:1,2,21; 45:4; 48:10,11,12,15; 49:1,5,6,7,15,16; 51:2; 55:5; 65:22; Jeremiah 1:15; 31:1,3; Ezekiel 9:4-6; 20:5; 28:25,26; 34:15,30,31; 36:24; 37:26; Daniel 1:3,9; Amos 7:14,15; Jonah 1:1; Habakkuk 3:13; Haggai 2:23; Zechariah 1:17; 2:12; 3:2; Malachi 3:16,17,18.

"And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet." (2 Kings 13:23)

"And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not." (Nehemiah 9:17)

"I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread…For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off." (Psalm 37:25,28)

See also: Exodus 9:20,26; 10:23; 11:7; 14:30,31; 40:15; Numbers 20:12 (this is punishment not condemnation there is a difference from condemnation as in 16:26,31,33) Deuteronomy 4:37; 9:4-6; 13:17; 26:18; 32:43; Judges 6:11,13,14; 1 Samuel 7:3; 9:16; 2 Samuel 14:14; 1 Kings 6:12,13; 8:32; 9:3; 14:8; 15:5 2 Kings 32:31; Ezra 9:9; Nehemiah 1:5; 9:19; Esther 2:17; Job 36:7,10; Psalm 33:18,19; 37:17,18; 48:14; 49:15; 84:11,12; 85:8,9; 97:10; 105:24,42-45; 135:12; Ecclesiastes 2:4; Isaiah 19:25; 54:17; 55:31; Jeremiah 31:1; Zechariah 2:8,12; 10:6.

The New Testament

The Church started in a house, and then went house to house. Has the advent of denominations changed the way the Church is perceived in the world? I think it has greatly, and to the detriment as well.

In the New Testament the word congregation appears only once in Acts 13:43.

"Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God."

It's the word soon-ag-o-gay', which means assembly, congregation, or synagogue. The word assembly appears only five times. In Hebrew 12:23 it's the Greek word pan-ay'-goo-ris, general assembly, a mass meeting. And in James 2:2 it is the Greek word soon-ag-o-gay', assembly, congregation, or synagogue. In the James passage it's interesting he uses this word seeing he is known for his Judaic overtones.

In the other three passages the word is the Greek word ek-klay-see'-ah, called out ones, assembly, or the church. This is the common word found in all the passages referring to the Church in the New Testament. This word appears 77 times, and in every place it's this word that is used. No other meaning is alluded to other than Church. The first time we find the word Church is in Matthew 16:18.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Evidence of the validity of the house Church method.

"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:46,47)

"And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles." (Acts 14:27)

"Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper." (1 Corinthians 11:17,18,20)

"Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." (1 Corinthians 11:33,34)

"If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." (1 Corinthians 14:23,26)

"And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matthew 20:23)

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)

"I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me." (John 13:18)

"Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

"But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal." (Romans 11:4)

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." (Ephesians 1:5)

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

See also: Mark 14:21; Luke 12:31,32; John 1:48; 8:47; 10:27,29; 17:12,20; Acts 2:39; Romans 8:29; 11:2,5; Revelation 13:8 (not written from the foundation) 17:8.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen… And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matthew 16:18,23)

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:31)

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)

"And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared." (Mark 10:39,40)

"And when it was day, he called [unto him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." (Luke 6:13)

"Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." (John 1:48)

"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3:27)

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out…And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." (John 6:37,39)

"I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me." (John 13:18)

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16)

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)

"And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will…And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:21,22,48)

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8:29,30)

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son…Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth." (Romans 9:6,7,9,18)

" Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:8,9)

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." (Ephesians 1:4,5)

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." (Colosians 3:12)

"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

"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. Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:2-5)

"To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious…But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Peter 2:4,9)

"The [church that is] at Babylon, elected together with [you], saluteth you; and [so doth] Marcus my son." (1 Peter 5:13)

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." (2 Peter 1:10)

See also: Matthew Ch.1 (God choose Joseph/Mary) 3:9 (position or birth really does not have anything to do with it, it's by election) 3:12; 4:18,19,20-22; 10:1,2; 11:10 (speaking of John the Baptist) 11:25-27; 12:18; 13:30; 16:17,25; 19:25,26; 20:1-7; 22:1-14; 24:22,24; 25:32,33,46; Mark 1:20; Luke 1:5,6,13 (John elected and chosen) 17,26,27; 4:25-27; 10:1,20,22; 12:5,31,32; 13:24; 15:4,11-24 (the true child od God will come back if he sins) 16:19-31 (example of one chosen and one not) 17:27-29 (some chosen some not) 18:7; 19:3 (the drawing of God on someone) 19:5; 20:35; 23:35,39-43 (example of one chosen one not) John 3:33; 5:21; 6:44,45,64,65,70; 7:16,17; 10:3-5,14-16; 11:43-45 (example of calling, electing us to salvation) 51,52; 15:19; 17:10,11,12; 18:37; Acts 1:2; 2:25,39,47; 7:2,3; 9:3-6 (calling) 15,16; 10:41; 13:2,17,20; 15:14,17; 16:14; 18:10; 22:14; 26:16; 28:24; Romans 1:1,2; 8:28,33; 9:9-33; 11:5,7,28,29; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2,24,26-30; 7:17; 2 Corinthians 10:18; Galatians 3:29; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:11,14; 1 Timothy 5:21; 6:12; 2 Timothy 1:19; 2:10; Titus 1:1; Hebrews 2:13; 1 Peter 1:15; 4:18; 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 John 1:1,13; Jude 1:1.

We fully support the concept and method of the house Church. It's important to understand that the Church does not need to be boxed in to a certain "picture" in order to worship God. It's bondage and certain ignorance to presume that the Church (again God's people all those truly saved and know Jesus Christ) must belong to a denomination to be the Church. That's a theological failure to presume so.

In the coming last days of the earth we the Church must be about His work. We must return to the fellowship and intimacy of gathering together house to house; in which the truth and simplicity of the body of Christ can truly be manifested.

Amen?

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