Thank you for your questions. Concerning how we know
if we are in the church Jesus built, we only know by searching the Scriptures and
comparing what God said the church should be like with what a church is we attend. There
are numerous marks of the church in the New Testament. It was built by Christ (Matthew
16:18). It belongs to Him (Same Scripture). It was bought by His blood (Acts 20:28). One
becomes a member of this church by being saved and thus added to the church by the Lord
(Acts 2:36-47). The record of who is in the church is kept by the Lord in heaven (Hebrews
12:23). The head of the church is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23). The
worship of the church is in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23,24). If the teaching isn't
according to the word of God then the worship becomes vain or useless (Matthew 15:9). To
become a member of the church one must hear the gospel of Christ, believe it, repent of
their sins and be baptized into Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; Luke 24:46,47 and
Galatians 3:26,27).
The church of the Bible is non-denominational in
that Paul commanded us not to be divided and follow the names and teachings of men (I
Corinthians 1:10-13). We are to endeavor for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
(Ephesians 4:1-6).
Any time and any where anyone teaches the word of
God in truth and people hear the word and through faith obey it to become Christians they
are added to the church and it is therefore established in that area. I have no idea how
the church first came to America as to who. I do know how. Someone preached the gospel and
people became Christians by having an obedient faith in the Lord.
I hope this is helpful. It is just a short beginning
of material the New Testament has on the church. IF you have further questions please feel
free to write back.
Leon Barnes