Is the Church Necessary?

Frank Higginbotham

It seems that many people today have accepted the view that the church is not a necessary part of our salvation.  We are told that it is alright if we want it but that our eternal salvation does not depend on it. We hear people saying that the church does not save people but that it is Christ that saves our souls.  This is certainly true but the question that should be of concern is whether Christ saves us through His church or not.

Is the church then necessary for salvation?  Consider the following facts.  God planned the church in eternity.  When Paul, the apostle was explaining the wisdom that God demonstrated in His dealing with mankind, He stated that a part of the plan of God that demonstrated His wisdom was in His planning of the church in eternity. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph. 3:10-11).  If God in His power and wisdom took the time in eternity to plan the church, does it seem logical to assume that he was thinking about something that is not even necessary? Remember also that Christ, the Son of God, died to purchase the church. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood"  (Acts 20:28). If the church were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus, does it seem that God allowed His Son to die for something that is not necessary?

The church does not deserve to be treated as an unimportant part of God’s plan of eternal redemption.  God saves men and women in the church (Eph. 5:22-25).