Is There a Perfect Church?
When faced with the question of why there are so many churches in the world, an answer, rhetorical in nature, has often times been given. “Can there be such a thing as a perfect church?” With literally thousands of denominated and divided churches, all with conflicts, controversy, finger- pointing and fault-finding, caused by human imperfection, one wonders if it is even possible that a church could possibly be perfect.
When considering questions of a religious or spiritual nature, we should always go to God’s word for the answer (2 Timothy 3:16-17). So does the bible describe a perfect church? We can begin with the description of the church found in Ephesians, Chapter 5. First, Christ is the Head of the church and Savior of the body (church), therefore, the church is subject to Him (v. 22-24). Next, verses 25-27 declare that Christ “loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Christ died for the church, purchasing it with His blood (Acts 20:28). The same blood that washes away sin (1 John 1:7; 1 Cor. 6:11)), and He has set it apart, cleansed it so it has no imperfections.
So yes, there is a perfect church. It is the church built by Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:18), filled with spiritually saved people who have been added to it by the Lord Himself (Acts 2:47).
Jay Launius
2023
Maud church of Christ
Maud, Texas