"...Two or three are gathered together" does not constitute a church as is often erroneously claimed.
This partial verse from Matthew 18 is frequently misquoted by people out of context as an excuse to avoid going to church. The faulty thinking leads them to believe that simply 'hanging out with their believing spouse or buddy' checks the box for church. It does not.
In fact, this passage is about dealing with disputes in the church which is a called out assembly of believers. The passage actually shows the close fellowship and community that should exist in each church as part of the structured institution that Christ founded and purchased with His own blood.
The following are marks of a Christian church:
(1) The church's Head and Founder is Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18).
(2) Its only rule of faith and practice is the Bible (II Timothy 3:15-17).
(3) Its members are to be only saved people (Acts 2:41).
(4) Its government is congregational (Acts 1:23-26 - equality).
(5) Its teaching on salvation is that it is by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
(6) It has but two ordinances; Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and these are symbolic (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24).
(7) Its commission is inclusive (Matthew 28:16-20).
(8) It is independent (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 22:21).
"Wherever, in history, in whatever age, you find churches teaching these doctrines, you have a Baptist church, no matter what name it may go by. It matters not if we cannot, from church to church, trace it back to the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem. The succession is there but records may hinder or stop our search. What it teaches is the important thing. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against His church so He guaranteed perpetuity." -- Berlin Hisel
Every church is an assembly that meets regularly and has a Pastor, which is the highest office in Scripture.
See 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 for more on the close fellowship that should exist in each church.
And see here for an article about the visible local assembly that is a church.
Yeah go to a baptist church so you can learn the antichrists are the Lord's chosen people
1 John 2:22 - Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (ALL Jews deny Jesus and that makes them antichrist, if they believed in Jesus then they would be CHRISTIANS. IF you do not believe me call any Synagogue and ask them if Jesus is the Messiah.)
1 John 2:23 - Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
If Jews do not accept Jesus as messiah, then who is their messiah? SATAN?
1 Corinthians…