"Here is another text—1 Cor. 1:2," said Robert.
"'Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours,'" read Mary.
"Here is another with 'church of God' in it—1 Cor. 10:32, and another in Gal. 1:13; also one in I Tim. 3:5. All of these have 'church of God' in them. Oh, yes, I skipped one text in I Cor. 15:9," said Robert. "That is a good name. It shows that it is God's church."
"What have we learned so far?" asked Mary. "We have learned that Christ built the church, and that it was named the church of God. What else can we learn about it? I would like to know who the members were, and how they were made members."
"Maybe there are Bible answers to these questions," said Robert. "See Col. 1:24."
"'Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church.' This says the church is His body. Are there any texts to explain that?" said Mary.
"Try Col. 1:18," said Robert.
"'And he is the head of the body, the church,'" Mary read.
"Read Eph. 1:22, 23," said Robert.
"'And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.'"