Bible References That
Jesus Organized His Church
There is a common misconception in Christendom that Christ did not organize a church during His mortal ministry. People that oppose organize religion contend that He only taught His doctrines and beliefs and was crucified. Some say he left the structure of the new church up to the Apostles.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints testifies that Jesus did personally organize His church, that He was the foundation and cornerstone of the church, and that He restored His church on Earth again in these latter days.
Here are the bible references for this topic.
Matthew 16:18-19
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Okay, when Jesus says He is building His church, that's a pretty good indication that He did organize one. Another good indication is that He's ordaining Peter to the Priesthood. Why have Priesthood leaders if there is no church to lead?
Matthew 26:26-28
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, band blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Jesus is establishing the sacrament in remembrance of His sacrifice for us. So now He's establishing rituals. Aren't rituals a component of a church?
Mark 16:15-16
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Jesus has been resurrected and is instructing the Apostles to go out to the whole Earth to preach and baptize. He wouldn't send them out to baptize people into a church unless there was already a church, which there was: The Church of Jesus Christ.
Luke 10:1
"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come."
What would a church be without a missionary program? If there was not a church He wouldn't have ordained the Seventy to the Priesthood and sent them out to proselyte.
Acts 14:23
"And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."
The Apostles would not have needed to ordain elders in every church if there was not a church. But since Jesus did create an organized religion, the congregations needed priesthood leaders.
1 Corinthians 12:28
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."
Paul is teaching that Jesus established a church and a type of hierarchical leadership to govern the church.
Ephesians 4: 11-14
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
Paul teaches that Christ organized church and ordained priesthood leaders. Paul goes on to teach the purpose of the church: 1. The perfecting of the saints; 2. The work of the ministry; and 3. The edifying of the Church (referred to as the body of Christ). He also teaching the importance of belonging to the church organized and led by Christ and His Priesthood: to keep people from being tossed about by every wind of doctrine. Christ obviously believed that there is spiritual strength in organization.
So we've got Jesus ordaining priesthood leaders, establishing rituals (baptism & sacrament), and sending out missionaries. Sure sounds like He organized a church to me.