Is the Church Essential?

         Must be a member of the church that Jesus established in order to be saved?  The popular response to such a question is “No.”  Any type of organized religion is deemed as old-fashioned, irrelevant, and too stifling today for any real expression of spirituality.  In spite of this common perception, the New Testament speaks of the eternal significance and importance of the Lord’s church.

         The theme of the epistle to the Ephesians centers on the church and its eternal value