I want to think with you about two matters tonight, and then draw some conclusions:

Number One: The church in the New Testament was IDENTIFIABLE . If, to use the truck illustration, the police were to say, “Now, Mr. Woodson, we need a description of your truck. Alright, is it a pickup or is it a sedan?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, ah, what company made it?”

“Beats me!”

“Well, how long have you had it?”

“I don’t know…a few years.”

“Well, what color is it?”

“Well, the best I remember…oh, I’m not sure.”

The police would say, “Ummm, we’ve got a problem right here. In addition to the truck, we’ve got a fella that’s, you know, not all he ought to be.” And then they’d probably say, “Now, don’t go away; the little man in the white suit will come to help you…”

But, is the church like that? Is there nothing that can be known and, therefore, nothing that can be used in the present to be sure about the church? It is identifiable!

And then, Number Two, I want to think about some MARKS of the church, and finally, some concluding thoughts.

There are some very interesting passages about the church, and I want to look at a couple of them. In Romans, chapter 16…if you will turn there, please. Romans 16 is a most interesting chapter. There are some twenty-nine, or so, individuals named in the chapter as being great friends and associates of the apostle Paul. But our purpose is to look at the five references made to the church, or churches, and then reflect upon those for a moment.

In verse 1, Paul wrote, “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea…” Notice that expression, “the church which is at Cenchrea” Romans 16:1. Paul, then, stated that there is a church in Cenchrea.

In verse 4, concerning Aquila and Priscilla, Paul wrote of them that they “…have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Paul knew, and so did the churches among the Gentiles, about Aquila and Priscilla, and he said, “…all the churches of the Gentiles…” give thanks for these two people.

In verse 5, he continues: “Likewise greet the church that is in their house”—in the home, or house, of Aquila and Priscilla—“the church that is in their house.”

Down in verse 16, the latter part of the passage, “The churches of Christ salute you.”

And then, in verse 23, “Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.”

Now, reviewing quickly, in verse 1, “the church which is at Cenchrea”; in verse 4, “all the churches of the Gentiles”; in verse 5, “the church that is in their house”; verse 16, “The churches of Christ”; and verse 23, “the whole church”—five references.