After looking at the following three articles here, here, and here, regarding people searching for and finding a church or congregation, I performed a search on the key word "authority" in each of the three articles and came up blank. The word "authority" was not found in any of the three referenced articles.The reason this key word is important in finding the New Testament church, is that Jesus has been given "all authority" in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). By that authority, Jesus built "His church" (Matthew 16:18) (there's only "one body"; not multiple bodies - Ephesians 4:4) and purchased it with "His own blood" (Acts 20:28). No earthly or carnal man built it or purchased it. Thus, it is "Christ's church" or "churches of Christ" (Romans 1:16 - a name denoting a purchased possession — not merely a title on a church building sign).
Because of Jesus' authority "in heaven and on earth," only He decides who will gain entrance into "His church" or spiritual kingdom (John 18:36; cf. Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:14). Also see this article. Jesus Himself adds people to "His church" who are willingly obedient to the gospel plan of salvation found in the New Testament (see salvation defined).
Beloved, there's no need to waste our time in looking for a man-made church simply because there is no salvation available in those churches. Only in the church that Jesus purchased "with His own blood" (Acts 20:28; cf. Hebrews 9:11-14) is salvation from our sins possible (Acts 4:5-12).
We cannot become a New Testament Christian from an unauthorized man-made church, but we can become "just a Christian" (Acts 11:26) in the only authorized church found in the New Testament — the Lord's church, the spiritual church He purchased "with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). The blood that saves us from our sins.
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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