Of course marriage is an institution created by God.
The church is an institution created by God. The word church is mentioned over 75 times in the New testament. In every instance it means congregation of believers.
The first two times this word is used, it is Jesus Himself speaking. ( Matt 16:18; Matt 18:17; )
The last seven times this word is used, it is also Jesus speaking. ( Rev 2:1; Rev 2:8; Rev 2:12; Rev 2:18; Rev 3:1; Rev 3:7; Rev 3:14; )
A Christian isn't only a member of a church, but a disciple.. follower of Jesus. Someone who is trying to follow the teachings of Jesus, be like Jesus.
The word Christian comes from "Christ". Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one. A non-Christian is someone who doesn't want to have anything to do with Jesus.
At a certain level, the church is global. All the believers in the world, make up the church. But we don't personally know all the believers in the world, so at a more
practical level, the church is a local gathering of believers. People we know personally. Usually Christians, although not everyone is this local group is always a believer
or Christian.
The word church, comes from ekklesia,
ekklēsia
ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.
Total KJV occurrences: 115
If you're not part of a local church, you're not part of Christ. You're not a part of His body.
Eph 5:23; For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
Col 1:18; He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Col 1:24; Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
A Christian is someone with the Spirit of Christ in them. If you don't have the Spirit of Christ, you don't belong to Jesus.
Rom 8:9; However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Anyone trying to belittle Christians or put down the church, is fighting against the body of Christ.
The bondage we are set free from is sin, and the ceremonial law.
Acts 8:23; "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
Rom 7:14; For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
Gal 4:3; So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.