What is the Church?
The word “church” is derived from a term meaning “of or belonging to the Lord.” But in the New Testament it commonly translates the Greek word ekklesia which denoted “the called out”, i.e. in the Christian sense, basically the community of baptized believers called out of the world to serve Christ.
It should be noted, however, that even here the word “church" bears slightly differing shades of meaning.
The Promise of the Church
When Jesus asked His disciples about His identity, Peter responded, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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” (Matthew 16:16-18).
The Establishment of the Church
It is evident that when Jesus made the foregoing statement He had not yet established His church but had only promised to do so. The church was not established until Pentecost following Jesus’ ascension. On that occasion Peter first proclaimed the gospel of Christ and the terms of admission to the church. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:41,47).
The Church is the House of God
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul says: “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14,15).
When the Apostle speaks of the church as the house of God, he does not refer to a physical or material building. It is rather, as Peter says, “a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). In other words, the house of God is equivalent to “the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10; cf. Ephesians 2:19). i.e. the family or children of God by faith. Accordingly Paul writes: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26,27). To be baptized into Christ is to become a member of the church or house of God. Moreover, this house is also “His own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Hebrews 3:6). The Church is the Body of Christ
God, Paul tells us, has given Christ a position of preeminence, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22,23).
Again we read: “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). “Therefore… the church is subject unto Christ…” (Ephesians 5:24). And being thus subject to Him, every member of the church is obligated to bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The Uniqueness of the Church
There is only one church authorized in the New Testament. For the church, as we have seen, is the spiritual body of Christ and there is only one such body.
Paul accordingly reminds the Ephesians: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all,…” (Ephesians 4:4-6). While, however, there is only one body, that body is made up of many members. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Romans 12:4,5). The Apostle additionally remarks: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” (1 Corinthians 12:12,13). Moreover, it is vital that every member recognize this oneness, “That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:25,26). We further read: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body…” (Colossians 3:15). The Church is a Blood-Bought Institution
Paul admonished the Ephesian elders: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
The foregoing passage indicates the great cost of procuring the church. It was procured by the sacrificial death of Christ, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify, unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). And Christ, we must add, in making this supreme sacrifice was motivated by His great love. He “loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Offices in the Church
In the early church there were special offices, such as that of apostles and prophets, which were not limited to one locality but served the church at large.
On the other hand, in each individual congregation there was a plurality of elders (or bishops) and deacons who carried on the affairs of the local church. Thus, for example, when Paul wrote to the Philippian church, he addressed the letter to “all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1). These appointed to serve as bishops and deacons must be men of ability and high moral character, leading exemplary lives (see 1 Timothy 3:1-10; ef., Titus 1:5-9). The Work of the Church
As “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), the church has Divinely ordained work to do. Chief among its function are the following:
Summary Truths
Comprised of the “called out” believers in Christ, the church is the spiritual body of Christ, of which He is Head and Savior (Ephesians 5:23). And further, it is the household of God (Ephesians 2:19), the glorious fruition of His redeeming grace. “Unto him,” therefore, “be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).
Lesson 14 QuizTrue or False
Answer Key1. The Greek word ekklesia denotes “the called out”. (True) Thayer’s Dictionary (G1577 entry at Acts 2:47) 2. Hell will prevail against the church one day. (False) Matthew 16:18 3. The church was established before Jesus’ ascension. (False) Acts 2:41,47 4. Christ has only one spiritual body or church. (True) Romans 12:4-5 5. Christ did not purchase the church with his blood. (False) .">Acts 20:28 6. Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:25 7. Let your women keep silence in the churches. 1 Corinthians 14:34 8. So we, being many, are one body in Christ. Romans 12:4 9. The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 10. The work of the church includes: Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:13 11. Jesus said, upon this rock I will build my church. Matthew 16:18 12. The church is called the house of God. 1 Timothy 3:15 13. Christ is the head of His body, the church. Colossians 1:18 14. In Scripture the church is a spiritual house. 1 Peter 2:5 15. The office of apostle was not limited to one locality. Matthew 28:19,20 Comments are closed.
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