His Church
The 'Church' & The 'Churches'
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
The word ‘church’ appears seventy-seven times in the Inspired Scriptures and
thirty five times in its plural form ‘churches’. With only one exception, each
time the word church(es) occurs it is translating the same one Greek word – ‘EKKLESIA’.
EKKLESIA is also translated on three occasions as ‘assembly’.
The one exception where the word ‘church’ is used but the Greek word in the
original texts is not EKKLESIA is in Acts 19:37. Here we find the phrase
“robbers of churches” (Authorised Version of the Bible). On this occasion an
entirely different Greek word is used [HIEROSULOS], and it is referring to the
‘despoiling of temples’, that is, the ransacking of buildings especially set
apart for religious use.
The word EKKLESIA, on the other hand, in no way at all implies anything to do
with buildings of any kind, or any type of place dedicated for religious
purposes. Its meaning is – ‘an assembly’, with an underlying meaning of –
‘separated’, that is – ‘a body called out’. If God were to call-out, or separate
a group of people for Himself for some special purpose this would be an EKKLESIA.
This is exactly what God has done. The churches, which received apostolic
letters, were addressed as – “called”, “chosen” and “sanctified” (set apart).
Called from what to what? This is perhaps best simply expressed in these words
written in 1 Pet 2:9-10:“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar (purchased) people; that ye should show forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God.”
Peter goes on to talk about our being strangers (foreigners) and pilgrims
(people just passing through on a journey).If God is our Father, if we have been
born from above, if the life that is in us is a heavenly life (as opposed to an
entirely earthly one) then we do not belong to this world, we are in it but not
of it - we are the EKKLESIA. The word CHURCH has nothing to do with any earthly
place or building; it is simply the collective term for all of the people of
God. We are the Church.
WHAT ARE THE CHURCHES?
The Church (Universal) can be simply defined as the worldwide body of believers
at all times and in all places. Interestingly, many of its members are not on
earth today but are alive in Heaven. Bodily death does not forfeit one’s
membership. The churches (local) on the other hand, refer to much smaller groups
of believers gathering together in a given locality. They are limited by their
geographical location, reduced in number when their members die (though new
members may be added) and unable to singularly contain every gift and *ministry
that God has given to the wider Church. Also, we see in Scripture that it was
not necessary to have any *office filled in order to qualify as a church. A good
illustration of this last point is found in the book of Acts: when Paul and
Barnabas founded churches in Asia Minor, it was not until some considerable time
later that Paul returned to these churches and elders were appointed. The
estimated time gap between these churches being founded and Paul’s return visit
is up to two years (read Acts 14 along with a good commentary in order to gain
some understanding of the time lapse in this period). The Bible does not mention
any special offices being in operation in those churches during the intervening
period, yet they were still considered to be churches. This is not to say that
churches do not need elders, at some stage in their development they do, but it
is not the fulfilment of special *offices either that legitimises a church. It
is the gathering together of the believers that constitutes a church. Jesus
promises to be “in the midst” when just two or three are gathered in His name
(Mat. 18:20). This does not mean that every gathering of Christians for
fellowship is a church. However, if needs be, it would be sufficient to qualify
as such (albeit an undeveloped one) if those gathering were seeking to fulfil
the role of a church under God’s leading. The local gatherings of such people
are the churches.
WAS THERE A CHURCH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Before we move on to give fuller consideration to the elements and functions of
the Church in the New Testament era, we need to deal briefly with this question.
There is a difference between the order of things under the Old Covenant and the
specific order of things under the New. To understand the answer to this
question we must first of all believe the inspired word of the Bible and
secondly, rid ourselves of any preconceived notions of what the word ‘Church’
means, remember, it simply means ‘a body called out’.
The answer then, is quite simply yes; there was a Church in the Old Testament.
Stephen, recounting Israel’s history, mentions “the Church in the wilderness” in
the days of Moses (Acts 7:38). The New King James version uses the word
‘congregation’ in this instance; it is the same Greek word - EKKLESIA. When God
formed Israel into a nation under Moses’ leadership the whole assemblage was
referred to as an EKKLESIA. In fact, according to Paul in 1 Cor. 10:2 “they were
all baptised unto Moses....”. So we see in this great man Moses, a wonderful
pre-figuring of Christ. It is by our baptism (complete immersion) into Christ
(not water) that we become a part of His nation. Interestingly, the people were
referred to as being a “mixed multitude”, that is, not all of them that came out
with Moses from Egypt were physical descendants of Jacob. The Church of the Old
Testament comprised both Jew and Gentile proselytes.
Israel was called-out from Egypt and called-to the land of promise; they were to
be different, set apart, from all the other nations around them. Israel’s
repeated sin was their desire to be like the other nations around them. This is
certainly a warning to the Church in the New Testament era. We are commanded by
God, as they were, not to conform to worldly views and modes of behaviour.
Rather, we are instructed that our way of thinking must be transformed, that is,
that we should have a completely new way of thinking and behaving “And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God”
(Rom. 12:2). We should not model ourselves according to the methods of an
ever-changing world around us. All the fashions of this world are going to pass
away. God’s Church should see, believe and conform to the pattern that He has
given us that is preserved in Scripture.
The Church of the Old Testament was of a very specific order. God gave to Moses
verbatim instructions on all His requirements encompassing the law, ceremony and
buildings (i.e. the tabernacle and all its utensils). Everything was to be
followed to the strictest letter. This special people had a special calling from
God. Their task was to provide a framework of moral, religious and civil
authority, which would be the backdrop into which the Messiah would be born, so
that, when he came and talked about sin, this people would have an inherent
understanding of what was meant by the term ‘sin’. When He spoke about
redemption or sacrifice, people in that setting would have had some
understanding of what these things meant.
We cannot in this study look at all of Israel’s purposes and blessings, failures
and cursings during Old Testament history; suffice it to say that there was most
certainly an EKKLESIA throughout the Old Covenant era. In the broader picture,
it would be true to say that such a group existed before the days of Moses, if
we were to include all those individuals who were set apart by God in a special
way such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and all those like them. From
before the foundation of the world God, knowing all things, always had it in His
heart to choose a people especially for Himself. Thus, throughout history and
still today there have always been those who have heard God calling to them –
“Come apart, be separate, be mine,” - “I will be your God and you will be my
people.”
MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH
Now we shall move on from that very broad history of God’s special people, both
before and under the Old Covenant, and from this point forward consider
specifically this whole subject in relation to the Church of the New Testament
age which had its beginning on the day of Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago.
So how does somebody become a member of God’s Church today? Once again the
answer can be found only in Scripture. In the New Testament the Church has
various analogous types; for example it is called a Body, a Bride, and a
Building. Let us take just the first one: the Church is like a Body. Paul
writes, “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 baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be
bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is
not one member, but many” (1 Cor.12: 12-14). We are told in Eph. 4 that there is
“one body, one Spirit, and one baptism.”
We automatically become members of God’s Church when we receive that ‘one
baptism’ in the Spirit of God. The same act that regenerates, or re-births us,
or whatever term you prefer to use, brings us also at one and the same time into
membership of Christ’s body. Scripture teaches no other route in and, regardless
of where and with whom a person fellowships subsequently, he or she will always
be a member of that One Body. We are spiritually born into membership of God’s
Church just as a child is born into membership of a family.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCHES
In contrast to the sublime statements referring to the believer’s new birth and
simultaneous membership of Christ’s spiritual body, Scripture contains no
reference to anyone’s becoming a member of a local church. It would appear that,
in those early days of simplicity and non-denominationalism, a member of
Christ’s Church was automatically included in the fellowship of the local
church. There was no inaugural ceremony, no creed to be read and no book to
sign, a person would be received into fellowship solely on the basis of his or
her new birth. This however, does not mean that new converts were not soon made
familiar with ‘the apostles doctrine’ (Acts 2:42) and ‘the principles
(foundations) of the doctrine of Christ’ (Heb. 6:1&2).
Individual assemblies were simply identified by their geographical location and
in Acts. 11:26 we read that the disciples were “called” CHRISTIANS. This word
‘called’ [CHREMATIZO] conveys the idea of a Divinely revealed word. It is
possible that unbelievers may have coined this word initially, however it is
clearly validated by the apostle Peter (1 Pet. 16). This became the universally
accepted title given to those who had received the life of CHRIST within. Other
Scriptural terms used to identify such people include ‘Saints’, ‘Believers’,
‘Disciples’, and ‘Followers of the/that way’. Let us take deep into our hearts
these words of wisdom - “I am a Christian or a believer or I will call myself by
any other name approved by the Holy Ghost, but I will not give to myself names
that will divide me from my brethren” (spoken by John Bunyan - quoted from
memory). Whatever local church we fellowship with we should be content to simply
align ourselves with Christ alone and confine ourselves to such names as are
‘approved’ of God.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH?
It has already been mentioned that, above all things, the Church exists for God:
“Thou has created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created”
(Rev. 4:11). God loves all of His creation and it is not His heart’s desire that
any should perish (Jn. 3:16 & 2 Pet. 3:9). However, because of sin many will
perish, but in Jesus God has made a way of escape. God is through all ages,
calling-out a people to be co-heirs with His son. This has implications both for
our present lives on earth and forever in eternity. He wants to share His
kingdom because it is a kingdom of eternal love and fellowship.
Further more, the Church is the Body of Christ. That is, all the while the
Church continues to exist on the earth it is acting as a vehicle for Jesus to be
expressed in the world. He wants to reach out to a lost creation through His
Body. He could of course do this quite independently if He chose to but there
are other agendas too. God has to bring to a close the conflict with Satan and
his fallen angelic followers and mankind, particularly the Church of Jesus
Christ is bound up in this issue.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCHES?
The local church is one tiny element of the entire Universal Church. It is not a
complete Body of itself, but one small part of the whole. The work of the local
assembly is largely limited to the location in which it gathers. A church has
the task of nurturing and edifying its members within. Therefore we are told in
the letter to the Hebrews that we must not “forsake the assembling of ourselves
together”. By forsaking the assembling of ourselves together we: 1) miss out on
the grace that the Lord wants to minister to us through the Body, and 2) we are
not available to contribute our part to this process whereby we are intended to
be the means by which God blesses others. Incidentally, this latter
participation is also a means of spiritual growth in ourselves. We will be
considering this in more depth under the section on ‘How should a church meet?’
Here we will see more clearly what ‘an assembling together’ means.
So the local church has a commitment to
its own members within, “to build one another up in our most holy faith”, to
nurture with milk the newly converted and to feed with meat the maturing
members. The following scriptures are a few that can be cited from the New
Testament which give clear direction to the individual Christian and to the
local church regarding the means by which God’s grace and blessing is ministered
to us and through us:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts. 2:42).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
“but exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).
Paul writes to Timothy telling him “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee...” (1 Tim.
4:13).
Let us not limit these practices only to the times when the church gathers
together but these gifts from God should be used wherever and whenever
Christians meet one another in our daily lives. We are told to “let our speech
be always seasoned with grace” and that “men should pray everywhere.”
Every member of the local church has something to contribute within it and to
the work with which it is involved. Such contributions may be practical,
spiritual, financial, the giving of time, effort, or whatever, however seemingly
small. The local church is a place where believers might give and receive and
thereby grow in God.
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