WE BELIEVE the Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in heaven - (Eph 1:22,23; 2:22; Heb 12:23).
Introduction.
The average person's response to the word 'church', is steeples, stained glass windows, and a huge pipe organ. What is interesting is that in New Testament times, the average person's response to the word 'church', was a group of fanatical people turning the world upside down with their radical message of one God, and one Saviour Jesus Christ. Somehow over the centuries, the emphasis has changed from people to buildings.
Jesus loves the church so much that He calls her His bride. This study will help us better understand what the church looks like.
Definition:
a. Church - (Greek) Ekklesia - to call out from.
b. Acts 7:38, "This is He who was in the congregation (church) in the wilderness". The context refers to the children of Israel, a group of people called out of Egypt and called into fellowship with God.
c. In New Testament terms, the church is a group of people who are called out of the world and who are called into fellowship with Jesus Christ.
d. Another word regularly used in the New Testament is Assembly (i.e.) a gathering of God's people.
I THE NEW TESTAMENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERM CHURCH.
a. The Universal Church
Made up of all genuine believers that are saved and will be saved. The Bible refers to them as "The General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn". Heb 12:23.
b. The Local Church
Made up of believers that worship together in one locality. They live within easy access of each other.
Acts 11:22 - The church at Jerusalem.
Rom 16:1 - The Church at Cenchrea
1 Cor 1:2 - The Church at Corinth.
c. The Church in a Home.
In the New Testament there were times when the believers did not have a building to meet in. Therefore they met in each other's homes.
1 Cor 16:19, Paul says, "The churches of Asia (local churches) greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the Church that is in their house."
d. The Collective Church.
This is where all existing churches are combined into one collective church, and reference is made to it in the singular.
1 Cor 10:32, "The Church of God".
1 Cor 15:9, Gal 1:13, Phil 3:6, "The Church".
II THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
Eph 1:22,23 says, "And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all".
The work of Christ is now fulfilled through the Church.
a. His work is finished.
John 19:30, “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.”
b. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
Heb 10:12, “But this man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of the God.”
c. He is the head of the Body, and is still working closely with the Church.
Mark 16:20, "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs".
d. The Church is the extension of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The members of the Church are His arms, legs, mouth, etc. 1 Cor 12:14 - 27.
1 Cor 12:27 says, "Now you are the body of Christ and members individually".
III THE CHURCH IS THE LORD'S SANCTUARY.
Eph 2:21 - 22 says, "in whom the whole building, being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you are also being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.”
a. The Lord's sanctuary is not in bu
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