Sun, Jun 2nd - 2:43PM

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

Answer: Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of church is not that of a building, but of people. It is ironic that when you ask people what church they attend, they usually identify a building. Romans 16:5 says, “Greet the church that is in their house.” Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building, but a body of believers.

The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22–23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) until Christ’s return. Biblically, we may regard the church in two ways, as the universal church or as the local church.

The universal church consists of everyone, everywhere, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This verse says that anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ comprise the universal church.

The local church is described in Galatians 1:1–2: “Paul, an apostle . . . and all the brothers with me, to the churches in Galatia.” Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches—they had a localized ministry and were scattered throughout the province. They were local churches. The universal church is comprised of everyone who belongs to Christ, in heaven and on earth, past, present and future. Members of the universal church on earth should seek fellowship and edification in a local church.

The church is not a building or a denomination. According to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ—all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Local churches are gatherings of people who claim the name of Christ. Members of a local church, that is a physical building, where members meet,  may or may not be members of the universal church, depending on the genuineness of their faith. The local church is where believers can fully apply the “body” principles of 1 Corinthians chapter 12—encouraging, teaching, and building one another up in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the Christian where ever he or she may be is to practice and live their faith within the standards and boundaries as set by God in the new covenant of Jesus Christ. All scripture is accepted as valid, but salvation is absolutely through the new covenant of Jesus Christ  and none outside of  or who resist this eternal inerrant truth can be admitted or joined with in any manner whatsoever for all time.

The true church adheres to the gospel message, accepts the whole of the Bible as inerrant, and finished in the gospel of Jesus Christ the only Saviour appointed by God through whom all that believe will be saved. It firmly and consistently attests that: Jhn 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Act 4: 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

We clearly and absolutely see the Bible’s consistent teachings in that the nation of Israel itself is directed to the truth, that the long- awaited Messiah is come that all men are commanded by God to worship.

Peter, the Jewish apostle is absolutely directing Israel and all men to the eternal truth that the Messiah whom Israel had long waited for is come in the person of Jesus Christ, and there is no need to return to the Law of Moses.

Christ is the end of the Law of Moses for all that believe.

The true church steadfastly defies any and all attempts to mix the Law of Moses, and any and all doctrines of men or the devil with the grace of the new covenant of Jesus Christ. The true church believes, receives and steadfastly follows God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ the Saviour alone, which its members adhere to and take to all the world.