Going to church and being the Church
Going to church and being the church
What Is The Church?
The words church and churches occur in the New Testament 109 times, always translated from ekklesia, which would have been more correctly rendered congregation, which, with the Bible qualifications, would have read, “the congregation of God,” “the congregation of the firstborn,” etc., denoting its Divine Founder and Owner. And, “the congregation that was at Antioch,” ‘“The congregation of God which was at Corinth,” “The congregation of Asia,” “The congregation of Galatia,” etc., denoting the different geographical locations of the congregations of God.
But whether we use the word church, as in common use, or congregation, the more correct appellation, we should only attach such meaning to it as agrees with the Word of God. To use a Bible word out of its biblical meaning is perverting the Bible. What then is the Bible definition of the church? Answer: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:22, 23.
“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.” Col. 1:18.
“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” Col. 1:24.
The church is the body of Christ. And its being the body of Christ, necessarily includes all His members. Therefore to call an earthly building the church is ridiculous. And to call an organized division the church is subverting the truth. No sect contains all the body of Christ, therefore, no sect is the church of God. Then as honest men, who expect to be judged by the Word of God, let us never call anything the church but the body of Christ; i. e., all the saved, either universally, or in any given locality.
Who Is The Founder of The Church?
Christ who was “God manifest in the flesh,” is the founder, builder, and maker of the church. “For this man [Christ Jesus] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he that builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” Heb. 3:3, 4.
“Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, … holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:25–27.
“Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18.
When Was The Church Built?
1 Cor. 3:9, “Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19–22.
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5.
In A. D. 32 Christ said, “I will build my church.”
In [A. D.] 59, and after that, the apostles said, “Ye are God’s building,” “are built up a spiritual house.”
So the church was built between those dates. It is true that the church was begun under the labors of John the Baptist, Jesus, and his apostles, before the day of Pentecost. Many believed and entered the kingdom then, and constituted material for the church. But the coming of the Holy Spirit was the point of time when the church was really built, and set in order; as seen in 1 Cor 12:6, 11–13, 18, 24. The church is defined as “his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” Eph. 1:23. The church proper then did not exist until the fullness of Christ came, which was on the day of Pentecost. Then it was fully set up, and “fitly joined together and compacted.”
Who Is Its Foundation?
“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.” Isaiah 28:16.
“For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?” Psalms 18:31.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 3:11.
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Eph. 2:20, 21.
Who Is The Head of The Church?
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him [Christ] to be head over all things to the church.” Ephesians 1:22.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15, 16.
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:23–24.
What Is The Door of The Church?
Thus saith the Lord: “Then said Jesus unto them again. Verily, verily, I say unto you. I am the door of the sheep … I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:7, 9.
Who Takes Members Into The Church?
“And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46, 47.
“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Cor. 12:18.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized 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.” 1 Cor. 12:13.
Who Are Members of The Church?
If, as we have seen, salvation is the process of entering the church, it follows that no one is in the church who has not salvation. The church is one “family in heaven and earth,” named from the Father. Eph. 3:15
This family is “the house-hold of God.” Eph 2:19.
Who Organizes The Church?
God’s church is furnished with organs, arranged in parts, and in due order; hence, is an organic structure. But who is the organizer of the same? Who furnishes it with organs? Answer: “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” I Cor. 12:8–11.
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Verses 27, 28.
“He that descendeth is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4:10–13.
The church, then, is organized by the Lord, who sets all the members in the body as it pleases Him, and distributes the gifts and callings by His own wisdom to all the members of the body.
How Many Churches Does God Have?
Every description of the divine church shows its oneness “Other sheep [Gentiles] I have, which are not of this fold [not Jews]: them also I must bring, … and there shall be one fold [church], and one shepherd.” John 10:16.
We have seen that Christ is “the head of the body, the church.” As therefore there is but one head, there can be but one body.
“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.” Rom. 12:4, 5.
“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, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. But now are they many members, yet but one body.” I Cor. 12:12, 13, 20.
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” Eph. 2:14–16.
“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 who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Eph. 4:4–6.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15.
“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom.” John 3:29.
“Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Eph. 2:19.
But Does The Bible Speak of More Than One Church?
The word “church” frequently occurs in the plural form, but never in the sense of sects or denominations. When more than one church is spoken of, it is always the one church of the living God, in different localities.
“They returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified.” Acts 9:31.
“They returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch; … and when they had ordained them elders in every church,” etc. Acts 14:21, 23.
“And he went throughout Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” Acts 15:41.
“Who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Romans 16:4.
“As I teach everywhere in every church.” I Cor. 4:17.
“And so ordain I in all churches.” I Cor. 7:17.
“As I have given order to the churches of Galatia.” I Cor. 16:1.
“The churches of Asia salute you.” I Cor. 16:19.
‘“Throughout all the churches.” 2 Cor. 8:18.
Thus we see that when churches are spoken of, they invariably denote the same church of God in several cities, or throughout one or more countries.
The former are all one in Christ. The latter are independent and separate schisms. Several sects exist in the same town, but God only has one church in the same place.
Hence we read: “The church that was at Antioch.” Acts 13:1. “The church of God which is at Corinth.” I Cor. 1:2. “The church of the Thessalonians.” I Thess. 1:1. “Unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Rev. 1:11.
Thus we see there was only one church in one city. Seven sects can now be addressed in one town of no great size. But when messages were sent to seven churches in Asia, seven different cities had to be addressed. All the saved of God in any place constitute his church in that place.
Does The Bible Teach The Unity of All Believers?
Yes. “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name.” John 17:11, 12.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:20–23.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” I Cor. 1:10.
“For ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28.
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Phil. 1:27.
“Fulfill ye any joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Phil. 2:2.
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 15:5.
“The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” Acts 4:32.
What Is The Basis of Union?
“All one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28.
“So we being many are one body in Christ.” Rom. 12:5.
The name of the church was given by the mouth of the Lord, and was derived from God, his Father. The apostles respected the prayer of Christ, and kept the church in God’s name.
“Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.
“The church of God which is at Corinth.” I Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1.
“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” I Cor. 10:32.
“We have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” 1 Cor. 11:16.
“Despise ye the church of God?” 1 Cor. 11:22.
“I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Cor. 15:9.
“Beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” Gal. 1:13.
“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 2:14.
“We ourselves glory in you in the churches of God.” 2 Thess. 1:4.
“If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” I Tim. 3:5.
“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.” I Tim. 3:14, 15.
Here are twelve instances of the title, “church of God.”
What Is The Bond of Union?
Answer: Love. “Above all these things put on charity [love], which is the bond of perfectness.” Col. 3:14.
“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” Col. 2:2.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:35–39.
What Experience Perfects Us In Oneness?
Answer: Entire sanctification, or perfection.
In connection with His prayer for oneness, the Savior prayed the Father to sanctify the disciples and all that would believe on Him through their word, which includes us. “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:22, 23.
Sanctification, perfection, and the glory of Christ all relate to the same experience, and this makes God’s children one. “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Heb. 2:11.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:11–13.
“Five Things Jesus Left the Church”
Text: Acts 1:1-11
1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Jesus Took Some Things With Him Back To Heaven:
The Blood of Atonement - Hebrews 9:19-24
For when Moses had spoken ever precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Those Persons Previously Captive To Sin - Ephesians 4:8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
He Also Left Us A Great Work To Carry On Until He Comes Again..
I. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNFINSHED TASK - (v 1-2)
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
II. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNALTERABLE MESSAGE - (v 3)
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
A. The Deity of Christ;
B. The Resurrection;
C. The Inspiration of Scripture;
D. The Miracles of Old;
1. Salvation by grace;
2. The Blood of Atonement
III. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US UNLIMITED POWER - (v 8).
Paul Stated - Romans 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
1 Cor 13:4-7 NIV
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
IV. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNSHAKEALBE TESTIMONY - (v 6-8).
V. UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN HE HAS GIVEN US AN UNFAILING PROMISE - (v 6-7, 11).
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
