The Church Defined

Acts 2:41–42 KJV 1900

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The Word “Church”

The History of the word

The word Ekklesia is used in Greek texts outside of the Bible, as early as Herodotus, plato, and Euripides (first century BC on). In these writings it refers to an assembly of citizens of polis (city).

Part of the misunderstanding of what a church is, is that the word “church” has been had multiple usages throughout history.

Used to identify architectural structures.

Used to identify different Denominations (Catholic, First Methodist, Bethel, etc.)

The misunderstanding of the word leads to a misunderstanding of the purpose.

Before you can understand the proper use of something, you need to understand what that something is.

The church and rapid social change, church growth, the church and your family.

The Greek Word translated church

The Biblical Meaning in the N. T.

Paul uses the word ecclesia more than any other writer of Scripture. We find that he uses this word to address a group of believers in a specific city.

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV 1900

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

2 Corinthians 1:1 KJV 1900

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV 1900

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:2 KJV 1900

And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

John does the same in Revelation

The Christians who lived in a specific city, like Jerusalem, were identified as the ecclesia Acts 5:11

Acts 5:11 KJV 1900

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

These individuals meet in synagogs (which could have meant meeting places separate from the Jewish synagogue)

The Images of the Church

The People of God

2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV 1900

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 KJV 1900

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God did not call an existing nation to be His people, He created a nation when He called Abram.

God did not choose one nation or another to be His church, but rather created the church in every nation through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ.

The Body of Christ

Ephesians 1:22–23 KJV 1900

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 fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The Christian life is not a solitary matter. Throughout the Book of Acts we find that conversion leads the individual into the fellowship of a group of believers.

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The church is one of the few visible forms of a corporate relationship among delivers.

1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV 1900

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

This body is to be a unified body

All ethnic and social barriers have been removed

Colossians 3:11 KJV 1900

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Galatians 3:28 KJV 1900

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:15 KJV 1900

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;

The Temple of the Holy Spirit

While it is true that each saved individual is the temple of God because He dwells in the believer. The church as a whole is to operate as one body. That is only possible if we are each lead by the same person.

1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV 1900

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.

Dwelling within the church, the Holy Spirit imparts his life to it.

The fruit of the Spirit should be seen in the church.

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Holy Spirit is the one Who empower’s the church.

1 Corinthians 12:11 KJV 1900

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The Spirit also makes the church holy and pure.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.