The Church-An Introduction

Definition Of the Church

According to the 1689 London Confession of Faith, "The catholic or universal church,1 which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.2"

At the very beginning of this study, it is necessary to establish a foundation, which we do so by considering the following questions:

What is the church?

For whom does the church exist?

What is the identity and composition of the church?

What is the composition of the church?

What is the duration of the Church’s continuance

Hence our foundation study addresses these considerations under the specific areas of :

Purpose (For whom and by whom does the Church exists)Presence (How is the Church's identity manifested)- Visible Saints and Invisible SaintsParticipants (composition and members)- the saved, the elect who have been drawn by Christ and planted/added to the community of faithPerpetuity (the continuity in every age or long lasting existence and operation)

Purpose (For whom and by whom does the Church exists)

Presence (How is the Church's identity manifested)- Visible Saints and Invisible Saints

Participants (composition and members)- the saved, the elect who have been drawn by Christ and planted/added to the community of faith

Perpetuity (the continuity in every age or long lasting existence and operation)

What is the Church- A foundational Definition

The Church is First define as gathered assembly (from its root origin Ekklessia);

The Church signifies the whole body of the faithful, whether in heaven or earth on or in heaven–who have been united to Christ;

From the Greek term Ekklessia, we have word church which in its NT uses refers to a gathered assembly. One author James Bannerman describes the Church in this way :

James Bannerman, The Church of Christ: A Treatise on the Nature, Powers, Ordinances, Discipline, and Government of the Christian Church, vol. 1 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1868), 5–6.

The Church of Christ Chapter I: The Church as Defined in Scripture

The word Church signifies the whole body of the faithful, whether in heaven or on earth, who have been or shall be spiritually united to Christ as their Saviour.

The Purpose of The Church

It must be stated that the church is a Divine Institution, that has been established by The Lord Jesus Christ, who with his blood purchased her redemption and by his spirit, called her out effectually from the world and is being kept in the world until the time of his return on the day appointed, when she shall be caught up to be with him, his bride.

Foundational Clarifications on The Church:

The church is about God in every generation (to him be glory in the Church, in Christ Jesus throughout all generations..).

The church does much good to mankind. Yet, ultimately, it is not about man and his needs. It is not man-centered.

The church did not originate from man, was not designed for man, and is not powered by man.

The Church is not ultimately about man. Rather, it originated from God and is designed for his glory. Ultimately, it is about God. It is God-centered.

The ability to glorify God in the church comes from God’s infinite power working in us. Here is the foundation of ecclesiology and churchmanship. The church runs by God’s power. The church exists for God’s glory. Our understanding, operation and response, rests on this foundation.

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The Presence of The Church

When you join the church what do you come to? The Church is a New Testament Society (Zion). The Church is a Society composed of the saved (assembly of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven).The firstborn has significance in the OT the firstborn was reserved as God's special possession of God–in that sense believers are the firstborn of God in the new covenant it also refers to God's special possession who by the New Covenant are saved and added to the community of the saved.

The Church is a New Testament Society (Zion)The Church is a Society composed of the saved (assembly of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven).The firstborn has significance in the OT the firstborn was reserved as God's special possession of God–in that sense believers are the firstborn of God in the new covenant it also refers to God's special possession who by the New Covenant are saved and added to the community of the saved.

Participants of the Church

The issue that warrants our consideration is whether the Church is a composition of attendees or composition of the saved, whose names are registered in heaven (now on earth and in heaven). Those registered in heaven (refers to saved men on earth, who already stand enrolled in heaven, so that their salvation is irrevocable)

The Church is the visible society of the saved on earth

The Church in Hebrews is described by many traits:

firstborn- God's covenant special possession

enrolled in heaven (this does not comport with entire number of members who are affiliated with the local church yet do no confess Christ as Lord; not all attendees are enrolled in heaven; its those who are saved and part of the visible church on earth are part of the Ecclesia of God.Spirits of Just or righteous men made perfect