A Fellowship of Faith Part 2: What is the Church?

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

“I love Jesus, but I don’t love the church.” This, and other similar sentiments, are common among many today who have spent time in Christianity. Maybe you’ve heard it from someone you care about. Maybe you’ve said it yourself. Though I can by no means say I have perfect understanding where this statement comes from, I can say that I have seen it often comes from one of two groups of people:

First, there are people who have been hurt by other people they know because of church gatherings. Maybe a vicious rumor is started about you and is poorly handled by church leadership. Maybe someone poorly addressed what they perceived (right or wrong) to be sin in your life and caused a lot more uneccessary pain than true reconciliation to Christ. Maybe you’ve been looking for a mentor and as much as you’ve tried to connect with other members of the church they haven’t given you any chance to learn from their life experiences.

Second, and I think this is the far larger group, are those who never really know who Christ or the Church truly are. More often than not, this group grew up going to church and wants to maintain their Christian identity even as they abandon any sense of fidelity to Christian teachings. This group largely has been shaped far more by the culture than by Scripture. Their dislike of the church is most often born out of their churches’ unwillingness to bend to the whims of the culture when it comes to sexuality. So, they take their understanding of Jesus that ends at “Jesus loves you just as you are, and he thought you were so cool that he even died for you” and they think that Jesus is all there is. Who wouldn’t like that Jesus more than the organization that tells you your physical desires are sinful?

Both of these groups face two major problems. They don’t know who Jesus is and they don’t know what the Church is. I can say this confidently because if you truly know Christ and you truly know His Church then you would realize it’s impossible to love one and not the other.

Pray

Wisdom from the Father

Speak through me

Illumination of truth and Conviction of sin from the Spirit

Deaf ears where I speak out of turn, not in line with the Scriptures

Discernment for those gathered to seek the truth where they are offended by what is said

Recognition and conviction of unrealized sin in our lives

Faith and Redemption through the work of the Son

May everyone gathered here be awakened anew with a love for Your Word, LORD

Amen

What images come into your mind when I say the word “church”? I’m sure each of us have different definitions of what the church is, I mean in the couple decades there have been all manner of definitions and plans thrown out into the world to help us understand what someone thinks the church should be. The church should be Purpose Driven and seeker sensistive, or business minded and market driven, or emergent, or progressive, or connecting and networking in nature, or focused on disciple making and rapid multiplication, or Apostolic and prophetic. But which definition is right? Who gets to decide what the church is?

Jesus Christ, to whom the church belongs, gets to define the what the church is and is not and all of our efforts to redefine what the church is based on our preferences is actually presumptuous sin.

The Church is NOT:

1. A Building

2. A Country Club

3. A Self-Help Program

4. An Entertainment Center

5. A Hierarchy

1. The Church is an Ekklesia (Dt 4:10, Rm 1:7, 1 Cor 1:2, 2 Tim 2:21, Eph 1:4, Col 3:12, 1 Pt 2:5, 9, 1 Cor 3:17, Rm 16:5)

Now I understand that it’s a bit early in the morning to be speaking Greek, but that word ekklesia is the word we translate to “church” in English. But what does that word mean? ekklēsia translates the Hebrew word qahal, which as a noun means "assembly" or "congregation" and as a verb means "to call."

Ekklesia = Those who have been “called out” or “those who assemble”

Where do we find this idea in the Bible? I’m glad you asked.

In the Word of God, the church is made up of those who are "called to be saints, which means holy ones" (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2), just like the Israelite nation was called “a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6). We, as the church, are described as "God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved" (Col. 3:12), "set apart as holy" (2 Tim. 2:21), “chosen to be holy” (Eph. 1:4), "a holy priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5), "a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9), and "a holy temple" (1 Cor. 3:17).

Those who gather together (Heb 10:25)

Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV)

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

In a very real sense and with few exceptions the church, the ekklesia, of Faith Fellowship Fort Bend is made up of those who you see regularly each week when we gather together. This is a major reason why we try to have boundaries for who can be considered a member. The church, in a biblical understanding, is the body of Christ physically coming together to “stir one another up to love and good works”. This is why I am convinced that a church that is holding to a biblical understanding is one who has one place and one time of gathering, so a multi-site ekklesia cannot, by definition, exist. It is instead multiple churches with a poor understanding of ecclesiology (which is the study and understanding of the church). In the same way, a multi-service ekklesia cannot, by definition, exist. It is two churches sharing a location and leadership and members, which again just shows a poor understanding of ecclesiology. Christ, through the inspired Scriptures, gets to define the church, not us.

Now, two exceptions I need to remark on as to why a Christian may have to miss gathering physically with the church. First, if you are traveling and unable to come because you are geographically kept from doing so. In that case, please join with a local physical gathering where you are and bless them by bringing greetings and blessings from their brothers and sisters who make up Faith Fellowship Church (and then bless us by bringing their greetings and blessings to us!) Please do not simply hop on our livestream and make that your “church service”. Go and gather in worship of our glorious God with other Christians.

The second exception is for those who, due to legitimate illness (either their own or they are caring for someone who requires constant care) are not able to gather with us physically. This does not mean they are not part of our ekklesia. That just means the ekklesia needs to go to them to minister to them (which I have by and large seen this church do excellently). One other reason that could fall in this category is calamity: this could be war in our city, persecution, a pandemic, or natural disaster. Although, I would still say that if at all possible we should strive to gather physically to honor our Savior and to build one another up.

Aside from these two exceptions, I have not found any other biblical reasons to not gather together. Perhaps there are some other legitimate reasons, but if you are missing the physical gathering of the church for illegitimate reasons just know that you’re being disobedient.

And if you’re watching this from home and don’t have a legitimate reason, please know that we want you here. We Need you here. We’re going to dig into this a bit today and then more in a few weeks, but we are called the body of Christ and we suffer when our members are missing. We are stronger when all of our members are here.

Now, I hope that didn’t make anyone too angry, but the point is that a church is a physical gathering of regenerate Christians. This is foundational to understanding the church.

2. The Church is the Family of God (Rom 8:15, 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5, 2:19; Heb. 2:11; Mat. 6:9; Gal. 6:10)

Romans 8:15 (ESV)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

The church comprises the "family of God." Each member of the church has become an "adopted son" (huiothesia; Rom. 8:15; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). Now we are "members of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19), in which Jesus Christ is our elder brother. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (Heb. 2:11). We come to God in prayer, saying, "Our Father" (Matt. 6:9). To those whose experience of family is dysfunctional in this world, the experience of belonging to a community of brothers and sisters is redemptive and restorative, particularly when they experience the loving concern (fellowship [koinōnia]) of "those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

How sweet it is to be part of the family of God!

3. The Church is the Flock of Christ

John 21:15–17 (ESV)

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

This is one of the favorite ways of Christ to describe His followers, and in return it is one of the great ways for us to view Jesus: we are sheep, and He is our Great Shepherd. Look at the 23rd Psalm, that most beloved song!

What does this mean for us?

1. We are followers

2. We follow Christ alone

3. Christ cares for us, provides for us, and guides us

4. The Church is the Body of Christ

Turn to 1 Corinthians 12. We’re going to read through verse 26 because it does all the teaching it needs to. It is part of a larger argument by Paul that we should not be arguing who is most important based on giftings, but it beautifully illustrates how the church, as a body should be understood.

1 Corinthians 12:12–26 (ESV)

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

What does it mean to be the body of Christ?

1. We need each other!

2. We are to reflect His character as His ambassadors

In a very real sense, the church is the embassy of the Kingdom of God

When people look at us they see the representatives of Christ. Are we doing Him justice?

3. We are to be one - united in God’s truth

Unity is not the primary goal. Unity in truth is the primary goal.

4. The gathered church is the final earthly court of appeal for those who claim to be Christians (1 Cor 5:9-13, 4-5, Mat 18:15-17, 2 Thes 3:14-15, 6, Gal 6:1, Jam 5:19-20, )

The gathered church is responsible to judge those who are members of the church. This isn’t a popular concept but it is biblical, even being recorded from Christ’s own teachings in Matthew 18. We as the church, after individuals have confronted someone’s sin and the person refuses to repent, are to confront the person’s sin and call them to repentance as well. If they still refuse to repent we are to remove them from the being members of the church. This does not keep them from coming to our church, but they are to be kept from partaking in the Lord’s supper because it is for Christians and we profane Christ’s body when we introduce those who are not Christians to it. This excommunication is intended to let people know that they are not living in accordance with what Christ has said it means to be one of His followers. It’s a warning out of hope to save their souls.

And before you start thinking that we are “disfellowshipping” like Jehovah’s Witnesses I want to quickly put that out of your thoughts. We are not shunning people when, as a church, we say they are not members by excommunicating them. We are saying that we cannot confirm that they are Christians because there’s no evidence they understand the Gospel and there is no fruit in their lives! What we are doing is saying we want you to have what we have, but we care enough about you to tell you that there is no evidence in your life that Christ has saved you! You’re in danger of Hell!

Church membership - not a modern concept

5. The Church is the Bride of Christ (Eph 5, Rev 19, 2 Cor 11:2)

Revelation 19:6–9 (ESV)

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

I will close with this quote from Iranaeus’ work called Against Heresies written sometime around 180AD. So about 1,840 years ago.

“We preserve our faith, which we have received from the church ... For this gift of God has been entrusted to the Church, as breath was to the first created man, for this purpose, that all the members may receive it and live. And fellowship with Christ has been distributed throughout it-that is, the Holy Spirit, who is the earnest of incorruption, the means of confirming our faith, and the ladder of ascent to God...

For where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church and every kind of grace; but the Spirit is truth. Those, therefore, who do not partake of him are neither nourished into life from the mother's breasts, nor do they enjoy that most clean and pure fountain which issues from the body of Christ.” Iranaeus

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