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What Is The Church?
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CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS THE CHURCH
Beginning at the beginning is always the best thing to do! For us, the beginning is establishing what exactly is the church. Lets take a look at God’s Word and see how He sees the definition for the church.
Ephesians 1:19-23
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 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.”
According to the Lord, Christ’s body is the church! Christ and His Church are the fullness of God. This is an interesting thing, “the body of Christ”. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:12 that the body of Christ are many members… “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.” God’s Word also tells us that we are members of His body; flesh and bones… Ephesians 5:30,32 - For we are members of His body, and of His flesh, and of His bones…this is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
In order for us to become a member of His church, you must leave the natural relationship of your parents and be joined unto the Lord Jesus Christ completely…just as you would physically leave your parents (vs.31) to be joined in Holy Matrimony to your spouse. Christ has been likened to a bridegroom in many other portions of scripture. So too, this applies when speaking of Christ and His church.
We need to remember that the Church is not the saved people, it is Christ Himself! The people can be members of the church…but only through salvation in Jesus Christ alone. This makes us members of His body. So, if the only thing scripturally necessary for “membership” in the church is to become one with Christ through salvation in Him alone, why does the organized church hand you a man-written doctrinal statement that you must agree with in order to be a member? Is that what God said we have to do in order to be a member of the church? No! So why should we have to agree with a piece of paper that 4-6 men sitting around a table throwing out suggestions that they feel everyone who comes to their local assembly must follow? The only opinion that matters here, folks, is Gods! Why do we put higher regard on a “doctrinal statement” or “statement of faith” or “church constitution”? They are man made, sprinkled with portions of verses here and there, and are basically considered all but Holy in the local church. Let’s keep our focus where it should be; on God and His Word. His opinion counts. ONLY His opinion counts. Membership to a local church is man’s legalistic way of controlling the people…creating a higherarchy that God Himself did not create. Nothing is mandatory for membership except salvation… done and done!
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CHAPTER 2: The Church and Its Relationship to God
Matthew 16:16-19 - And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”
We see here that according to God’s Word, Christ is both the owner and the builder of the church! He speaks with full authority when Christ tells Peter that HE will build HIS church. It is important to note here that Christ is not talking about a physical building. The building is and can not be a physical church because that is built by man, and man holds the deed. The true church, Christ owns. Lets look at some verses that tell us a little bit about this church.
Acts 20:28 - Jesus Christ purchased this church with His own blood.
Ephesians 5:25 - Jesus Christ loved and gave Himself for this church.
1 Corinthians 12:13- By the Holy Spirit we are baptized into this body…His church.
Matthew 16:18 - Christ is the owner & builder of the church.
1 Corinthians 12:18 - God adds everyone who believes to His church and it pleases Him!
Acts 2:41-47 - Additions to the church are made by God not man! We are added to the church by believing on the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.
John 7:37 - The church has its relationship to God ONLY through Jesus Christ. You could not have had this invitation into the church until Christ was glorified (vs. 39)
John 16:7 - This relationship we enjoy is only through the risen Christ.
These scriptures that we’ve examined show us quite clearly that the church is:
Owned by Christ
Purchased by Christ
Determined by Christ
Loved by Christ
Kept by Christ
It is certainly not a local building that we go to weekly as a social club, although, quite honestly, its becoming more difficult to find a local assembly that is not. For the most part, the Word of God is watered down so very badly it can’t even be called milk. We also find people so very consumed with committees, groups, functions, entertainment, dinners, flowers, decorating, and everything pertaining to mans senses…all except what the Lord wants…the WAY He wants. We need to get back to basics as far as the commission and purpose for the church. Never before have we been so lazy, so preoccupied, so selfish a generation of believers. Through intensive study of God’s Word, we can climb out of this Laodicean slump we are in and come apart and be a separate people, who stands out against the compromise of the local church who is non-Biblical in their teaching and disobedient to the Lord in their dealings. No, not all churches are this way, however, the closer we come to the return of the Lord, the more worldly we see the local church heading, and the more spiritual starvation becomes evident in the searching believer. This is why Home Fellowship is such an excellent option.