THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH # 2.
What is the Church? part.2
Intro:
- Having seen the establishment of the N.T. Church in the year AD.33,
- We also saw that this was set up from the foundation of the world by God.
- We saw it prophesied.
- And we saw it prepared.
- The next logical step is to ask the question what is the church?
- Is it the building?
- Is it something peculiar to Religion?
- What exactly is the church?
- There are many descriptive phrases that are applied to the N.T. church.
- These phrases give emphasis to the various features of the church and set forth its nature.
- In order to cover all these we will have to spend a few lessons on the descriptions
applied to the church and therefore constitute a study on the nature of the church.
- However, before we study all these other descriptive terms used of the church let us start
once again at the beginning and study the expression the "Church".
- It is one of the many descriptive terms given to God's people and means the "called out
body."
Body:
- WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE TERM CHURCH?
- The term "church" is a translation of the greek term --- "Ekklesia" --- the actual term used
by Christ and the N.T. Apostles.
- 'Ekklesia" : From "ek", meaning out of, and "klesis" meaning a calling (Kaleo, to
call)....Vine's.
- According to the Englishman's Greek Concordance this term is used 115 times in the
N.T.
- It is a collective noun.
- This term was applied by the greeks to anybody of people called out from their
business or homes:
- To discuss affairs of State.....Acts 19:39 or
- Of a riotous mob....Acts 19:32, 41.
- This term is used in the sept. of the people of Israel...Acts 7:38 ; Judges 21:8 ; I Chron.
29:1.
- While the term "church" signifies no more than a "called out body, congregation" the church
of Christ has a much more restricted and important significance.
- It is used by our Lord to describe His body of redeemed people...Matt. 16:18.
- It is an institution composed of immersed believers who have been called out from the
world, and associate themselves together to worship God "in Spirit and in Truth."....John
4:24.
- It is a spiritual house over which Christ reigns as Head...Eph. 1:22-23, in which the Holy
Spirit dwells...cf I Peter 2:5,9 ; ICor. 3:9.
- The church is not: The church is:
- A Material building. A Spiritual Building
- An earthly kingdom. A heavenly Kingdom
- A Jewish Assembly. A general Assembly
- A denomination. The Lord's church
- A Political organization. And evangelistic org.
- A business institution. An edification org.
- A recreational organization. A benevolent org.
- A Social organization. A saving organization.
- The term is applied in the N.T. to the Lord's people.
- The term is used in a general sense to designate all the saved...Matt. 16:18 ; Eph. 1:22
; 5:25 ; Col 1:18.
- The word is used of a local congregation of God's called out within a definite locality:
..... I Cor. 1:2; II Cor. 11 ; II Thess 1:1 ; also of those who where meeting in their
homes...Rom 16:4-5 ; Col. 4:15 ; Philemon 2.
- The term is used in a distributive sense.
- Distributive being : "in logic, having reference to each individual or group or class
considered separately" (Century Dict.)
- Acts 5:11 ...fear came upon the church
- Acts 8:1 ....Persecuted the church.
- Acts 8:3 ....to every house.
- In the fourth sense it is used of the church assembled together, who have come together
for a specific purpose...I Cor. 11:18 ; "in one place" ..... I Cor. 14:23.
- THE NATURE OF THIS CALLING.
- This expression "the called out", designates the relation the church has to the world and to
God.
- We are called out of the world into His fellowship...Col 1:13.
- Called out of darkness into the kingdom..Col 1:12-13.
- Out of darkness into His light...I Peter 2:9-10.
- Called of God..thus a divine calling...I Peter 5:10 ; I Cor. 7:15 ; II Tim. 1:9.
- Called to be saints.....I Cor. 1:2; Rom. 1:7.
- Called into fellowship of Christ...I Cor. 1:9
- Called to be children of God.
- By a heavenly calling...Heb. 3:1.
- By the gospel of Christ ....II Thess. 2:13-14.
- All this is made possible by the suffering of Jesus Christ...I Peter 2:21.
- THE HOPE OF OUR CALLING.
- That we may be worthy of our calling....II Thess. 1:11-12 ; Eph. 4:1-3.
- To inherit the blessing.....I Peter 3:9.
- To go on unto perfection.
- To make our calling and election sure...II Peter 1:10.
Concl:
- The N.T. church is indeed a glorious institution.
- Those who are called out of the world of sin into the kingdom of His dear Son make up the
church.
- This is accomplished by God thru the Word that He has provided us with.
- Those who are with the King of Kings are called the chosen and the faithful.
- Having thus looked at the church established as well as the term church we will next week,
Lord willing, study the various descriptive terms used of the church.