THE CHURCH OF CHRIST-WHAT IS IT?
Matt. 16: 13-20
Introduction: There is much confusion and misunderstanding
regarding the meaning and application of the word church. People
speak of going to church, but no such statement or idea is found
in the New Testament; and neither is the place of meeting ever
referred to as the church by inspired writers. The purpose of
this study, therefore, is to get a clearer conception of just what
the church of Christ is. As we proceed, let us notice:
I. THE GENERAL CONDITION OF AFFAIRS PRIOR TO THE ESTAI-
LISHMENT OF THE CHURCH
1. Briefly speak of the fall of man and his subsequent sin and
degradation. (Rom. 3: 10, 23; Eph. 2: 11, 12.)
2. Describe God's attitude toward the fallen race. (John 3:
16; Ezek. 33: 1 1 ; 2 Pet. 3: 9.)
II. THE MEANING OF THE TERM CHURCH
1. The Greek word for church is ekkiesia-from ek, out, and
kaleo, to call or summon. This word was not coined by Christ
or the apostles, but was in general use by the Greek speaking
people during the time of Christ's earthly ministry. The term
never had any religious significance among the Greeks. It literally
meant the called-out ones or an assembly, and it was applied to any
body of people called out and gathered together for any purpose.
There is nothing about the word itself that designates the character
of the assembly. It may be religious or otherwise. Twice the
term was applied to the mob in Ephesus, once to the proconsular
court, and once to the congregation in the wilderness. (See Acts
19: 32, 39, 41 ; 7: 38.) Thus, the kind of church must always
be determined by the context. Other terms and circumstances
must decide whether the reference is to a churchof God or a church
of men.
2. In the light of the definition just given, the church of Christ
is the people who heed the call of Christ through the gospel and
thereby become his subjects, his people, or his body. (Mark 16:
15, 16; 2 Thess. 2: 13, 14; Col. 3: f 5.) However, the church of
Christ is not called together literally and physically, as was the
uproarous assembly in Ephesus, or as were the Israelites in the
wilderness. It is a spiritual body, and its members are called out
of and separated from the world in a spiritual sense. They are
associated together upon a spiritual basis, and are bound together
by spiritual bonds.
III. WHY WAS THE TERM "CHURCH" APPLIED TO GOD'S
PEOPLE?
1. It should be kept in mind that the word "church" is not
the only term used to designate God's people. They are also
referred to as a "kingdom," a "flock," a "house," a "temple," a
"body," etc.
2. As has already been observed, the people of God are called
out of and separated from the world in a spiritual sense, and the
term "church" is applied to them, because it accurately describes
this spiritually called-out feature of the body of Christ. (Cf. I Pet.
2: 9; Col. I: 13; Rom. 6: 16-18.)
3. The term also conforms to the mission of Christ. (Luke 19:
10; Acts 15: 14.)
IV. THE NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE WORD CHURCH AS
APPLIED TO GOD'S PEOPLE
1. In a general sense. (Cf. Col. 1: 18; Eph. 1: 22, 23; 5:
25; Heb. 12: 23.) In this sense, the term embraces all the saved,
all the called out, in all the world. A physical assembly is not
necessary, for a man's family is always his family, whether they
are assembled together or not. (I Tim. 3: 15; Act 8: 3.)
2. With geographical limitations. (See Acts 8: 1; 1 Cor. 1:
2; Acts 9: 31.) Here the essential idea is the saine as when ap-
plied to the whole body of God's people, that is, it embraces all the
saved, all the called oitt, in the territory named.
3. The local sense. (See Rom. 16: 3-5; Col. 4: 15; Phile. 2.)
The reference, in this sense, is to a body of people banded together
for work and worship, and meeting together in one place. Mem-
bership in such congregations is not determined by geographical
bounds, but by various circumstances, such as convenience, oppor-
tunities for greater service, etc. The church of Christ on Fifth
Avenue does not refer to the Christians living on Fifth Avenue,
but rather to those who regularly meet on that avenue for worship,
even though none of them live on it.
Conclusion: It is evident, therefore, from the above-mentioned
considerations, that the church of Christ is that body of people
over which he is the head-the ones who were called out of sin
and bound together in his service by the gospel as revealed in the
New Testament.
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