In
Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised He would build His church. All serious Bible
students agree that He did build His church in the first century. At that time,
there was only one church belonging to Jesus and all saved people were in that
one church. You can read about that church on nearly every page of your New
Testament.
The
purpose of this study is to consider what the church is.
The
word "church" in the New Testament (Greek ekklesia) refers to a group
of people who are brought together for some special reason. In the religious
sense, the word refers to those people who have been brought together by God by
being forgiven of their sins; they have become children of God and have the
hope of eternal life.
Unfortunately
many people misunderstand the nature of the church.
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* Some
people use the word "church" to refer to a building where people
worship God.
* Some
think church membership is not essential to salvation.
* Some
think of the church as a specific denomination: Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran,
etc.
*
Others think the church consists of all the different denominations together.
* Still
others think the church is just individual Christians. They see no difference
between the church and the individuals, so whatever Christians can do the
church can do.
* Some
have denied that the local church is a functioning unit or that it has any
right to arrange programs of work that members are expected to participate in.
The
word "church" has different meanings.
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In the Bible, the word always refers to a group of people, never
to a physical building.
We will
study two primary uses of the word "church" in the Bible: the church
universally and the church locally. Then we will conclude by briefly observing
a use of the word that is not in the Bible: the church in the denominational
sense.
I. The Church in the Universal Sense
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A. The
Church (Universal) Is the Body of All Saved People Everywhere.
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It
includes all those who have been redeemed by Jesus' blood, have received
forgiveness of their sins, and have been born spiritually into His family.
This is
the sense in which the word church is used in Matthew 16:18. Jesus promised to
build His church. Other Bible examples of this usage of the word are:
Acts
20:28 - Jesus purchased the church with His own blood. But Jesus shed His blood
to save us from sin and make us His (Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Romans
5:6-9). So the people who have been saved and purchased by that blood are the
people who are in the church!
Ephesians
5:23,25 - Jesus is Head of the church, and He is Savior of His body. He gave
Himself up for the church. So the church is the body of all people who have
been saved by Christ.
Acts
2:47 - The Lord added to the church daily those who were saved. The
"universal" church consists of all saved people everywhere because,
when God saves people, He puts them in the church. In this sense, the church is
always singular.
This
also shows us why it is important to be in the church. Many people believe that
one does not need to be a part of the church to be saved. It is true that Jesus
is the Savior, so the church does not save us. Nevertheless, all those whom
Jesus has forgiven are in the church. If a person is not in the church, he is
not among those whom Jesus has saved from sin.
[See
also Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18,24; 1 Timothy 3:15; cf. 1 Corinthians
12:12-14 to Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16.]
B.
Other Terms Used for the Church Help Us Understand Its Nature.
=====================================================
The
church is also called the house or family of God.
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1
Timothy 3:15 - The house of God is the church of the living God, the pillar and
ground of the truth. [Cf. Ephesians 2:16,19; Galatians 6:10]
In the
Bible a person's family is often called his "house" or
"household." The church is the family or household of God because God
is our Father and we are His spiritual children.
This
shows God's authority over the church. As children we should obey our spiritual
Father. [Matthew 7:7-11; 12:46-50]
The
church is also called the kingdom of Christ.
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Matthew
16:18,19 - After saying He would build His church, Jesus promised to give Peter
the keys of the kingdom. The terms "church" and "kingdom"
here refer to the same thing.
Colossians
1:13 - God delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the
kingdom of the Son of His love. The kingdom is the church (v18) - remember, we
already learned that, when the Lord saves people, He adds them to the church.
Some people believe that Jesus' kingdom has not yet been established, but Jesus
will establish it when He returns. Instead the Bible shows that Christians in
the first century were in the kingdom, the church.
This
term shows that Jesus is the absolute ruler over the church. He makes the laws
we must obey. He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).
[Revelation
1:9; Hebrews 12:28]
The
church is also called the body of Christ.
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Ephesians
1:22,23 - Jesus Christ is the head of the body, the church. Like the head
guides the body, so Jesus has made the rules that govern the church. The
members of the body must cooperate and work together to accomplish the will of
the head.
Note
that each illustration of the church shows how intimately it is connected to
God. That, in turn, shows how essential the church is to salvation.
Also
note that Jesus is the only head of the church and He rules through the Bible.
This means there is no centralized earthly headquarters, governing body or
centralized organizations of any kind to supervise the work of the church.
[Ephesians
4:4-6; 4:23-25; Colossians 1:18]
II. The Church in the Local Sense
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Some
people see no difference between the church and the individual. They believe
the local church can do whatever the individual can do. Others do not believe
that the local church has the right to function as a unit, establishing and
supervising programs of work. These misconceptions result from a failure to
understand what the local church is.
According
to the Bible a local church must possess all the following characteristics:
A. A
Local Church Includes Christians in a Local Area.
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Many passages show that individual Christians were included in
local churches.
Acts 8:1 - The church which was at Jerusalem.
Acts 13:1 - The church that was at Antioch.
1 Corinthians 1:2 - The church of God which is at Corinth.
Revelation
1:4 - Jesus through John wrote to the seven churches of Asia. Each church was
then addressed directly, describing the works of each group, distinct from the
works of the other churches. Each one had its own lamp stand, which would be
removed if it became unfaithful (1:20; 2:1,5). (Note 2:7,11,17,23,29;
3:6,13,22; 22:16.)
Philippians
4:15 - No church shared with Paul but only the Philippians. Note how this
distinguishes the local churches as distinct one from another. One church did
this work, but others did not [compare 2 Corinthians 11:8 below].
Local
churches did exist, and individual Christians were part of local churches.
These churches were viewed as distinct from one another, such that each church
acted independently from the others.
[Note
Acts 9:31; 11:22; 14:23; 15:41; 16:5; Romans 16:1,4,16; 1 Corinthians 4:17;
7:17; 11:16; 14:33,34; 16:1,2,19; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 8:1,18,19,23,24;
11:8,9,28; 12:13; Galatians 1:2,22; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1:1,4; Colossians
4:16]
B. A
Local Church Has Rules to Follow.
======================================
Because Christ is the head of the church, He gave rules to guide
the local churches.
1 Corinthians 16:1,2 - Corinth was to do as the churches in
Galatia had been ordered to do.
Revelation
1:4; chapters 2 & 3 - Jesus addressed specific comments and instructions to
various local churches.
In the Bible the Lord has given commands and teachings for the
local churches to follow.
[1
Corinthians 11:17ff; chap. 14]
C. A
Local Church Has a System for Supervising Its Work.
=====================================================
Titus 1:5 - There is an "order" or pattern for how local
churches should be overseen.
Each
local church should develop and appoint a plurality of qualified men to serve
as elders, bishops, or pastors.
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Acts
14:23 - Elders should be appointed in every church. In each case there was a
plurality of elders.
1
Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9 - In order to serve as bishops, elders first must be
the kind of men who have the qualities listed. They are appointed to the work
if they have the qualities.
If a
church has a plurality of such men, they should be "appointed" or
"ordained" to do the work. Before a church has qualified men, it may
function in an immature state of development (like the churches in Acts 14:23
and Titus 1:5 before men were appointed.) But there is something lacking (Titus
1:5).
[Compare
Philippians 1:1; Acts 20:17,28; 15:2-6; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7].
Elders
in a local church should oversee (supervise) the work of that local church.
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Note the words used to describe their work and their relationship
to the members.
Acts
20:28; 1 Peter 5:2,3 - "Overseers" who "take the
oversight." [Translated "bishop" in 1 Timothy 3:1,2; Philippians
1:1.]
Ephesians
4:11 - "Pastors." The verb form in Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2,3 shows
they should "feed" or "tend" (ASV) or "shepherd"
(NASB, NKJV) the flock.
1
Timothy 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - "Rule" "over you."
[Hebrews 13:7,17,24 use a different word translated "rule."]
Hebrews 13:17 - Members should "obey" and
"submit."
Elders
exercise the leadership in a local church, but they must not lead people to do
things for which no Scriptural authority exists. They teach the members what
God's word says, refute error, and guard the members from straying. Within the
realm of authorized church work, there are decisions that need to be made to
carry out that work. The elders are responsible to see that these decisions are
made wisely.
Each
eldership is authorized to oversee only the work of the one local church where
they are members.
*****************************************************
Acts 14:23 - Elders should be appointed in every church [Titus
1:5].
1 Peter
5:2,3 - Elders tend and oversee "the flock" (singular) which is
"among you." Their jurisdiction is expressly limited to the local
congregation. [Acts 20:28,17]
Each
local church should have its own elders. Their work pertains to the church
where they were appointed, and their oversight is limited to that congregation.
This
necessarily implies that each congregation is separate and distinct from every
other one in organization and supervision. No church and no members of a church
have authority over the affairs of another local church.
[Compare
Acts 20:17; Philippians 1:1; Acts 16:4].
D. A
Local Church Has Funds under Its Control to Do Its Work.
=====================================================
1
Corinthians 16:1-4 - Churches took up funds to care for needy members. [2
Corinthians 8 & 9; Acts 6:1-6]
Philippians
4:14-16; 2 Corinthians 11:8,9 - Churches also used funds to support preachers.
This requires the church to have a regular income and to maintain funds to pay
these men.
Acts
5:4 - Individual members have their "own" funds under their
"control." From their personal funds the individuals make
contributions to the church collection (see 4:32-5:11).
The
Christian serves as God's steward, having funds under his "control"
[Matthew 20:15]. But when he gives them to the church, they pass out of his
control into the control of the local church under their leadership
(Philippians 4:15-18; 2 Corinthians 11:8,9; Acts 6:1-6). [2 Corinthians 9:6,7;
1 Corinthians 16:1,2; 1 Timothy 5:4,8,16]
So
local churches are authorized to have a pool or treasury of funds belonging to
the group to use to carry out its work. The church receives income by taking
collections from the members. These funds are separate and distinct from the
funds of the individuals.
E. A
Local Church Has Work to Accomplish as a Body or Unit.
=====================================================
The
work of a local church is authorized in the Bible.
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This
work can be summarized in different ways, but it includes the following:
* Teach
God's word to those who are not Christians - 1 Timothy 3:15; Acts 11:22-26;
Philippians 4:14-18; Acts 13:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 1:8.
*
Provide opportunities for worship and praise to God - 1 Corinthians
11:18-26,33; 14:15-26; 16:1,2; Hebrews 2:12; Acts 20:7.
*
Edify, instruct, and if necessary discipline those who are members - Ephesians
4:16; 1 Corinthians 14:19,23-26; chapter 5; Hebrews 10:24,25; Matthew 18:15-17.
*
Provide for the physical needs of certain destitute members - 1 Corinthians
16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8 & 9; Acts 4:32-35; 6:1-6.
Individual
members have work that is distinct from that of local churches.
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Individuals
are authorized to do some activities that are not authorized for local churches
to participate in.
*
Individuals may marry, have a physical relationship as husband and wife, bear children
physically, and raise them - Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 1:28; 2:18-24; Ephesians
6:1-4.
*
Individuals may operate businesses to make money - Ephesians 4:28; Matthew
20:1-15; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Acts 18:2,3; 1
Corinthians 9:7; Acts 20:34; Matthew 25:14-30.
*
Individuals could own, operate, or make donations to a college, hospital,
benevolent institution, etc. - Luke 10:34,35; Acts 19:9; 7:22.
*
Individuals may purchase, provide, and participate in entertainment, recreation,
and social activities such as athletics, orchestras, plays, parties, social
clubs, etc. - 1 Timothy 4:8 Mark 6:31; 1 Corinthians 9:24,25.
* There
are also differences regarding who controls individual vs. church funds, and
regarding what needy people they care for - 1 Timothy 5:4,8,16; Acts 5:4; 2
Corinthians 9:6,7; etc.
We do
not say that individuals may never do things that churches may do. But we do
say there are works we may do as individuals that are never granted to the
local church to do.
F. A
Local Church Has an Identifiable Membership.
=================================================
The
Bible gives principles by which a local church should be able to determine who
is or is not a member of that local church. Members should commit themselves to
be part of a particular local church and to labor to help accomplish the work
of that church.
Acts
9:26-29 - When Paul came to Jerusalem, he sought to join himself to the
disciples there. He was working among them preaching and teaching God's word.
Acts
18:27,28 - When Apollos went to Achaia (Corinth), the church in Ephesus sent a
letter to the brethren there to receive him. He then worked diligently among
them.
Matthew
18:15-17; 1 Corinthians chapter 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 - The church has the
God-given duty to withdraw from members who continue in sin and will not
repent. So the church excludes from itself those members who do not remain
faithful. [Compare Romans 16:17]
Members
should identify themselves as part of a local church so they have men who watch
for their souls and lead them in the work - Hebrews 13:17; Acts 20:28-30. But
the supervision of elders extends only to the local church where they have been
appointed. So elders must be able to know which sheep they are responsible for
and which they are not responsible for.
A local
church is not just any group of Christians. It has limits that define who is
and is not included in the group. Those who are members should be identified
and recognized apart from those who are not members.
[Acts
11:22-26; Romans 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 10:24,25; 1 Corinthians
1:2; 16:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Galatians 1:2; Revelation 1:4]
G. The
Members Should Intend and Agree to Be a Local Church.
=====================================================
This
point follows from all the previous points. When members commit themselves to
be part of a local church, they understand and recognize that they become part
of the group that follows the rules God has given for local churches and that
follows the oversight of the elders. They should give so the group has funds of
the group to do the work of a local church.
All
this means that a local church is not just a group of Christians, but a group
of Christians that are ordered, arranged, or organized to work and worship
together as a local church. They intend for this group to continue indefinitely
in this work (it is not intended to be a temporary arrangement).
Illustration:
A pile of bricks is a group of individual units. The same group of bricks may
be organized to form an office building, hospital, or school. What the bricks
make up depends on how they are organized, arranged, or patterned together.
So a
group of Christians does not constitute a local church until it is arranged,
patterned, or ordered so as to constitute a local church. The same group of
Christians could be arranged to form a business corporation, a school, a
college, or a local church. Which they form, or in what capacity they are
acting at any given time, depends on what pattern or arrangement they are
following, and what they intend to be acting as at the time.
The
local church is an organized or arranged group of Christians with work, funds,
and supervision to be a local church.
Conclusion
==========
Denominations
are a departure from the pattern of the church.
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We have
described the church as it was in the New Testament - the universal sense and
the local sense. Denominations are a perversion of that pattern.
A
denomination is not just a local church, but is an affiliation of many local
churches. But neither is it the church universal, since no denomination claims
to include all saved people. Each denomination claims to be composed of
Christians, but it does not claim to contain all faithful Christians.
Denominations are organizations that are more than just local churches, but
less than the universal church.
So
denominations constitute a change in God's plan that was unknown in the Bible.
Those who advocate membership in them are preaching a gospel different from
what is revealed in the New Testament (Galatians 1:6-9). Those who join them do
not abide in Jesus' doctrine and so do not have God (2 John 9).
[Proverbs
3:5,6; 14:12; Matthew 15:9,13,14; Isaiah 55:8,9; Jeremiah 10:23; Col.3:17; 1
Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:1-5; Revelation 22:18,19]
Denominationalism
violates the Bible teaching about unity.
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Each
denomination has its own peculiar name, doctrine, organization, plan of
worship, etc., contradicting the practices of other denominations. Yet they say
God will accept all this. "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as
you worship God sincerely," etc.
But
Jesus prayed for all who believe on Him to be one as He and His Father are one
(John 17:20-23).
Paul instructed the Corinthians to have no divisions among them -
1 Corinthians 1:10-13.
We must
strive to keep the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3-6). This requires one
true body, the church, and one true faith, just as surely as it requires one
true God and Father.
[See
also 1 Corinthians 14:33; 3:3; 12:12,13,20; Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 2:16;
Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 12:4,5.]
To be
saved we must be members of Jesus' one true church.
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We must
be part of the universal body of all saved people, then we must affiliate
ourselves with a faithful local church. We must refuse to be part of any group
that claims to be a denomination, or that excuses, justifies, or condones
denominationalism. [2 Corinthians 6:17,18; Ephesians 5:11; Romans 16:17; 2 John
9-11; Matthew 15:1-14; Titus 3:10,11.]
Acts
2:38,47 - If you repent and are baptized for remission of sins, God will then
add you to His true church.
Obeying
Jesus' true gospel made people members of Jesus' one true church in the first
century. It did not make them members of any denomination. That gospel can have
the same effect in your life as it did in theirs. You can be a member of Jesus'
one true church and part of a faithful local congregation of God's people today
simply by obeying the teachings of Jesus and avoiding all man-made religious
doctrines.
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Hillcrest Church of Christ, Utica, Ohio
