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Please Note: There is a present teaching that is making
its way through Christendom that the church is dead via the church age
being over. This is a pack of lies and if you run across anyone who
is promoting this heresy, ignore and walk away from them, for they are
doing the work of Satan. There are still many good churches out
there.
The word "church" is derived from the Greek Word
"ekklesia" which means a called out assembly. The church is the
living organism that Christ came to redeem, and which has the mandate for
sending forth the gospel. We will take a biblical look at what the church
is and you may be surprised because differences exist between what we
conceive the church to be and what the Bible says it is.
The church is thought of in two different manners:
1. The Invisible Church - This constitutes all the believers
that are spread throughout the world and that are not gathered into a
local assembly or a single place.
2. The Visible Church - This is the local assembly that we
see on Sunday morning. It is called the visible church because we can
physically see the people gathered.
Symbol of the Church in the Old Testament
In Acts 7:38, while Stephen was giving his discourse about
the history of Israel, he included the statement, "The church in the
wilderness." Stephen was telling us that the Israelites were a
called out assembly and this may easily be borne out by a study of
Exodus. They were called out of Egypt. This represents the Christians
being called out of the kingdom of Satan and placed into the kingdom of
God, which is the church. Egypt, in the Bible, is a symbol of the world
system. Moses was a symbol or type of Christ. As Moses led the Israelites
out of bondage, Christ leads us out of the bondage of Sin and Satan. So
from this we conclude that the nation of Israel typified the church in
the New Testament. The land of Canaan, which was known as the promised
land, was a symbol of the kingdom of God.
Some of the Biblical Names for the Church
1. The Body of Christ - Ephesians 1:22-23
2. The Pearl of Great Price - Matthew 13:45-46
3. The Flock of God - Isaiah 40:11; 1 Peter 5:2
4. The House of God - 1 Timothy 3:15
5. The Household of God - Ephesians 2:19 (family)
6. The Bride of Christ - Revelation 19:7
7. A Great Multitude - Revelation 7:9
8. Israel of God - Galatians 6:16
9. Assembly of the Saints - Psalm 89:7
10. Assembly of the Upright - Psalm 111:1
11. The Heavenly Family - Ephesians 3:15
12. God's Building; God's Husbandry - 1 Corinthians 3:9
13. The Holy City - Hebrews 12:12
14. Pillar and Ground of the Truth - 1 Timothy 4:15
Other Facts About the Church
1. Not everyone who belongs to a church is saved - Matthew
13:24-30, 36-40 - In modern times the church has let down its spiritual
guard and allows anyone to be a member, whether they are Christians or
not. The tares represent those in the church who are unsaved. The wheat
represents those who are saved. Christ allows both to exist in the same
congregation but on the last day, as He states in Vss 30 and 39-40, He
will separate them. The wheat (Christians) will go into the barn (heaven)
and the tares (unbelievers) will be cast into hell.
2. Many times Christ's goal and the church's goal are not
the same. In some churches there is a goal set just to feed the hungry
and focus on social problems. This should not be the focus of the church,
however, it may be part of their ministry but it should not be the main
emphasis. The sending forth of the gospel is to be the main emphasis of
the church as stated in Matthew 28:19-20.
3. By joining a good Bible believing church, (there are
churches who do not believe the Bible) you will be able to grow rapidly
and properly in your Christian walk. So look for a good church when you
begin your search. If you can find a good home Bible Study in someone's
home, try to attend as this will help you in your growth. If you are
unable to find a good church in your area but there are good house
churches, then by all means attend. The early church met in homes. If you
attend a home church, make sure you get their doctrinal statement as some
have started house churches and they have turned into cults as the
leaders have no spiritual discernment.
4. God designed the local church for the born again
Christian only and not for the unbeliever. They may attend but are to say
no to positions of leadership. The weekly meetings are for believers to
be strengthened and ministered to so they can go out and fulfill the great
commission.
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