1. The Definition of the Church
The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning “called-out assembly.” In the New Testament, the church refers both to the universal body of all believers from Pentecost to the return of Christ and to local congregations of believers. Jesus Himself promised to build His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The church is not a building, a denomination, or a human organization; it is the living body of Christ on earth.
2. The Church Is the Body of Christ
God placed all things under Christ’s feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body. As a physical body has many members but is one body, so also is Christ. Every believer is baptized by one Spirit into one body. Christ is the head, and believers are the members, each with different gifts for the common good. There is no division in the true body.
3. The Church Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
Believers are built together as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The church is called the temple of the living God, and the Spirit of God dwells in her. This temple is holy, and that holiness applies both to the corporate body and to each individual believer.
4. The Church Is the Bride of Christ
The apostle Paul described the church as a chaste virgin betrothed to one husband—Christ. Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. The church is presented to Christ as a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. This marriage will be consummated at the return of Christ.
5. The Church Is the Household and Pillar of Truth
Paul calls the church the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone. The church is also the pillar and ground of the truth. She is entrusted with preserving, proclaiming, and defending the Word of God. Outside of the true church, the gospel is not faithfully maintained.
6. The Ordinances of the Church
Christ gave two ordinances to the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water, symbolizing death to sin and resurrection to new life. It is administered to those who have repented and believed. The Lord’s Supper is the continual remembrance of Christ’s death until He comes, where believers partake of the bread and the cup, proclaiming His sacrifice.
7. The Discipline of the Church
Christ gave authority to the church to exercise discipline for the purity of her members and the glory of God. If a brother sins and refuses to repent after private and then corporate admonition, he is to be removed from fellowship and treated as a pagan or a tax collector. This action is ratified in heaven. The goal of discipline is restoration, not destruction.
8. The Officers of the Church
God appointed officers in the church for her order and edification. The two permanent offices are bishops (elders/overseers) and deacons. Elders must be above reproach, husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, hospitable, able to teach, not greedy, ruling their own houses well. Deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
9. The Mission of the Church
Before His ascension, Christ gave the Great Commission to the church: go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that He commanded. The church is to be His witness locally and to the ends of the earth. This mission continues until the end of the age.
Conclusion
The church is not optional for the Christian. It is the body of Christ, the temple of the Spirit, the bride of the Lamb, and the household of God. Believers are commanded to assemble together, submit to biblical leadership, partake of the ordinances, and fulfill the Great Commission. Where two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, He is in their midst.