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As we pointed out in the previous chapter, when we get
saved we are born into the family of God and become a
child of God or even a son of God. The other members of
this household of God are our brothers and sisters. This
universal family of God, or household of God makes up the
universal church, the church of God. The term
"church"
according to the Bible means an assembly of "called
out ones". Old Testament Israel was called out of
heathenism to be a peculiar people, a chosen nation unto
God. Romans 2:28-29, 9:6-8 teach that the true believer
are the New Testament Israel. New Testament Israel, or the
New Testament church, is called out of sin and the world
to be holy. Peter says to the "people of God" in
1 Pet 2:9--But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light. So the universal
church is that entire company of "called out
one" in all ages that are in heaven and on earth.
NAME OF CHURCH
Paul tells us in Eph 3:14-15 of
this whole family in heaven and earth that is named after
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father's name of
course, thus, the name of the church in the Bible is the
"church of God", and is called just that several
places in the New Testament. Christ prayed in John
17:11-12...Holy Father, keep through thine own name those
whom thou hast given me, that they m ay
be one as we are. While I was with them in the world, I
kept them in thy name....
VISIBILITY OF THE CHURCH
When a body of these believers
assembled together at a certain geographical location to
worship God, they made up a visible congregation of the
church of God. Thus we read of....the church of God at
Corinth.(1 Cor 1:1) or....take care of the church of
God...(1 Tim 3:5). The seven churches in Asia minor
recorded in the book of Revelation, were not different
churches with different names and different creeds; but
were simply local congregation of the one universal church
of God. The reason Paul could preach or ordain elders
"in every church" was because they were all
alike (Acts 14:23)Quite a contrast from what we see today
in what is called Christianity with all its various
denomination with different names and creeds.
ONLY ONE CHURCH
The Bible only speaks of but one
true church. It is the one Jesus said He would built in
Matt 16:18. Christ is the door of the church and says in
Jn 10:9--I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall
be saved...In Acts 2:47 we learn that the Lord added to
the church those that were being saved. The Bible defines
the church as the body of Christ. Christ being the head
and all the saved people being members in particular,
making up the one body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27; Col 1:18)
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF
THE CHURCH
This one church of the Bible we
read about was not organized or governed by mere men or
committees. 1 Cor 12:18 tells us--"But now hath God
set the members everyone of them in the body as it hath
pleased Him." Then Eph 4:11-12 tells us--And He gave
some apostles; and some prophets, and some evangelist, and
some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ. The gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversity of tongues (languages) and other
gifts of the Spirit were divided amongst various ones at
each local congregation, as God willed, to enable the
church to function as one body.
UNITY OF THE CHURCH
This early church did function as
one body, for Acts 4:32 says they....were of one heart and
one soul...In Acts 2:46 we learn they were....with one
accord...and singleness of heart.
UNITED IN DOCTRINE
They were united in doctrine, for
Acts 2:42 says--And they continued steadfastly
in the apostles doctrine and fellowship...
UNITED IN NAME
They were united in name, the
Father's name, as Christ prayed in the seventeenth chapter
of John. The "church of God" of course is the
name they were united in. The unity of the New Testament
church is also taught in 1 Cor 12:12-13--For as the body
is one, and hath many m embers,
and all members of that one body, being many, are one
body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to
drink into one Spirit.
FIGURATIVE REPRESENTATIONS OF
THE CHURCH
The church is also compared to as
a building, as the Bride of Christ, as a flock, a city,
and so forth. As a building, the apostles and prophets are
the foundation, Christ being the chief cornerstone, and
the members are fitly framed together growing into an holy
temple in the Lord. (Eph
2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:5) In Acts 20:28, the church of God is
represented as a flock and we learned was purchased with
the blood of Christ and that the Holy Ghost appoints the
overseers. As a city it is symbolically termed Zion or New
Jerusalem. Heb 12:22-23--But ye are come unto Mount Zion,
and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels. To the
general assembly and the church of the first born, which
are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to
the spirits of man made perfect. Then the church as the
Lamb's wife, or Bride of Christ, we see in Eph 5:25-27
that...Christ also loved the church and gave himself for
it (her):
That he might
sanctify and cleanse it (her)
that He might present
it (her)
to
Himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, but that she should be holy and without
blemish.
THE CHURCH IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT AND "TYPE"
The New Testament Church is
prophesied of in the Old Testament and seen through types
and shadows. The church of God is often referred to as the
house of God, His spiritual dwelling place on earth. In
Old Testament times the house of God was in earthly
structure, the tabernacle, the temple, etc. In New
Testament times God dwells in His people and we His
people, are the temple of God. "Know ye not that ye
are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you?"(1 Cor 3:16) The Old Testament
prophets predicted the coming of the Messiah and said that
He would build another house of God, which would be a
spiritual house. Jeremiah 23:5-6 is prophecy concerning
Christ calling Him "The Branch". Then Zechariah
6:12-13 informs us that...the man whose name is the
Branch...shall build the temple of the Lord...Christ
fulfills these prophecies and says in Matt 16:18--I will
build my church..
Christ is the
foundation of this spiritual temple and 1 Pet 2:5 says--Ye
also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Heb 9:1-14 also teaches
us the Old Testament house of God was a "type"
or "figure" of a greater and more perfect
tabernacle...(Heb 9:11)introduced by Christ and dedicated
by His own blood. (The
church is also described through symbols in the book of
Revelation.)
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