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THE CHURCH

LESSON 2

1. WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

A. The word "church" (Matt. 16:13-20).

1 . Ekklesia: From EK, out of, and kiesis, a calling (KALEO, to call) - W. E. Vine. Applied by the Greeks to any body of people called out from their home or business. To the Greeks this word would suggest a self-governing democratic society; to the Jew, a theocratic society (international Standard Bible Encyclopedia). The pre-Christian history of the word had a direct bearing upon its Christian meaning, for the ekklesia of the New Testament is a society of those who are free, but conscious that they are free because of obedience to their king.

2. Used by the Lord in referring to His body of Redeemed people (Matt. 16:18).

3. The word "church" is used to designate those who belong to Christ-"called out"  of darkness into light (1 Pet. 2:9); out of the world into Christ (Col. 1: 13). It is used of the church in its entirety-all Christians everywhere (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:25), and of the local congregation of Christians in a particular city (1 Cor. 1: 1-2).

B. The church's relation to Christ is that of a bride to her husband.

In illustrating the relation of the wife to her husband, Paul uses the relation of the church to Christ (Eph. 5:22, 23). Of the relation of husband and wife, he says, "the two shall become one flesh"; then he adds, "This mystery is great; but I speak in regard of Christ and of the Church (vv. 31-32).

C. The Church is a body of many members (the body of Christ) of which Christ is the head.

To.the Corinthians, Paul wrote, "now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof" (read the entire passage-1 Cor. 12:12-27). As head over the body, Christ governs and presides (Col. 1: 18; Eph. 1:22-23).

D. The church is the family of God.

	1.	Paul, writing to Timothy, referred to the church as "the house of God," "the church of the living God" (1 Tim. 3:15). By "house of God," the apostle did not mean a building, but a family.
		a. To the Ephesians, Paul called them "fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19). To equate "house," "household" and  "family," Cf. Acts 16:15 and Acts 16:24. Therefore, the church is God's family. b. Sons and daughters of God (2 Cor. 6:18). God's sons and daughters would indeed be in His household or family.

E. The church is the kingdom of God and Christ.

1 . This kingdom would come during the lifetime of some of those who walked with Jesus on earth.

	a.	John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-2) preached about it; Jesus preached about it (Matt. 4:17); the twelve preached of it (Matt. 10:5-7) and the seventy (Luke 10:9) They all preached that the kingdom was near. Jesus said to some of His followers in Mark 9: 1, "There are some here of them that stand by, who shalI in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power."
	b.	The night of His betrayal He appointed unto His disciples a kingdom (Luke 22:28-30).
	C.	They received this unshakable kingdom (Heb. 12:28).

                  Names for the Church

	Matt 16:18		my (Christ) church
	I Cor 1:2		Church of God
	Rom 16:16		Church of Christ
	Acts 20:28		Church of The Lord
	Col 1:18		Body-Eph 1:22:23
	Heb 12:28		Kingdom
	I Cor 3:9		God's Building
	I Pet 5:3		The Flock

F. The church and the kingdom are the same.

I . Matt. 16:18-19-Jesus speaks of the church and the kingdom with reference to the same institution.

G. Terms of Membership.

I . Hear (through hearing, learn and understand the will of God) (Jno.6:44-45; Matt. 13:15; Acts 15:7; Rom. 10: 17).

2. Through hearing and learning, he must believe in and trust God and Jesus (Jno. 8.24; Heb. 1 1:6; Acts 16.31; Rom. 5: 1). Faith must be expressed in obedience (Gal. 5:6; James 2:24).

3. Repentance must follow, after understanding God's attitude toward sin       (Luke 24:47; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30-31; Acts 26:20).

4. All must publicly confess Jesus as Lord (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. I 0: I 0; I Tim. 6:12).

5. Be baptized for remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27). Baptism is a burial and a resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:13; Heb.10:22).

6. Saved individuals are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:41, 47;         5:14; 11:24).

7. Continue to live a Christ like life.

CONCLUSION: The church is the body of Christ, having the same relation to Him that the bride has to her husband. It is God's family; He has sons and daughters. It is the kingdom of God. It is a body of people who have obeyed the gospel, thereby becoming Christians. Those who obey the truth, God adds to the church.