The biblical use of the term “Church” primarily refers to the ekklesia, a Greek word that is best defined as “assembly” or “called-out ones.” This is the assembly of those who are the believers called out of the world by God in Jesus Christ. The Church is thus not a material edifice, but the aggregate of those who share faith in Jesus Christ. In this article, I define the Church according to biblical texts, consider the many-faceted purpose of the Church in Scripture, describe its origins and nature, and suggest some related micro-contexts of Christian thinking. It creates the big-picture context of the Church’s identity and purpose as embedded in Christian teaching and praxis which describes God’s call upon it and its operational instructions.
Biblically What Is The Church?
The term Church, according to the Bible, means the assembly of those who have been called out by Jesus, not particularly the building in which they get together, a meaning it has taken on only lately. This assembly is made up of believers who have responded to God’s call and salvation in faith through the atoning death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. The N.T., however, uses a number of different metaphors to describe the nature of The Church as a unity coming from God and indissolubly linked to Jesus Christ.
The most prominent biblical image is The Church as the “Body of Christ“. Paul takes to this a great deal in his letters, such as in Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, and Ephesians 4:11-16. This picture holds that Christ is the head of the body that is composed of individual members, who all have different spiritual gifts and roles. As each part of a physical body, our body of Christ, has different parts working together in a common cause, the Body of Christ is made up of varied members bound together under the headship of Christ and to accomplish God’s purpose in the world. 1 Corinthians 12:27 quite clearly says, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.“
Other important analogies:
- THE CHURCH AND THE “TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”. (1 Corinthians 3:16) (ESV) 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are Gods temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” Ephesians 2:19-22 further says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” This presents The Church now as God’s holy temple in which He dwells on Earth, which is consecrated by The Holy Spirit, substituting the physical temple of the Old Testament.
- The Church is also referred to as the “Bride of Christ.” This metaphore is found in Eph 5:25-27 and Rev 19:7 and represents Christ’s love, and caring for the Church, allowing for no misunderstanding about the level of it. Christ gave himself for The Church “that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” This metaphor emphasizes the close union between Christ and The Church and their final end to be presented to It in a condition of perfection.
- And not only so, but The Church is called the “Family of God.” In Galatians 6:10, the believers are the “household of faith”; in Ephesians 2:19, they are “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” This brings out the relational side of The Church, in that believers have a common spiritual heritage, namely – God, and as a family are brothers and sisters – bound by love and genuine concern for one another.
Throughout the Bible is taught that The Church speaks of a body with a spiritual life, initiated and created by God. The Church is a spiritual organism, an organism created by God and having all true believers who are connected by a common faith in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, connected to its head, Christ, loved by Christ, and functions as a unit. This includes the universal Church being all believers in all times and places, and local churches being those who gather as a group from a specific geographical area.
What is The Scriptural Purpose of The Church?
The nature of The Church, as defined by Scripture, is multi-faceted and God ordained. Its central functions with respect to God, itself (the community of faithful), and the world are pertained to.
One of the chief functions of The Church in this sense, is worship and praise of God. Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” The congregation responds with praise, thanksgiving, and adoration for God’s character and work of salvation. Worship is both public assemblies for singing, prayer, and teaching and private lives lived in dedication to/allegiance to God. This action acknowledges the paramount value of God and the primary locus of God in the life of the community.
Another important role is that of teaching and equipping the saints. Ephesians 4:11-16 (that Christ has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers) explains about these that he has given them “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” This simply means that it’s the sanctuary in which spiritual growth happens, mutual edification is practiced, sound doctrine is taught; and believers’ giftedness is cultivated. Members help one another to grow stronger in faith and to become more like Christ through teaching, fellowship, and exercising of gifts.
The Church, as well, is intended for Christian community and mutual encouragement. Acts 2:42-47 refers to the early Church community breaking bread together, praying for each other, and providing for one another. This koinonia, fellowship, is a shared life, mutual encouragement in times of challenge, accountability, and tangible help. Believers are commanded to love one another, bear one another’s burdens, and to live in peace; showing the life changing power of the gospel in our relationships. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25).
The chief object worth considering is the promulgation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Simon See “Disciples or Community of Scholarship and Mission?” in: Bethlehem Immigrant and Refugee Mission Theological Framework (Minneapolis: Bethlehem College and Seminary, 2014), 26 on the great Commission of Jesus: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The Church is the means by which God desires to evangelize unbelievers with the good news of salvation in Christ. That includes evangelism, missions and living lives that testify to the power of the gospel. Isaiah 44:3; 47:2; Ezekiel 36:27 – In acts 2:4-5; 2:38-49, Peter quotes these passages to confirm that one must receive the Holy Spirit; in Acts 2:37, people are convicted and ask what they must do.
So too, The Church is here for the benefit of others, other Christians and also all others around us. Jesus Himself is the supreme example of service (Mark 10:45), and His followers should follow suit. This involves showing mercy, compassion, and justice, as well as hands-on help for those God puts in our path. Galatians 6:10 exhorts us to “do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Service is a testimony to Christ’s love and a testimony of the gospel message.
Last but not least, The Church must fight for the faith– stand for Biblical truth! 1 Tim. 3:15 calls The Church the pillar and ground of the truth. This includes contending for the truth of basic Christian teaching against error and false teaching, guarding the gospel from the challenges to its integrity, and conforming ones lifestyle to sound doctrine. Jude 3 writes, “earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Each of these scriptural purposes are integrated together, and together capture humanity’s role in God’s plan: a body that worships God, grows believers, cares for one another, shares the gospel, serves people, and guards truth.
Where Does The Church Come From and What Is It Biblically?
The Church is of divine origin and has God’s eternal plan, founded and brought into operation by Jesus Christ in the course of His life on earth, but established and fully brought into being by Him only after He had returned to His Father and sent the Spirit of Truth to Christians at Pentecost. Yes, there is a sense of a covenant community of God’s people in the Old Testament, yet the New Testament with the “Church” as the body of Christ is different.
The Church was prophesied by Jesus himself. Referring to Peter, in Matthew 16:18, Jesus says, “and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This declaration indicates Christ’s desire to build this new body of believers. The “rock” has been understood in multiple ways: Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Son of God or Jesus himself (Peter) as a figure representing the path to salvation. 1 Corinthians 10:4 as Christ. Whether the interpretation of “rock” is rock or not, the verse explicitly says that Christ is the founder and the rock of The Church.
The psychological beginning of The Church is the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter 2. After the ascension of Jesus, the disciples of Jesus were in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit descended on them, an event traditionally called the birth of the Church. Peter addressed the masses, and about 3,000 were converted and baptized, and added to the believers. Acts 2:41 says, “So then, those who had received his word were baptized, and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” This was when the Holy Spirit came to dwell within believers as a group — this was the birth of The Church as the living temple of God and the Body of Christ.
The Church is both catholic and parochial. The universal church is all true believers in Jesus Christ from all times and every place on earth, united spiritually regardless of denomination or location. This is the “one body” mentioned in Ephesians 4:4. This holy body is not manifested completely in the earth, but is hidden and stored away from the sight of God.
The local church, on the other hand, is a visible company of believers who meet for regular worship, teaching, fellowship, and ministry in a particular place. The epistles in the New Testament tend to be written to these local churches e.g the church in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae and Thessalonica. These local churches serve as concrete manifestations of the universal Church in the world. They celebrate baptism and the Lord’s Supper, exercise spiritual gifts, provide spiritual leadership (elders/pastors and deacons) and engage in the mission of The Church in their local community and world. Acts 14:23 says that Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders in every church,” as they went through the cities where the gospel had been preached to them.
Holiness and catholicity of The Church is also an aspect. Holy refers to The Church being separated through God and for God’s purposes, being washed and sanctified by the blood of Christ, and the Spirit who lives within them. Although with respect to their practical holiness, individual members of it may be far from perfect; yet, as a collective body, it is a people consecrated to God. By Catholicity, I mean universal, so that The Church is not circumscribed to any particular people/nation/social status, but stretches to all who will believe in him “from every tribe, tongue, people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). This demonstrates the universal scope of God’s salvation programme.
Nowhere was this truth more solidified than at Pentecost when The Church was birthed and established after Christ’s work was complete and The Spirit was indwelling. Its character is twofold: it is 1. A general spiritual body made up of all the saints, and 2. Many local, visible fellowships that express and carry out the life and work of that general body.
What is Christianity?
Christianity is a monotheistic religion focused on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Its followers, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Jewish Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. The faith is grounded in the Bible, which is divided into the Old and New Testaments and is believed to be the inspired word of God. Tenets include, the belief in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), human sinfulness, the necessity of salvation, redemption through Jesus Christ, and the resurrection. It originated in the context of Judaism in the first century AD, and has since spread around the world, being the principal religion of Europe, the Americas, and much of the world today with between 1.5 and 2.4 billion adherents.
What are the biblical type and shadow descriptions of the Church?
Among the metaphors the Bible uses for the Church are:
- the Body of Christ
- the Temple of the Holy Spirit
- the Bride of Christ
- the Family/Household of God
- a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5)
- a flock (John 10:16)
- branches of a vine (John 15:5)
- a pillar and buttress of truth (1 Tim 3:15)
What are the two chief sacraments observed in the majority of Christian churches?
The ordinances regularly practiced in other Christian churches (usually two in number) are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (called Communion or Eucharist). These are merely symbolic acts that Jesus has commanded and believers have seen.
How many Christians are there in the world?
By one estimate there are over 2.4 billion Christians in the world which is roughly one-third of the world’s population.
What are some things a local church gathering does?
Singing, praying, reading the Bible (or listening to it being taught) and preaching are typical activities. Corporate worship The practice of corporate worship in local churches can vary.
Who are the most common human leaders in most local churches?
The only human leaders in much of churchdom are elders (aka, pastors or overseers) and deacons. It is elder-led in terms of spiritual leadership and teaching, and deacon-led for practical service and administratives.
