THE CHURCH of the NEW TESTAMENT

As we take a look at the church of our Lord, it is important for us to define what is meant by the term “church”.    Most people will think of a building with stained-glass windows, crosses, and steeples, but it is our aim to study that the Bible writers never had this in mind when they spoke of the church.  When Jesus said to Peter  “…upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” [Matt 16:18], He was not speaking of a physical building that no one could destroy.

The Greek word translated “church” in the New Testament is ekklesia, which is also sometimes translated assembly or congregation.  It means “a calling out of”, and represents a group of people who have been called together for a purpose.  The church is people who have been called together for a purpose.  Peter writes that these people are “…living stones…being built up a spiritual house, a holy priest hood, to offer us spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”, and that they were “…called…out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  [1 Pet 2:5, 9].

How were these people “called” together?  Paul writes that Christians are “called” by the gospel [2 Thess 2:13-14].  When people respond in obedience to the saving message of the gospel, the Lord adds them to His church [Acts 2:37-41, 47].   No one decides to become a member of the Lord’s church, and no one can be voted  in as a member.  Very simply, when a person obeys the g-o-s-p-e-l , he then becomes a Christian and is added to the church by the Lord!!

Paul further explains that the church is the Lord’s body, with Jesus as its head and Christians as individuals members of that body [Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Rom 12:4-5].  Each members has its own function and is responsible for the maintenance of the body.  Yet each member is under the control of the head, Jesus Christ, who has all authority [Matt 28:18]. 

Since the Lord is only one head over one body [Eph 4:4], it is vitally important that we recognize His church and seek to be a part of it.  We must study the church as it has been revealed in the New Testament, and then “examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith” [2 Cor 13:5].  Who is the head of the church you attend?  If it’s not Christ, then you are not in His body and will not be saved in the end! 

                                                                                From the Minister’s Desk