What is the church? Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not the biblical definition of the church. The word church comes from the Greek word Ekklesia meaning an assembly or a call. The root meaning of the word church is not a building but the people. It is ironic that when you ask people what church you attend, usually they say, Baptist, Methodist, or other name. They often refer to a denomination or a building. Romans 16:5 says, Greet also the church in their house .... Paul refers to the church at home, - not a building that houses the church, but the body of believers. The church is the body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. El Body of Christ is composed of all believers from the time of Pentecost (Acts 2) until the Rapture of the Church. The Body of Christ is twofold: The universal church is the church consists of all who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 says, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. In addition, the body is not one member, but many. Here we see that anyone who has put their faith in Jesus is part of the Body of Christ. The true church of God is no church building or denomination. The Universal Church of God are those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The local church is described in Galatians 1:1-2, Paul, an apostle ... and all the brethren who are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Here we see that in the province of Galatia were many churches - what we call a local church. . A Baptist church, Lutheran, Methodist, etc, is not THE church, as in the universal church - but rather is a local church. The universal church are those who have trusted in Christ for salvation. These members of the universal church should seek fellowship and edification in a local church. In short, the church is not a building or denomination. According to the Bible, the church is the Body of Christ - all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13). There are members of the universal church (the Body of Christ) in the local churches.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 09:59:54 +0000
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