The Church
Church The church is a New Testament entity (a mystery revealed in the New Testament) that was born on the Day of Pentecost as our Lord predicted and during Peter's address in Jerusalem. You will recall that Pentecost came 50 days after Passover. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)
There are two different Greek words used to refer to the church and its members. The first is ekklesia meaning a gathering or assembly in general and referring to the local assembling by believers. The members of the church are among the elect (Greek, eklektos) or chosen ones. Another term is also used, kletos, or called as to a banquet. And another called word, kaleo, meaning to call by name. Perhaps we better let Paul say it: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Rom. 8:28-30)
Someone has said the church as been called out of the world to live in the world but not of the world. This can only be accomplished by the indwelling Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
The church is not the new Israel and the church did not inherit the promises given to Israel which were material and some very specific real estate in the Middle East. Also, the church did not inherit the curses that Moses pronounced in the case of disobedience and the condition of obedience that went along with the Promised Land. On the other hand, the Church has some conditions on blessing and fellowship. The Lord disciplines his own. Take the case of the church at Laodicea in Revelation where the Lord says that he will vomit it out of His mouth. Or take the case of Annanias and Sapphira who fell down dead due to pronouncing a lie in church.
The church was promised spiritual blessings in the heavenlies: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Eph. 1:3-12)
The church is a peculiar work of God in the age of grace, the time of the gentiles which falls between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel (Dan. 9:25-27), an age of uncertain duration in which God's clock seems to be frozen until He again turns to direct dealing with the nation Israel. What is the purpose of the Church? One purpose is to show forth the richness of the mercy of God who has saved so great a company of sinners. God's love is great and He is rich in mercy. He loved the church and gave himself for her and his will is that she shall be conformed to His own image. God longs to have fellowship with His creatures and has delight and interest in the details of their existence. How great is our God. Our God is holy and a consuming fire. He is our creator and He loves us.
Verse Study