The Church

Discover why the Church is so important to Christian believers.

NOTE: The English word Church is translated from the Greek word Ecclesia which means “called out ones”.

  1. The Formation of the Church
  2. Jesus Promised that the Church would be built upon the foundation of Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16ff).
  3. The Church is APOSTOLIC

– (Eph 2:20)  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

  1. The Church was actually established in JERUSALEM on the Day of PENTECOST in A.D. 30 when 3,000 believed Peter’s message and were baptized.

– (Acts 2:41)  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

  1. The Nature of the Church (the following are all NT descriptions of the church)
  2. The body of CHRIST

– (1 Cor 12:27)  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

– (Eph 1:22)  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

– (Col 1:18)  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

         1) This phrase describes the Church UNIVERSAL

2) It also stresses the Unity of the Church, the interdependence of its members, and their vital relationship with the Head, Jesus Christ.

  1. The TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit

– (1 Cor 3:16)  Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

– (Eph 2:21)  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

  1. The New (or “Heavenly”) Jerusalem

1) In the NT the Church is seen to be the spiritual counterpart of Jerusalem.

– (Heb 12:22)  But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly

2) In the OT Mount Zion was the place where Israel’s worship was centered, and Jerusalem was regarded as the place of the Divine Presence.

  1. The New ISRAEL

– (Gal 3:29)  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

– (1 Pet 2:9)  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

NOTE: The New Israel knows no racial barriers but embraces all those who truly belong to Christ!

  1. The PILLAR and FOUNDATION of the Truth.

– (1 Tim 3:15)  if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

1) The Church is the guardian and defender of God’s Truth.

2) The Church is grounded of the Truth and is the stronghold of it.

  1. The FAMILY(or “Household”) of God.

– (Gal 6:10)  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

  1. The BRIDE of Christ.

– (Rev 19:7)  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

  1. The Characteristics of the Church
  2. UNITY

– John 17:1-26

– (Gal 3:28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

– (Eph 4:1-6)  As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. {2} Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with          one another in love. {3} Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through     the bond of peace. {4} There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called– {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

  1. HOLINESS

– (1 Pet 1:15-16)  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; {16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

  1. CATHOLICITY (= universal nature)

         1) In the Christian Church believers constitute one organic whole.

         2) The Church is Meant to Embrace all NATIONS

– (Mat 28:19)  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,

         3) The Church is to TEACH Obedience to Christ’s Commands.

– (Mat 28:20)  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

  1. The Ordinances of the Church (NOTE: We will deal with both of these in later lessons)
  2. Lord’s Supper (or Eucharist)
  3. Baptism (or Immersion)
  4. MEMBERS of the Church
  5. Includes all those who have confessed faith in Christ and been baptized.

– (Gal 3:26-27)  You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, {27} for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

  1. CHILDREN of God

– (1 John 3:1)  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

  1. Saints

– (Rom 1:7)  To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

  1. SERVANTS

– (1 Pet 2:16)  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.