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The Church Identified
Guy N. Woods
The church is (a) a body (b) of baptized believers (c) called out from the world (d) over which Christ reigns as head (e) directed by the Holy Spirit through the word of truth. Such is the significance of the word "church," as used by our Lord in Matthew 16:18, when he said, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." When thus used, the term includes all of the Lord's faithful followers on earth.
The word "church" is also used to designate congregations of faithful believers from a geographical standpoint; as, for example, the church in Rome, the church in Corinth, the church in Jerusalem; or, a group of such congregations not otherwise geographically identified: "All the churches of Christ salute you." (Rom. 16:16.) The word also designates an assembly of Christians, convened for religious ends. (1 Cor. 14:34, 35.) Thus, there is a general sense, a geographical sense, and a congregational (assembled) sense in which the word finds usage in the New Testament.
When used in the general sense, as in Matthew 16: 18, there is but one church, as there is but one body of Christ (Eph. 4:4-6); when used in the geographical sense there are as many churches as there are congregations of the Lord s people. All of these congregations, however, are of the same faith and practice; and, they constitute the one body. Wholly unknown, in New Testament teaching, is the denominational concept of an invisible church. Christ purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25) to minimize the church is to minimize the blood of Christ; to assert that the church is non-essential is, in effect, to say that Christ's blood was shed unnecessarily. If it is possible to be saved without the church, it is possible to be saved without the blood of Christ; indeed, without being a Christian!
In a marvelous affirmation Paul described the exaltation of our Lord in this clear and impressive manner: "And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1:22, 23.) With all things put under his feet, and having been made head of the church, his will is sovereign, unlimited and complete. Inasmuch as "all authority" is his (Matt. 28:18-20), it is wickedness of the most presumptuous nature for conferences, synods, and conventions of men to attempt to exercise the powers and privileges which are his alone. Faithful disciples gladly submit to his will (Matt. 7:21; John 2:4), all others are in rebellion.
Further, the church, of which Christ is head (Col. 1:18), is his body (Col. 1:24); there is but one such body (Eph. 4:5-6), and all spiritual blessings are in this body (Eph. 1:3); therefore, there is but one church of which Christ is head; and, there is but one such body wherein are all spiritual blessings (salvation, from sin being, of course, one of them). The church is called the "house of God" (Heb. 3:6), the "temple of God" (1 Cor. 3:16), a "spiritual house" (1 Pet. 2:5), a "habitation of God" (Eph. 2:20-22), "God's husbandry" (1 Cor. 3:9), the "flock of God" (1 Pet. 5:2), "the body of Christ" (Col. 1:18), the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15), the "church of God" (1 Cor. 1:2), and "the churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16). These designations, all referring to the church of the New Testament, indicate different aspects of the same body. As an organism possessing life it is a body; as a government, it is a kingdom; as a place of worship, it is a temple; as a place of work, a husbandry, etc. These terms denote the divine nature, the divine organization and the divine work of the church. Children of God constitute the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), of which Christ is head.
There is but one such body: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." Here, the "seven unities" are clearly designated: one body, one spirit, one hope, one
Lord, one faith, one baptism. one God and Father. As there is but one Father and one Lord, so there is also but one body, and this "one body" is the church: "And gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body." (Eph. 1:22.) Since there is but "one body," and "the church . . . is his body," there is but one (New Testament) church; and it is, therefore, no more out of order to speak of a plurality of Gods or Lords, than it is to talk of a multiplicity of churches. Our Lord has but one spiritual body, the church. "All the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ." (1 Cor. 12:12-14, 20.) There can therefore be but one divine, New Testament church. All denominational bodies have arisen centuries this side of the apostolic age and thus sustain no relation to the body of Christ. Inasmuch as it is possible for one to be a Christian (by obeying the gospel), be added to the church (by the Lord himself), why should anyone for even one moment consider attaching himself to a denominational body, bearing no relation to the church of Christ, and which came into existence hundreds of years too late to be identified with the church of the New Testament? (Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38, 47.)
This simple, historic fact should not be overlooked that all religious denominations, having originated since the close of the apostolic age, are too recent to be the church of which our Lord spoke when he said, "Upon this rock I will build my church." (Matt. 16: 18.) Those who believe the gospel, repent of their sins, confess their faith in Christ, and are baptized for (unto) the remission of their sins (Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6: 3), are saved; in the process of saving them, the Lord adds them to the church. There is, of course, nothing to join; the Lord saves and adds to his own church.
Paul uses, by analogy, the relationship of husband and wife to indicate the relationship obtaining between Christ and the church: "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined [married] to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God." (Rom. 7:4.) Inasmuch as the church is the wife of Christ. it behooves it to be faithful to him, respectful of his will, and dedicated to his cause. A wife who repudiates the husband's name for another man; or who follows the will of another instead of her own husband, is a faithless wife. Religious people who will not wear the name of Christ; or, who follow the doctrines of men and attach themselves to human, denominational bodies, cannot possibly be regarded as faithful to Christ, or to his divine body, the church. It is Christ's will that his church maintain separation from the world and when it fails to do so it is under his displeasure. "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." (2 Cor. 6:14-18.)
Our privileges are unspeakably great; and, it is our duty as faithful devotees to his cause to maintain the purity of the church in organization, in doctrine and in practice; and, to reject, repudiate and denounce every departure therefrom. We honor the Lord when we respect and do his will, and it is our continuing responsibility to live right, to be honest in our dealings with one another; to remember the poor, teach others the way of duty, and worship God acceptably, all being done in the name of Christ, and to the honor and glory of God. "Unto him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever." (Eph. 3:21.)