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THE CHURCH OF CHRIST-WHAT IS IT?

Matt. 16:13-20

Introduction: There is much confusion and misunderstanding regarding the meaning and application of the word church. People speak of going to church, but no such statement or idea is found in the New Testament; and neither is the place of meeting ever referred to as the church by inspired writers. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to get a clearer conception of just what the church of Christ is. As we proceed, let us notice:

1. THE GENERAL CONDITION OF AFFAIRS PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH
   1. Briefly speak of the fall of man and his subsequent sin and degradation. (Rom. 3:10, 23; Eph. 2:11, 12.)
   2. Describe God's attitude toward the fallen race. (John 3:16; Ezek. 33:11; 2 Pet. 3:9.)
2. THE MEANING OF THE TERM CHURCH
   1. The Greek word for church is ekkiesia-from ek, out, and kaleo, to call or summon. This word was not coined by Christ or the apostles, but was in general use by the Greek speaking people during the time of Christ's earthly ministry. The term never had any religious significance among the Greeks. It literally meant the called-out ones or an assembly, and it was applied to any body of people called out and gathered together for any purpose. There is nothing about the word itself that designates the character of the assembly. It may be religious or otherwise. Twice the term was applied to the mob in Ephesus, once to the proconsular court, and once to the congregation in the wilderness. (See Acts 19:32, 39, 41; 7:38.) Thus, the kind of church must always be determined by the context. Other terms and circumstances must decide whether the reference is to a churchof God or a church of men.
   2. In the light of the definition just given, the church of Christ is the people who heed the call of Christ through the gospel and thereby become his subjects, his people, or his body. (Mark 16:15, 16; 2 Thess. 2:13, 14; Col. 3:15.) However, the church of Christ is not called together literally and physically, as was the uproarous assembly in Ephesus, or as were the Israelites in the wilderness. It is a spiritual body, and its members are called out of and separated from the world in a spiritual sense. They are associated together upon a spiritual basis, and are bound together by spiritual bonds.
3. WHY WAS THE TERM "CHURCH" APPLIED TO GOD'S PEOPLE?
   1. It should be kept in mind that the word "church" is not the only term used to designate God's people. They are also referred to as a "kingdom," a "flock," a "house," a "temple," a "body," etc.
   2. As has already been observed, the people of God are called out of and separated from the world in a spiritual sense, and the term "church" is applied to them, because it accurately describes this spiritually called-out feature of the body of Christ. (Cf. I Pet. 2:9; Col. 1:13; Rom. 6:16-18.)
   3. The term also conforms to the mission of Christ. (Luke 19:10; Acts 15:14.)
4. THE NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE WORD CHURCH AS APPLIED TO GOD'S PEOPLE
   1. In a general sense. (Cf. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:25; Heb. 12:23.) In this sense, the term embraces all the saved, all the called out, in all the world. A physical assembly is not necessary, for a man's family is always his family, whether they are assembled together or not. (I Tim. 3:15; Act 8:3.)
   2. With geographical limitations. (See Acts 8:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 9:31.) Here the essential idea is the saine as when applied to the whole body of God's people, that is, it embraces all the saved, all the called oitt, in the territory named.
   3. The local sense. (See Rom. 16:3-5; Col. 4:15; Phile. 2.) The reference, in this sense, is to a body of people banded together for work and worship, and meeting together in one place. Membership in such congregations is not determined by geographical bounds, but by various circumstances, such as convenience, opportunities for greater service, etc. The church of Christ on Fifth Avenue does not refer to the Christians living on Fifth Avenue, but rather to those who regularly meet on that avenue for worship, even though none of them live on it.

Conclusion: It is evident, therefore, from the above-mentioned considerations, that the church of Christ is that body of people over which he is the head-the ones who were called out of sin and bound together in his service by the gospel as revealed in the New Testament.