Week Four The Church Series

THE CHURCH

OR

A SHORT COURSE IN ECCLESIOLOGY

I. INTRODUCTION

This lesson addresses the importance and history of the church. Doctrines are often misunderstood or abused, and the doctrine of the church is no exception. Differences in understanding church membership and its importance can be substantial. Some groups consider it necessary for salvation, while others reject organized religion and church membership because they believe only in the “invisible church.” The church itself is often confused with Israel, resulting in confusion about the Old Testament and New Testament.

A clear understanding of the doctrine of the church is important because it affects your

Soteriology (study of salvation), eschatology (study of last things or end times), hamartiology (study of sin) and any other doctrine. Ecclesiology can be complicated, but it need not be arcane. Towards that purpose the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Saint) method is used in this lesson.

II. EKKLESIA AND THE TRUE CHURCH

Matthew16:15-18

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1577 ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah); from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): KJV-- assembly, church.

This is the first time we see the term church used. The term in Greek means a group called out for a meeting or function. This passage shows us that Christ did plan on a new called-out group. We are not spiritual Israelites. The old economy or testament has passed away because it is fulfilled in Christ. (Galatians 3:24,25) The conception of the church is contained in the above verses from Matthew. It remains in an embryonic form throughout the life of Christ and is finally birthed in Acts 2.

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon someone to prophesy or to perform an extraordinary deed and then He left. In the true Church, the body of born again believers, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells the believer. In Acts 2, we see a new creation of the Church as well as a new creation of man through the new birth and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:9,10 tells us how to be born again, to become a new man.

Abraham was called out from among his people and God created a new nation to be His. The Israelites were called out of the nations. The tribe of Levi was called out from among the tribes of Israel to be the priestly tribe. In each instance there was not anything special or even mighty about those called out. Indeed, the Israelites were the least of all peoples.

There are many examples of the meanings of ekklesia in both testaments. It is important to note, however, that while Acts 7:38 speaks of the Israelites as the church in the wilderness, it does not mean that they are the same as the group that we call the church today. Any group that is called out for a specific purpose can be called an ekklesia. A military training weekend could be called an ekklesia. But trust me, it will not be a church meeting even if you are a battling Baptist.

The word church was given to the group that was called out by Christ. In the verses above from Matthew, Jesus says that upon the bedrock truth of His being God incarnate He would build His church. Because it had not been built the Israelites cannot have been the ekklesia (church) about which He is speaking. Acts 8:3 presents another example of the separation of Israel and the Church. Paul was persecuting the Church and yet he was a Jew. He did not persecute anyone from the synagogue or temple. He was seeking out the group of believers in Christ until he was converted himself.

Initially, followers of Christ were known as disciples, believers and other names. It was at Antioch that they were given the name Christians. The name stuck and the ekklesia of Christians became known thereafter as the Christian Church.

III. DENOMONINATIONALISM AND THE BODY OF CHRIST:

THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Amos 3:3

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Doctrinal differences and issues have generated divisions and other names over the years. These differences can cause a schismatic division such as the Reformation, or divide a denomination itself such as the current debate over female ordination in the Southern Baptist Convention. These different names are also now necessary because not all who say they are Christians are truly Christians.