The Church

The word, "church", comes from ekklesia, a Greek word which means "called-out ones"; and that is exactly what the church is: people called out of the darkness of sin into the light of holiness. Many in our time call the building in which they worship "the church"; but the word "church" refers only to God's earthly family, and it should never be used in reference to a building built by men. The church is the earthly dwelling place of God's Spirit, as Paul stated, "your body is the temple of the holy Ghost" (1Cor.6:19). Peter described the church as "living stones", forming "a spiritual house", a place "to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1Pet.2:5). The church, then, is the people of God, not a mere building. As the man of God said, "the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands" (Acts 7:48).

In the Old Covenant, God's earthly dwelling place was not called "the church"; rather, it was frequently called "Zion". Isaiah prophesied concerning Zion, "Thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name" (62:2). This prophecy remained unfulfilled until the Lord Jesus came and spoke the words of our text, "I will build my church". This was the time and place that Zion received directly from "the mouth of the Lord" its new name: CHURCH.

The church has no other name. It is a name in itself. "Church" is the New Testament name for the called-out people, or "body of Christ" as it is often called. Yes, my friend, the word church, without any prefixing or suffixing, is sufficient. We do find that the New Testament writers deemed it helpful at times when speaking of the church to use descriptive names such as: Mount Zion (Heb.12:22), God's Building (1Cor.3:9), The Household of God (Eph.2:19), The Church of God (Acts 20:28), The Church of the Living God (1Tim.3:15), and many others too numerous to record here. But, just as in the case of the holy Spirit, though there be a hundred different descriptive titles for it, "there is only one" (Eph.4:4).

In order to lend credibility to their sects, certain groups have picked out for themselves one of the titles given to the church in the Bible. Others chose to add names to the word church which are not used in its connection in the Bible, such as, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and many others. God condemned such divisive practices at their inception (1Cor.1:10-13); still, we should be more concerned with whether or not we are in the church than what its proper name might be, for only those in the safety of the church will be saved.

Moved by the Spirit of prophecy, the Psalmist declared (Ps.87:5,6), "And of Zion [the church] it shall be said, `This man was born in her'. And the highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count [note], when He writeth up the people that this man was born there." One must be born into the church because it is a divine family; it is not a club which can be joined. In Old Testament Zion, it was by a natural birth that one became a member of God's family, but in this New Covenant it is a by spiritual birth. This is why Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again" (Jn.3:3-7). The following three verses reveal, in New Testament terms, how one enters the church:

• ROMANS 6:3: "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"

• GALATIANS 3:27: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

• 1 CORINTHIANS 12:13: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. . . ."

  These three Scriptures state clearly how one becomes a church member, and they all agree: baptism. The only question, then, is "Which baptism is it that makes us church members, a baptism in water or the baptism of the holy Ghost? That question is fully answered by the verse from 1 Corinthians: "BY ONE SPIRIT ARE WE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY." Friend, regardless of how good a person appears to be or how lofty his religious title, if he has not received the baptism of the holy Ghost, he is not in the church of Jesus Christ. The church is comprised only of Spirit-baptized people. Some of these saints are obedient and some disobedient, but no one else is in the church, though many may yet enter in.

Not all who are born into the church will be faithful to God. Therefore, the church, as a whole, is not perfect. Nor was it perfect in the days of the apostles. Ananias and his wife Sapphira, for example, were anything but exemplary believers. From its beginning, the church has been a mixed multitude, some good and some bad; but Jesus will purge the church of its ungodly members before his return (Mt.13:36-43). In many of his parables, Jesus exhorted us to strive to be among the faithful and wise servants of God. In his parable of the sower (which must be understood before any parable can be understood: Mk.4:13), Jesus spoke of some in his kingdom who became unfruitful because of the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. How many we see in this group today! He spoke as well of those who are faithful, saying that they understand and bring forth fruit to God. Thank God for these precious, faithful saints, though they be few in number!

My friends, take heed to your souls. We are still living in the age when the church must carry both the bad and the good, the foolish and the wise, the false and the true. But, thanks be to God, the end is drawing near. Now, my brother, my sister, in which group of the church are you? You, who have been born of the Spirit of God, is your garment still spotless? Are you yet among the few who "have not defiled their garments?" Or is your robe like the robes of some rich believers, which James described as "motheaten?" Make your answer to God, and write us if this message has been a blessing to you. God bless you as you seek the truth!

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