THE BIBLE'S DEFINITION OF CHURCH


PART I

THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY

Let's look at some BIBLE definitions of THE CHURCH! When writing to the Ephesians, Paul tells us precisely what the church is:

". . . the church, which is His body . . ." (Ephesians 1:22,23).

Isn't that clear? The church, which is . . . and here comes the definition: "His body."

We can now say, with all authority and confidence, just what the church is! The church is the body of Christ!

Isn't that so very simple? Just taking God's definition. Taking God at His word!

Now, Paul shows us that the reverse of this is also true:

"And He is the head of the body, the church . . ." (Colossians 1:18).

". . . for His body's sake, which is the church" (Colossians 1:24).

There is that "which is" again! We have here the body of Christ defined. The body, which is . . . and here comes the definition: "the church." The church is the body, and the body is the church. That locks things up with clarity, doesn't it? God has provided a clear definition and then back defined it, to make it an iron clad truth.

This double ended definition leads us to even more truth concerning the church.

How many bodies does God have in this dispensation?

"There is one body . . . " (Ephesians 4:4).

One means one. God has one single body in the dispensation of grace. This body is "the church, which is His body." And since God has clearly taught us that the body is the definition of the church, and the church is the definition of the body, then we can say with all divine confidence:

God has but one church in this dispensation!

Only one! And His church is the body of Christ!

The church is THE ONE BODY OF CHRIST. God has no other church, or body today!

Clyde Pilkington

Gladstone, VA

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