BIBLICAL CONCEPT:  Church

Outline

I. Vocabulary.
II. The nature of the church from the seven vocabulary.
III.  Conclusion.
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I. Vocabulary:

I)  Ekklesia (ek  = out of  klesia = to call = “the assembly of those called”).
2) Body.  3) Bride.  4) Building.  5) Branches. 6) Flock.  7) Priesthood.

II. The nature of the church from the seven vocabulary.

1) Ekklesia:

Concepts:

• Mt. 16:16-18, Jesus’ assembly is built on the rock of revelation.
• Mt. 18:15-17, Spiritual standards and assembly: reprove sin.
• Acts 2:42, Four devotions of the first local church: teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
• Acts 9:31, Areas of growth in the assembly: fear of the Lord, comfort of the Holy Spirit and numbers.
• Acts 15:41, Separate local assemblies were founded on Paul's first missionary journey.
• Rom. 16:5, Local assemblies met in homes.
• Eph. 1:22, 5:23-24, Col. 1:18; Christ is the head of the assembly.
• Eph. 3:10, The assembly teaches angels.
• Eph. 3:21, The assembly glorifies God.
• 1 Tim. 3:5, The overseer takes care of the assembly of God.
• 1 Tim. 3:15, The local assembly is a pillar and support of the truth.
• Rev. 1:4, Assemblies need grace and peace.

Conclusions: The ekklesia emphasizes the origination of the assembly and its spiritual purposes.

2) The body.

Concepts:

• Rom. 12:5, Many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
• Eph. 1:22-23, Church which is His body.  Living representatives.
• Eph. 4:12, Building up of body (vs. 16).  Proper working of each individual part causes growth of body.
• Col. 1:18, Christ is the head of the body and should have first place in all things.
• Col. 2:19, Under the head the whole body grows from God's supply.
• Col. 3:15, Peace for the body.

Conclusions:  The body is Christ's living representative on earth.  He leads the body as head.  A oneness, an inter-relationship of believers is
emphasized.

3) The Bride.

Concepts:

• Eph. 5:24, The assembly is subject to Christ.
• Eph. 5:25, Christ loves the assembly.
• Eph. 5:26-27, High standards for the assembly cf.  Rev. 19:7-9.
• Eph. 5:29-30, Christ nourishes and cherishes the assembly.

Conclusions: The bride figure portrays Christ's love for the assembly, the submission of the assembly, His standards and provisions for her.

4) The Building.

Concepts:

• Eph. 2:19-22,  Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the building/assembly. The building is growing into a holy temple, cf.  1 Pt. 2:5 - spiritual house.
• 1 Tim. 3:15a, Proper conduct is needed in God's house.
• 1 Tim. 3:15b, God's house is a pillar and support of the truth.
• 2 Tim. 2:20, In a large house, vessels of honor and dishonor.
• Jas. 2:2; Assembly and partiality, not!
• Heb. 10:24-25, Stimulate love and good deeds, not forsaking assembly.

Conclusions:  There is only one building / assembly because of the Chief Cornerstone.  The building is being built according to God's great
standards.  The building supports God’s purpose--the truth.

5) The Branches.

Concepts:

• Rom. 11:16-24, the grafting, God's orchardist.  God cultivates a faithful assembly.
• Jn. 15:2-10, The pruning God orchardist.  God cultivates a fruitful assembly.  The fruitful branches abide in the vine Jesus.  Cf. the Fruits of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23.

Conclusions: The assembly is an organic union with the vine Jesus.  It can do nothing apart from the vine (Jn. 15:5).  It can bear much fruit in Him (Jn. 15:5).

6) The Flock.

Concepts:

• Jn. 10:16, There is one flock, one Shepherd.  Cf Heb. 13:20; 1 Pt. 2:25.
• 1 Pt. 5:2-3, God has provided under-shepherds to feed and lead local flocks.  Cf. Eph. 4:11-12 and Acts 20:28-32.

Conclusions: Like some of the other figures for the Christian assembly, the flock presents the singular uniqueness of the assembly and its
Shepherd-God.  The flock figure also demonstrates the subjection of the assembly to God.  Flocks follow the Shepherd (Jn. 10:5).  Cf.  Heb. 13:17 and 1 Thes. 5:12-13.  Compared to God we are sheep in need of a shepherd and guardian of our souls.

7) The Priesthood.

Concepts:

• 1 Pt. 2:5, The assembly is a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.  Cf Rom. 12:1-2 and Heb. 13:15-16.
• 1 Pt. 2:9; The assembly is a royal priesthood, God's own possession, to proclaim His excellencies.

Conclusions: The figure of the Priesthood describes the high calling of the assembly and the privilege.  High, even holy standards are part of the figure.  To please and proclaim God requires high holy standards.

III. Conclusions:

• The Assembly of God, the Biblical Church, is a spiritual organism (priesthood, body, bride, flock, branches) built by God (temple, house, household, building) to glorify Himself in the Angelic Conflict (Eph. 3:10, 21).
• The universal church: an invisible force fighting an invisible foe.
• The local church: a visible gathering of individual believers.
• The local church is a visible gathering of Christians for spiritual training (Eph. 4:11-12) and stimulation to service (Heb. 10:24-25).
• The local church: a physical and spiritual gathering, performing physical and spiritual works.
• Most of the New Testament is addressed to individual local churches of the universal church.
• The Christian Church: "A local assembly spiritually united in Christ, with an autonomous nature." (Radmacher)
• Local Church = visible = independent = autonomous.
• Universal Church = visible = corporate.
• Radmacher: "The local church is God's agency in the world transacting God's business.”

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