My Understanding of the Church
The New Testament gives a precise and unique definition of the church. The Greek word ekklesia is defined in specific terms as “an assembly; congregation, the whole body of Christian believers” (Strong’s). Ecclesiology, the study of the church, is a derivative of this word. The Apostle Paul refers to the church as a group of believers and not a building (Romans 16:5). Beginning in the days of Pentecost, carrying on through the New Testament, and continuing today, the church consists of believers, who are the body of Christ; the head of the body is Christ (Ephesians 1:21-22).
The Distinctives of the Church
The church has two distinctives. First, it is local. The local church is a community of believers, such as the churches in Galatia. Paul addresses these local groups of believers as churches. These groups of believers are people who trust in Jesus for their salvation and come together for edification and fellowship within their prescribed locations (Galatians 1: 1-2). In addition to this, we also see that the church is not limited by geographical boundaries, but the entirety of believers. Those who have been baptised into one body. This global church is not separated by race, “whether Jew or Greek.” This global church is not divided by socioeconomic groups, “whether slave or free,” but is a conglomerate of all who have received the Spirit of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
The Purpose of the Church
The purpose of the church can also be seen as twofold: to know God and to make Him known. Spiritual maturity in believers is achieved in part by the gathering together for the preaching of God’s word, Bible study, worship, and communion (Ephesians 4:13). Reaching the lost for Christ is a command for the believers, so that we can have an effective testimony in every sphere of influence (Matthew 28:18-20) and (Acts 1:8). We as members of the church are to glorify God and tell others of the redemptive work of Jesus.
The Work of the Church
The work of the church can be identified in Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” This verse indicates that we are to study doctrine, which is looking into God’s word, knowing it and loving it (2 Timothy 3:16). We are to study and understand the nature and character of God so that our worship of Him becomes more accurate. We are to understand the nature of sin and the nature of man. The heart of man is desperately wicked. Jeremiah states, “ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Jeremiah 17: 9). When we understand who we are and who Jesus is, we will love much because “the one who is forgiven much loves much” (Luke 7:47). We are to be aware that we are sinners in need of grace and that justification is by faith alone (Romans 5:1). We are shown that we are to fellowship with one another. In this fellowship, the world will know who we are because of our love for one another (John 13:35). In the breaking of bread together we recognise that His body was broken for us. His blood shed for us makes us love much. Prayer is an essential component in our lives because it is God who works in us “to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). We must recognise our utter and complete dependence upon God and His work.
In summary, the church is not a building or simply a social centre. The church is a group of people called together by His name to know Him, to worship Him, and to make Him known. We are called to be more like Jesus. He said to Peter, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
