THE CHURCH


A. TERMINOLOGY
  1. The Greek word is "Ekklesia" and signifies those who are called out, separated: 1 Pet. 2:9-11; 2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 3:1
  2. Different names of the church:
    1. Sheepfold - John 10:16
    2. Vineyard - Isa. 5:1-16; Matt. 21:33-41
    3. House of God - 1 Tim. 3:15
    4. A temple - 1 Pet. 2:9-11; 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19, 20
    5. A royal priesthood - 1 Pet. 2:9-11
    6. Assembly - Jas. 2:2; Ps. 111:1
    7. Church of God - Acts 20:28
    8. Church of Christ - Rom. 16:16
    9. Church in the wilderness - Acts 7:38
    10. A woman - 2 Cor. 11:2
    11. The bride of the Lamb - Rev. 19:7, 8; 22:17; John 3:27, 28
B. WHEN WE JOIN THE CHURCH OF GOD WE ARE CALLED
  1. Unto liberty: Gal. 5:13; Matt. 1:21; John 3:35-37
  2. To be saints: Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 6:14-17; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:9-14
  3. Into the fellowship of Jesus Christ: 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 John 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:11-15; Phil. 3:10; Eph. 3:9
  4. To evangelize the world:
    1. Our commission - Matt. 28:18-20
    2. Our message - Rom. 1:16, 17; 1 Cor. 1:23; Rev. 14:6-12
    3. We are to preach Present Truth - 2 Pet. 1:12; Rev. 14:6-12
  5. When you think of the church:
    1. You mean the mystical body of Christ - Eph. 1:18-22; 5:26-28
    2. The object of heaven's love and the target of Satan and his tools - Rev. 12:17; Eph. 5:24-27
    3. It is the population of the new earth in miniature.
    4. To show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light - 1 Pet. 2:9-11; Acts 26:18
    5. To an inheritance eternal which fadeth not away - Heb. 9:15; 11:14-18; 2 Pet. 3:13
C. THE BIBLE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT
  1. The church is the object of God's love and eternal vigilance: Deut. 32:10; Zech. 2:8; Acts 20:28; 2 Cor. 11:28
  2. This is a wonderful truth to know as we face the difficulties that lie ahead of the church of God:
  3. Christ paid an infinite price when he bought the church with His own blood: Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; John 3:16; Rom. 8:31-33
  4. The members of the church are made up of imperfect persons; yet, the Lord is at work among His people; He will cleanse the church and make it perfect: Eph. 5:24-27; 1 Cor. 4:9
  5. But we must not forget that:
    1. The church is also the object of the devil's wrath - Rev. 12:17; 1 Pet. 4:8
    2. He seeks to weaken the church by infiltration - with false doctrines and other devices which will immoralize the church - 2 Tim. 4:1-6; Acts 20:14-28
    3. He uses nations to take away the liberty of God's people.
    4. He weakens the church through the carelessness of its members - 2 Tim. 3:1-7
    5. He seeks to occupy our talents and means with the cares of life - Luke 21:34-36
  6. It is encouraging, however, to know that the church militant will in the end become the church triumphant:
    1. That is the promise of the Head of the church - Matt. 16:18
    2. That is clear from the reading of the book of Revelation - Rev. 19:7, 8; Eph. 5:24-27


Design © John Bryant 2011