The church is not a building or a program; it is the people of God, the whole company of those joined to Christ by faith. Scripture calls it the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, the household and temple of the living God, and the assembly Christ is building. It is the community that belongs to Him and grows into Him, lived out in local gatherings now and gathered in fullness when He returns.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
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The church is a people, not a place
Jesus called it His assembly, and the word in the Greek is the called-out gathering of people, not bricks and mortar. He promised, 'I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.' In Acts, the living picture is people: as they believed and were saved, 'the Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.' The church is the company of the redeemed, wherever they gather.
I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it.And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Paul's favorite image is a body. God put all things in subjection under Christ's feet and 'gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.' Colossians echoes it: Christ is 'the head of the body, the assembly.' And each believer is a member, 'the body of Christ, and members individually,' joined to the Head and to one another.
He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The deepest picture is a wedding. Paul says Christ loved the assembly and gave Himself up for it, 'that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,' but holy and without defect. The church is not an organization Christ runs from a distance; she is the bride He died for, is cleansing, and will one day present to Himself. The end of all history is 'the marriage of the Lamb' when the bride is made ready.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.”Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
The church is God's family and God's dwelling. Paul calls it 'the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth,' and says believers are built together, on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone, into 'a holy temple in the Lord,' 'a habitation of God in the Spirit.' Peter pictures believers as living stones being built into a spiritual house. The place where God dwells is His people.
but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The church is lived out today in local gatherings, devoted to word, fellowship, the Table, and prayer, as in Acts. And it is headed toward a consummation: the writer of Hebrews speaks of our having come to 'the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven,' and Revelation shows the holy city, New Jerusalem, 'prepared like a bride adorned for her husband,' where God dwells with His people forever. The church on earth is the beginning of that city, and its end is glorious.
They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
What is the difference between the universal church and the local church?
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it.And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.