What is the church?
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.
This question arose from studying Where is Jesus now? and Why do I need the church?.
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Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
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.
praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
It is the body of Christ
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,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
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.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
It is the bride of Christ
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.
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.”
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.
It is the household and temple of the living God
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.
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in 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.
It is a present reality and a future hope
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 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.
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,
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,
I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like 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.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
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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.
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.
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.
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.
praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
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