Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · 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.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/what-is-the-church · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Matthew 16:13-20
As you read: Jesus speaks of His assembly being built on the rock of His identity, and the gates of Hades not prevailing against it.
13Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18I 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.
19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
20Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
Acts 2:42-47
As you read: The first believers devoted to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, with the Lord adding to them daily those being saved.
42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46Day 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,
47praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
Ephesians 1:15-23
As you read: Christ is head over all things for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
15For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints,
16don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
20which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.
22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
1 Timothy 3:14-16
As you read: The church is the household of God and the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
15but 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.
16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
Ephesians 5:25-32
As you read: Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, to present her to Himself without spot or wrinkle.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
27that 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.
28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;
30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
31“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”
32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.
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.”Matthew 16:18
“praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.”Acts 2:47
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.”Acts 2:42
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,”Ephesians 1:22
“which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”Ephesians 1:23
“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.”Colossians 1:18
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”1 Corinthians 12:27
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.”Ephesians 5:25-27
“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.””Revelation 19:7
“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.”Ephesians 5:27
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.”1 Timothy 3:15
“being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;”Ephesians 2:20
“in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;”Ephesians 2:21
“in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.”Ephesians 2:22
“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.”1 Peter 2:5
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.”Acts 2:42
“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,”Acts 2:46
“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,”Hebrews 12:23
“I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.”Revelation 21:2
“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.”Revelation 21:3