What Is The Church?
What is the church? Is the church a building where people of like faith come to gather? No, but the church is made up of people of like faith who gather together in a building. However, today there are many who call themselves Christians, yet do not gather together with those who are of like faith at all. Lets discuss what the Church is according to scripture.
Ephesians 1:22,23 NKJ “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” The second half of that scripture in the Message Bible says “The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” Friends, the Church is made up of people that are diverse yet one in faith who gathers together on a regular basis that Jesus speaks through acts through, and is manifested through.
In 1st Corinthians chapter 12 it reveals that the body of Christ is made up of many different parts with different gifts and functions yet still one body. And this body is whom our Lord is revealing Himself through. Today many whom are not actively involved in a local church may dispute my comments but you cannot dispute the Word of God. Lets look at Ephesians chapter 4:11-16, here the apostle Paul describes what we have come to know as the five-fold ministry and the purpose of the ministry is to “equip” the saints for the work of the ministry. He also encourages us to “unity of the faith” and to not be children any longer tossed about by every wind of doctrine. Let me comment on this point of “every wind of doctrine”; so many today are out of church because they have been deceived by “every wind of doctrine”. They haven’t studied the Word for themselves or are rebellious in nature and against God’s ordained government called the Church. Ok back to Ephesians, Paul also teaches us that this body of Christ is suppose to be “joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working be which every part does its share.” Friends you cannot be outside of the body and fulfill this verse of scripture. He concludes by saying that because of this unity it will cause growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. When we as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ become that “jointly fitted” body we can expect growth and edification for us all in love.
Here lies the first point of what will be 6 points to this post concerning the topic, What Is The Church?
1) The Church is a body
posted by Pastor Leo A. Bailey @ 11:13 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Pastor Leo,
Great topic for the blog. Hopefully, it can create some dialogue regarding how important church is for Christian character and development.
You wrote:
"so many today are out of church because they have been deceived by “every wind of doctrine”. They haven’t studied the Word for themselves or are rebellious in nature and against God’s ordained government called the Church."
You truly hit the problem squarely on the head with this observation. Many Christian leave church for all the wrong reasons, and each of those reasons revolve around "I don't like..." We see it so often in the bouncing of Christians between one church and the next.
Now, some will say a personal preference is just fine, and I will not argue with that. But, personal preference does not justify turning one's back to the church.
Now this means that holding a service at home does not constitute a church!
Write on brother!
Your absolutly right concerning "holding a service at home" being constituted as the church... However many are doing just that instead of seeking where God would want them to plant.
As far as "personal preference" is concerned I believe we have to becareful because our preference may go against what God has and where He wants us... Example: Jonah's preference was to go to tarshish when God wanted him in Nineveh. Complete rebellion on jonahs part. I also do understand that different churches offer different enviornment as well as vision, so people will choose to align themselves with what more suits their desire as well as direction. However we should still be actively seeking God on where we are to be planted as 1st Corinthians 12:18 reminds us that "God sets the members, each one of them, inthe body just as He pleased."
More on this will become clear in the post following concerning "what is the Church?". So I also hope it draws comments from those who read it...Be Blessed
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