The Church of Christ Defining The Church

ἐκκλησία What Did Jesus Say? Jesus didn’t say church. He would have used an Aramaic term. That term was first translated into Greek. The term was EKKLESIA What is the EKKLESIA? What is the church? Let’s explore Scripture ἐκκλησία

What Is The EKKLESIA? From a Greek compound word EK = out of KALEO = to call So, the church is made up of those called out. Called out from what?

Called Out Of Darkness 1 Peter 2:9 -- But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

Called Out Of The World 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 -- Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them…Therefore come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.”

Yet, Called Out Isn’t The Full Meaning Examples of compounds with unusual meanings Fireworks Crosswalks Fireflies stepsister So it is with EKKLESIA What is the connotation of the word?

The Assembly Generically Acts 19:39-41 – [Of a mob that was forming] – “But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” After saying this he dismissed the assembly. EKKLESIA is any assembly. Have to gather meaning from context.

The Church As An Assembly EKKLESIA in relation to the people of God means the assembly of those people together for the common good. 1 Corinthians 14:19, 35 – “… however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue….If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.” So, the church is the assembly for worship, etc.

Assembly? Or Called Out? Ephesians 1:22-23 – And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Hebrews 12:22-23 -- But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect…. PANEGURIS vs. EKKLESIA

The Church? Or The Assembly? Etymology of the word CHURCH – is Old English, with similar applications in Dutch and German (Kirke), from Greek through Latin: KURIAKON = The House of the Lord. Church would speak, then, more to the building, except for the connotation– the people

II. The Bible Defines The Church It is foremost the body of Christ (people) Col. 2:19 – “…and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.” Body is clearly describing people joined together for common good 1 Cor. 12:27 -- Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

The church, body, and family of God 1 Timothy 3:15 -- …but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. Mark 10:28-30 -- Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

The Church Is The Temple Of God Ephesians 2:19-22 –So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

1 Peter 2:5 – you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 -- Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Finally: We Are The Kingdom Of God Colossians 1:13 – “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

We Are The Church Because we have been purchased by God. Have been called out of the world. Have been united together as the body of Christ. Are being built into a living temple of Almighty God. Therefore, we live holy in the assembly.