Food for Thought –

Concerning the Church

     The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a most wonderful fellowship of which one can be a part. It is described in the Bible as the body of Christ. (Colossians 1:24) It is that group of people who have been born again of the water and the Spirit who have submitted themselves to the will of God through Jesus. (John 3:5) It is used in the Scriptures to refer to the entire body of Christ - the church universally. (Ephesians 5:25) But it is also used in a more local or regional sense, such as a congregation of God's people. (1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2) Most associations and activities as the people of God are experienced in this local or regional sense.

     The church is the people of God. The original word which has been translated by the word "church" was not a religious word. It was used in the book of Acts to refer to an assembly of the people of Ephesus. (Acts 19:39,41) The word was applied to a group of people who have been "called out" for some kind of meeting, activity or other purpose. It was the perfect word to describe the people of God, whether locally or universally. The people of God, the church, has been "called out" of the world into fellowship with God through Jesus, called out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

     The church is the redeemed. (1 Peter 1:18) It is the family comprised of those who have received the adoption as sons. (Romans 8:15,16) It is those who are saints by calling. (1 Corinthians 1:2) It is described in many ways, such as the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16,17), the household of God (1 Timothy 3:15), God's household (Ephesians 2:19), the household of the faith (Galatians 6:10). The church shares a unique relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

     Some people say they want Jesus, but they don't want the church. In all candor, you cannot have Jesus without being a part of His church. When one is born into the family of God by obedient faith in baptism, that person has been added to the number of the people of God - the church. When one is clothed with Christ in baptism, one is automatically a part of the church. One simply cannot be a child of God, a Christian, without being a part of the church of Jesus Christ.

     By what name should we call the church? The church of Jesus Christ is not a denomination. God has not denominated, or named, it in the Scriptures. It is referred to by many descriptive terms. Each of the various terms tells us something about the nature of the church. It is called the church of God or as the churches of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 16:16) Sometimes it is called the church of the firstborn. (Hebrews 12:23) But most often it is simple referred to as the church, the called out people who belong to God through Jesus.

     Are you a part of the people of God, the church? Does the designation of the group of people you meet with on Sunday reflect the ownership of Christ? If a church's name does not reflect the glory of God through His Christ, would Christ call them His church?