This article is part of our series on the Great Doctrines of the Bible. You can find all the articles in this series here. You can view the previous post here.
In our modern vocabulary, we talk about going to church and being part of the church. We also hear, “We are the church.” In terms of buildings, there are hundreds of churches in every state. The topic of “the church” can be confusing! We must understand it correctly if we want to honor Christ. So, what does the Bible say about the church?
The Church Defined
In the New Testament, the church is designated by a Greek word that means “called out ones.” A survey of the New Testament reveals that the church is the community of those who have been called out by God from their slavery to sin through faith in Jesus Christ (Biblical Doctrine, Macarthur & Mayhue 740).
Helpful definitions:
-Visible Church: the company of those who outwardly profess faith in Christ. In other words, everyone who says they follow Jesus.
-Invisible Church: the true church, those who have truly been born again by the Holy Spirit and entered the Kingdom of God. Not everyone who is part of the visible church is part of the invisible church (not everyone who claims to know Christ truly knows Him).
-Local Church: those who profess faith in Christ and gather in local congregations, physically meeting with one another. The New Testament clearly models that believers in Christ must express their faith in the context of a local church that preaches a true, Biblical Gospel of Christ. If a professing Christian refuses to actively engage as an accountable member of a local congregation, he is in disobedience to God.
Universal Church: all genuine Christians throughout the entirety of the church age. “Every true Christian ever.” A Christian today and a Christian from the year 100 AD are both a part of the universal church, for example.
Two Vital Truths Regarding the Church
- Christ died for the church (he died to gather a people called out of darkness into His marvelous light).
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)
Christ bought those who are His with His own blood. He cares for the church and desires for us to be made into His likeness. God is jealous for the church and works to make it pure. God is serious about the state of the church just as a good husband is serious about loving his wife. Therefore, we must take these matters seriously.
- Christ is the head of the church, meaning he is the supreme Lord and Master of the community of faith. The church obeys His commands and is sanctified after Him.
“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18).
The church is not a man-made institution. Just like marriage, it is a God-ordained institution that has parameters set by God. Christ determines what is true of the church and how it should function. Christ’s Lordship is our blessing! It is for our good and for our joy! Christ’s commands are not burdensome (see 1 John 5:3) but are for God’s good purposes.
Purposes of the Church
Since the church is not a random institution but rather a community for which Christ died, it is vital to know what purposes God has given the church. In other words, what is the church for? What should it be about?
- Exalting God
The church exists first and foremost to glorify God. God is glorified in all aspects of church life, including corporate worship, the public reading and teaching of Scripture, and the sacraments (baptism and the Lord’s Supper).
“Worship consists of ascribing the honor to God that he is due, declaring his glory both in words of praise and through acts of obedience” (Macarthur 751).
- Edifying Believers
Believers gather also for the purpose of building one another up into Christlikeness. This glorious act is a calling for all Christians of all different maturity levels, and all receive the blessing of being comforted, corrected, emboldened, etc. in Christlikeness by fellowship with other believers.
“From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up” (1 Corinthians 14:5)
Believers, who have differing spiritual gifts, all must function with love for Christ and love for one another as the foundation, in order to fulfill the purpose of building God’s Kingdom.
- Evangelizing the Lost
A church that is truly following Christ will have a zeal to proclaim His Lordship to the world! A church that truly understands the helpless state of unbelievers under God’s judgment will compassionately present the saving work of Christ to them!
Jesus states: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Making disciples does not ONLY mean seeing people receive Christ but it definitely and necessarily includes it. The lost come to know Christ by hearing the message of the Gospel (the saving work of Jesus Christ).
- Discipleship
Discipleship occurs when God’s people gather together, formally or informally, in large groups or even one-on-one, and sharpen one another’s faith by sharing God’s Word with one another. Often, mature believers speak into’ the lives of young believers, thus discipling them.
Many people picture discipleship as a scene where two believers meet once a week over coffee to discuss a passage of the Bible. This picture is a true form of discipleship because it is believers edifying one another! There are, of course, many other ways for a believer to help another Christian grow in his faith. Though discipleship happens naturally when believers gather together, due to our proneness to wander from Christ, we must also make intentional strides to engage in discipleship. A one-on-one or one-on-two regular time is certainly a great way to act on this intentional impulse.
Prayerfully, we as believers can enter into discipleship in a manner consistent with Ephesians 5:15-21–
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
May we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, using our time wisely as we speak God’s Word to one another!
Additional Passages
- Colossians 1:18
- Why is it important that we give Christ His rightful place as head of the church?
- Matthew 16:18
- As a church family works with one another toward the purposes Jesus gives the church why are these words important?
- Does this verse give you confidence?
- Why does Jesus draw our attention to His building of the church when we carry out the commands He gave us?
- Hebrews 10:25
- What does this verse and the surrounding context say about our commitment to the local church?
- Ephesians 5:25
- How does the reality that Jesus died for a collective group of people shape your thinking about the church?
- How does the reality that Jesus died for a collective group of people shape your thinking about the church?