The Church The body of Christ.

What does the New Testament teach about the church?

JanEgil Gulbrandsen – 2015gulbrandsen@islandnet.com

Updated March 2015

1.

• For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Who (or what) is the church?

Our modern use of the word “church” is rooted in the new testament Greek word

EKKLESIA ( Strong’s no. 1577)It means “the called out one’s”)

These “called out one’s” are the people of God – the believers in Jesus Christ – his “born again” family, that have existed for almost 2000 years and that live and have lived all

over the world.

His Church – his body - his people, are always people – human beings (only)

This is the universal church.

God’s only church.The universal church.

(…and we are not talking about any denomination or organisationthat call themselves: the universal church or the Catholic church)

The church – His church,is never:

an organisation,an institution,

a denomination,a corporationor a building.

His church is always people!

Jesus say’s: I will build my Church! (Matt.16:18)

Did you get that?It is Jesus himself that is building his

church – by revealing himself to man,leading man into faith in himself and

adding him to “his body.”

• There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling." (Eph. 4:4).

• Just as surely as there is one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God, there is one body.

• Other passages clearly say the same thing (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14, 20; Eph. 2:16; Col. 3:15).

• So there can be no doubt that the NT teaches that there is one body, and this one body is identified as Christ's church. (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24).

Don’t get “His church” confused with man’s church – the pastor’s church – our church – our denomination or our church building on the corner of “second and fifth”.

All these are man made entities only.

Yes – these “entities” have most often many from “His church” as members.But they are in themselves – as an institution or denomination -

nota part of “His church”.

Warning:As soon as you hear a pastor talking about his church or his staff and how he is

building his church,you know that is exactly what it is:

Man’s church.

First conclusion:God’s church is universal.

2.

“His Church” can also be local.

But not in the sense most people think…

Let me explain:

“And great fear came upon “all the church” – as many as heard all these

things (Acts 5:11)

The story tells us about “in this city” “all the church” etc.In other words:

The church can also be LOCAL – But it must include “all the church” – all the believers

in a geographical area.

Paul and John writes many times “to the church” in a geographical area - like

the church in Corinth, Ephesus, Smyrna, Philadelphia and other.

The point here is these churches included all the believers in these

cities (geographical areas)

Another example - Acts 8:1“On that day a great persecution broke out against

the church in Jerusalem”

Again: The scriptures are talking about all the believers in a geographical area – this time in

Jerusalem.It is not talking about organisations,

denominations or buildings. These are not “the church.”

God’s only church.The universal church.

All the believers in a city

= The local church

All the believers in a city

= The local church

All the believers in a city

= The local church

All the believers in a city

= The local church

All the believers in a city

= The local church

All the believers in a city

= The local church

God’s only church.The universal church.

Diff.Faith groups / denominations

In a city or town Diff.Faith groups / denominations

In a city or town

Diff.Faith groups / denominations

In a city or town

Diff.Faith groups / denominations

In a city or townDiff.Faith groups / denominations

In a city or town

Diff.Faith groups / denominations

In a city or town

The church of God – “His church” – “His body” – is not made up of different specialty groups or denomination

Second conclusion:His Church is also local –

but only as “all believers” in a city or geographical area, and never as a “special interest group” (denomination).

3.

• 1 Corinthians 1:10-13: • "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our

Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"

The scriptures teaches clearly that there should be

no division among us

And that is exactly what the different denomination represent –

division and separation.Shameful!

That is what happens when mans will and preference is set above Jesus’

command.

As believers in the same Christ – and therefore children of the same God – brothers and sisters in Jesus,

we need to acknowledge our family relation and unity by showing the world – at least a few times a year,

that we stand together as one”

How about all Christians in Victoriagetting together on Good Friday at Memorial

Arena?

All the “institutional churches” – denominations and special interest groups, should stop calling themselves “churches”

which they are not, and call themselves what they really are: Assemblies, fellowships or (special

interest) groups.

Yes - it is still OK to hang out with people (family members) you enjoy

most to worship together with…

But for God’s sake:Let’s try to bring together

“the true church”a few times a year as the scriptures demand…

And don’t let some pastors fear of “church” jumping and falling revenue

keep the body separated..

“May the true churchwake up

andstep up

and do the will of our Lord”

Don’t ask: What church do you go to…There is only one church!

But you can ask: Who do you fellowship with or what assembly do you attend ?Remember: Even when you are alone, you are a limb on the body of Christ!

3.

• No person may offer anything different from what has already been written nor honestly teach it as the word of God.

• In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul warned about following these other doctrines.

• "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him (me:Paul) that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some (also called: judezisers) that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

• But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we ( read: I ) have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

• As we said before, so say I now again, If any preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

There is one thing that unites all his children – and make up “his church and his body”:Faith in Christ alone.

If you have received the gift of Gracewe are brothers and sisters in Christ.

The only thing Paul bring up as a perversion of the gospel, is salvation – fully or partly, by works. (Gal.1)

Any other theological disagreement is not expectable reasons for “exclusion from the family”.

“I might not agree with all your theological viewpoints, but you are still my brother in Christ.”