1. What is church?
2. Model 1: The bride of Christ
3. Model 2: The body of Christ
a. Members of same body
b. Christ: the head of the body
c. Shared victory and pain
4. A healthy body
5. Model 3: The house of God
a. Relationship and Freedom in Christ

"Church" is the English translation of the Greek word "ekklesia". Ekklesia had two possible meanings before the emergence of the Christian Church.

First, the Greek word means "called out" and was used to indicate Greek citizenship. Greek citizens wore a privileged status over slaves and non- Greek citizens. They were called by Herald the king, and included in matters of civil importance. Among other things, Roman citizens had a right to a public trial and could not be stuck in discipline before being formerly condemned. The apostle Paul, although a Jew by race, was a Roman by birth and complained about the violation of his rights in Acts 16:37 and 22:28. Thus is stands to reason that the early Christians regarded themselves as being called out by God for his special purpose and enjoyed a privileged relationship with the true King, Jesus Christ.

Secondly, church is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Qahal'. The Hebrew term means assembly and had a number of uses. most commonly it referred to soldiers (Numbers 22:4), God's people (Deuteronomy 9:10), or a group of prophets (1 Samuel 19:20). All three terms were understood by the New Testament believer and reveal even more about how they thought of themselves. The were soldiers for Christ, the family of God, and the carriers of God's word to a lost world.

In the New Testament, the church is described a number of ways but we will discuss three of the most recognizable models.

Model 1: The Bride of Christ
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev. 21:9-10

What a glorious description this is. To be wed and therefore joined to the body of the only begotten (one and only, unique) Son of God. In scripture it says that the two will become one flesh when speaking of marriage. Like Jesus, the church is both human and divine. Jesus is God, but is also "the word made flesh"-St. John 1:14. St. John 1:1-3 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God, all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made."

Now if Jesus is the Word, and the Word is God, and God is divine, then Jesus is divine. If Jesus was born (Matt 2:1), aged (Luke 2:42 John 8:57), ate and drank (Luke 7:34) wept (John 11:35), slept (Matt 8:25), and died (Luke 23:46), then He was human. Thus Jesus, was both human and divine.

Once someone got betrothed during Jesus' earthly ministry, just like today, they were given a symbol of engagement or promise. Since a believers relationship with God is both physical and spiritual, the symbol of promise must be also. When a Christian is physically baptized with water, this is a symbol of death to the old life and marriage to a new life in Christ. They are also baptized with the Holy Spirit which they retain invisibly as a symbol to God that they are His.

Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Acts 11:16

It is important to note that nothing is to be joined with something out of its species. If it is, it is sexual confusion and disgraceful before God.

Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Leviticus 18:23

Man is flesh and flesh is corruptible.

Now I say this brethern, flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15:50

Nothing corruptible can inherit the kingdom of God and therefore, the church without the Holy Spirit, will be excluded from God's special place of rest. When Jesus poured out His Spirit upon the church, the church became a group of human believers who are indwelt by the divine Holy Spirit of God. Thus the church became an acceptable bride for the risen Lord. In fact, the church is the only suitable bride. Nothing else in this world or any other with the exception of Jesus is both human and divine. If you are a Christian, glory in your uniqueness! You are truly one of a kind.

Immediately after the engagement, the bridegroom journeyed to prepare a place for his bride so that when he returned, they could immediately travel to their new home. When Christ returns, Christians will follow Him to heaven.

In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that were I am, there ye may be also. St. John 14:2-3

To summarize the illustration of the church being the bride of Christ, let's look at it from both the human and divine perspectives.

The Human
Christ would be a king who was separated by distance from a lady whom he has always loved. He gives up all his wealth and status to come for her. He reaches her house, knocks on her door, but she refuses to open it because she is poor, naked and ashamed. Jesus doesn't care and keeps on knocking. In fact, he proposes through the door and waits for her response. She has a change of heart and opens the door. Jesus immediately covers her and they are wed. He gives her a ring, which is a symbol of promise and also a new name.

The Divine
Christ is separated from humanity because of sin. He leaves heaven and takes on the form of sinful flesh to come to us. He reaches the door of man's heart and knocks. Humanity knows that Jesus can see its sins and is too ashamed to open its heart. Jesus loves us anyway and proposes to cover us and let us spend eternity with Him. The believing humans let Him in their hearts and Jesus covers their sins with His blood. They are baptized by water and the Holy Spirit and are now called Christians.

Anyone saved is presently in this state. You must remain faithful and continue to patiently wait on the return of Jesus. When he returns he will "rapture" you and carry you away with him to heaven. There you will spend and eternity with Him in prosperity and peace. If you are an unbeliever, Jesus is still at your heart knocking.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 Please let him in.

Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular. 1 Cor 12:27

The apostle Paul wrote this to the church that was established at Corinth. He called the church the body of Christ and each individual a member. This leads us to three key points.
A. We know that the human body is make up of many members.
B. We also know that every member of the body operates from the direction of the head.
C. Lastly, we know that all parts of the body are affected by the other parts.

A. Members of the body

Know ye not that our bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 1 Cor 6:15

Paul wrote this in response to the practice of fornication with prostitutes but something deeper than morals is clearly taught. In the first part of the verse, the church is clearly stated as the body of Christ. The second part of the verse teaches that whatever you join yourself with, you become part of. If I join the democratic party, I become a democrat. If I take a part from the auto part store and affix it to my car, it becomes part of my car. If I join my body to a prostitutes then.....

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 1 Cor 6:16

This shows that when Christ, the husband and separate body, joins with his bride the church and separate body, they become one divine body.

Since every individual believer in Christ is only a member of the body and not the whole body, they are not responsible for all of its functions.

For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 1 Cor 12:14-22

Every part of the body has a function. The hand was not designed to walk and the foot was not designed to catch. Yet, both are important to the body. God has assembled His body, the church, the same way.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Cor 12:7-11

The function of every member has been decided by God (The Holy Spirit) and the all knowing Himself has distributed to every believer a spiritual gift upon confession and belief on Jesus Christ. This spiritual gift was given so that the believer can be a useful member of His body. God does not waste anything and makes every believer important.
A gift is not the same as a wage. A wage is something one works for and therefore earns. A gift is freely given and is an expression of love. Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift. There is no need to wonder why some can sing, or preach, or teach, or forgive or many such things and others can't.

Now to say that others can't does not mean that they can't do these things under their own power, it simply means that they can't do these things under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Man can do many things under his own volition that has nothing to do with the plan or calling of God. To be anointed by God means to be chosen by Him and to be given His authority and support. The Holy Spirit will pour Himself onto the area of the believers ministry to support, strengthen, teach, comfort, convict, and direct. In short, as long as the believer keeps his focus on God, he shall never fail.

The scriptures already mentioned make it clear that the church is the body and the individual is only a member of it. Christ and the Holy Spirit indwell the believer to make our bodies his tabernacle (dwelling place). It is true that God lives in the heart of every believer but this does not make one man a church. The church is not one but two or more believers assembled in one place. This is a correction of an error that many of us hear time and time again when someone says "You are the church."

In Old Testament times, once a year, on the day of atonement, the high priest would go inside the most holy place, to offer sacrifices for Israel's sins. If God found fault with him, he would be instantly struck dead. He would then be drug out by a rope that was tied around him. When the bells that were stitched into the seam of his robe ceased to jingle, the other priests would know he was dead.

The New Testament believer has his own body as a tabernacle and Jesus as a high priest. So then, Jesus meets in us. Jesus is forever an intercessor to Father God for us and we no longer have to depend on mortal man once a year. Jesus will never be rejected and the believers sincere requests will always make it before God.

Look at the advantage of the church! There use to be one tabernacle for all of God's children. Now all of God's children are tabernacles. They use to pitch it up and take it down. Now we carry it with us. Their high priest use to walk in and out but our high priest lives there because He lives in us. Glory be to God.

B. Christ the Head of the Body

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Eph 5:23

Now that we've established that each believer is only part of the church body, it should be easier to see the obvious; the body is controlled by the head.

Christ is the head of the body. The head houses he mouth eyes, ears and brain. When you allow Christ to be your head, you will talk like He talks, see like He sees, hear like He hears, and think like He thinks. When we replace Him with any other head, we become sinful and fail.

Physically we can see that the body minus a head equals death. So to is a church who operates without the direction of Christ. Turrets syndrome is a disease were parts of the body twitch uncontrollably. Believers who constantly choose to do their own thing become a burden to the church and actually give it a form of spiritual turrets.

The Bible does teach that the church can choose not to use its head. There is no sin in Christ and in Him is no darkness at all.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

If the body is constantly directed by Christ and the body sins, then that means that Christ directed the body to sin. Since this is impossible, we know that the body sins out of weakness to the flesh.

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:14-20

The believer chooses to sin because they chose not to follow the will of Christ. Even if the physical body could live without its head, it would constantly crash and trip. Again, this is true of a person without Christ.

C. Shared victory and triumph

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Cor 12:25,26

In the church, when one member hurts, we all hurt and when one rejoices, we all rejoice. It has already been shown that whatever you join, you become. Because of this, we share in eternal victory over sin and death. This victory is completely fulfilled only after we die and leave this body of sin. Therefore, there are no perfect Christians!

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor 15:51-54

Jesus, our head, has defeated them, an we, his body, share in that victory.

We also share in His sufferings and persecutions. We no longer have to worry about being thrown to wild animals or beheaded, but we do have to endure the ridicule of being a "Jesus Freak" or the isolation for being different. (Not going to the strip club with the boys or not getting into a gossip session with the girls). For while we walk this earth, we represent His body and must suffer like He suffered. A member of the church who is not persecuted for his faith needs to reexamine his beliefs and salvation. Suffering on earth is part of the Christian experience. It always has and always will be. He who teaches otherwise teaches error and falsehood.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

An illustration of this concept is the resurrected body of Jesus. If the church is His body, we must endure piercings and stripes (persecution). Just remember that the beaten and bloodied body of Christ got up out of a borrowed tomb. Jesus rose again at His appointed time. (After 3 days and 3 nights), likewise, the church will also be kept in a borrowed tomb (this physical body) until God chooses to release it.

The Healthy Body of Christ

Much effort has been gone through to illustrate the idea of an individual member being part of a bigger body. This is because at the core of Christianity or anything else, everything depends on the correct operation of its parts. A successful church body is one that demonstrates love, spreads the gospel, and continues to grow. To do this, each part must function as it was designed.

A. Unity
Unity is the goal of any true church. The purpose of coming together is to work together as one.

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Php 3:16

A healthy body will have a brain that thinks, heart that pumps blood, lung that breath air, ears that hear, fingers that bend, and so on. All of them function together in order for the body to be successful.
My heart can't be concerned about breathing and my lungs can't be concerned about pumping blood. God has set an appropriate function for each and God knows what He's doing. The problem with many churches is that the members never solicit the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to what is their spiritual gift (God given anointed purpose). In essence we have feet trying to catch and hands trying to stand. This is to say that someone who is supposed to be teaching is always trying to sing and someone singing is a gifted teacher. Both are willing to serve the Lord but neither is serving in His anointed position. Observe that with enough effort and training one can teach himself to walk on his hands and catch with his feet, but he would never train them to be as effective as they are at their intended purposes. (Let a healthy adult who has learned to walk on his hands race a healthy five year old child and see who wins).

B. A Period of Growth

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved Acts 2:47

When a body functions correctly, it should have a period of growth. If a man stayed in the body of an eight year old, he would be diagnosed with some sort of medical condition. Even in nature we see that it is in God's will that most everything living grow. (Trees, flowers, animals, people, hair) The church is the physical body of Christ and therefore should grow. But the church, which is both human and divine should grow both physically and spiritually.

Physical growth in the church means that the membership should increase. A church that has been around for fifty years should not have the same twenty five members it started with. This concept may be widely argued but it is clear in scripture that where God's true gospel is there is a physical drawing. Let me make it clear that there should be some sort of drawing but not necessarily a big one. The Bible also makes it clear that men like to reject light to stay in darkness.
Again, Jesus is the perfect example and His following grew as His ministry progressed. This is because as He healed and trained people, they in turn healed and trained other people. Like the fire that the Holy Spirit illustrates, God's ministry is supposed to grow. Last of all, it was Jesus himself who left the disciples with this,

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt 28:19

A healthy church is supposed to grow spiritually. This means that each member is supposed to get better at pleasing God and staying in His will. To do this, one would have to work on their personal relationship with Christ. As with any good relationship, this will take time and effort. It's not necessary to pray, meditate, and study God's word for hours every day to be spiritually mature (although this certainly can help), it is necessary to give God your most humble and sincere prayer, meditation, and study when you do them.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Eph 6:24

It is important to be diligent but not necessarily long.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:7

When you worship God remember that you are His and your goal is to do what's pleasing to Him. To do this, always pray that His will be done and always seek to get a good understanding of what the will of God is. These things done in a pure heart should always lead to spiritual growth.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed itunto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:13-18

At first glance this description looks plain enough but through the eyes of the spiritual, it is one of the most profound in the Bible (and there are many). Peter's answer to Jesus, "you are the Christ," was the correct one and one that God alone reveals to man. Jesus' reply to Peter tells us what every church must be built on.

One confession. Three parts.

Interestingly, just like the Godhead is one in three, the confession of Christ as the Son of God was recognized as one confession with three truths.

A. First of all, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" is the public confession that God recognizes as an acceptance of His gift of salvation.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:9

B. Second, when Jesus says "I say unto you, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church," He is saying that the rock the church is built on is Jesus Himself. Jesus is called rock in many parts of the Bible.

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed Rom 9:33

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Cor 10:4

Jesus also states in Matthew 28:20 that "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." So His status as Savior and Son of God is the truth that the church is founded and His name is the power which gives it its authority.

C. Last of all, "Peter," means "rock" in Hebrew. With this in mind, the scripture could read, That thou art Peter and on this Peter I will build my church.

It is easy to see that Jesus is saying that the church will be built on individual believers such as Peter. Notice that the church in not the individual believer, only made up of them. If each believer were a church unto himself, the scripture would read, That thou art Peter and Peter will be my church.

Notice that the following scriptures all share a common theme. The members of Christ are to joined together to be a dwelling place for God. Christians are called "God's building, a habitation of God," and "a spiritual house."

For we are laborers together with God: you are God's field, you are God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:9

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

It is clear through scripture that not only is God building a spiritual family, He is building a spiritual house in which He, Himself dwells.

RELATIONSHIP vs Religion and Tradition
We are nearing the end of this study and we have yet to discuss the various detailed of the church. Things like how it should look, how we should dress, and how services should be run. By this, I mean it has not been stated that a church should have 12 deacons, seat 5,000 people, contain an altar, have 10 ushers, a choir, be held in a building, and everyone come in their best Sunday outfit. That's because none of these things are indicators of whether something is a church or not. Everything that God requires of His church is already written for us. If you want to know particulars you can read them for yourself. If you want to know the basics, here they are.

TEN PILLARS OF GOD'S CHURCH
1. Christ is its foundation
2. It operates in love
3. It is the light (guide) for the world
4. It is not the building but the believers of Christ
5. It is His bride who bears His seed, the fruit of the spirit
6. It operates decently and in order
7. It makes disciples of Christ
8. It is God's servant
9. It has the testimony of the Holy Spirit
10. It lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God

Although this list could be a lot more extensive, what is written is enough to identify any true church. Notice that two church buildings can be totally different on the outside ans still have the pillars. Thus the reason for not going into physical specifics is because God didn't.

The church is not about the building, it is about building a relationship with God. God really desires to seek His face and get to know Him personally. Whether we are described as the children of God or the bride of Christ, a relationship with Him is what is desired.

A lot of churches make rules that reflect man's vain attempt to see what only God can. Since man can't see the inner person, he often makes rules to regulate the outer appearance. Over the years, these various rules have become traditions that have been branded into Sunday service. Tradition is a form of religion and religion simply means to do something repetitiously.

There is nothing wrong with going to church religiously, there is something wrong with thinking that good attendance is what Christianity's all about. Let us be clear on this. Religion is not Christianity. Christianity is the church having a serious and loving relationship with Christ.

God's decree is His unchangeable order or standard. It's not up for debate.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt 28:19

On the other hand, just because most churches are constructed by brick, have altars, a pulpit, pews, and people dressed in their Sunday best, doesn't mean it's a standard set by God. This is a matter of choice and not of decree. Remember, there is nothing wrong with doing these things theoretically- (this is debatable but not the subject of this particular article...For more on this, please click Is The Way we "Church" Christian), but neither is there anything wrong with not doing them. One church may have its own building with steeple, another a tent, and yet another meets in a shopping strip. In each case the believer must ask himself does the church have the ten pillars?