The Church

I recently was asked a question about the church and wrote something back. Here is what I wrote slightly edited.

I hope that I don’t overdo this and say too much. However, over the years I have become more and more convinced of the crucial importance of the church for every believer. And, to be up front and honest, I hope to persuade you of this point of view as well.

First, a definition. When you see the word ‘church’ in your New Testament you should always understand this as a group of people, organized under the authority of their leaders for the purpose of following Jesus faithfully. There are those who try to ‘spiritualize’ this and make it into some invisible and un-organized (not disorganized) something or other of the truly saved. The word used in the NT is not that. You can point to and see the ‘church’ in the NT sense of the word. So, as a rule of thumb, you can replace ‘church’ in the NT with [the name of the church of the person I was writing to] or ‘Faith Reformed’ and the point being made in the text remains essentially the same.

With that said, here are some verses that talk about the church. I’m hoping this method of dealing with this topic will be quick and clear.

1. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

Jesus came to build a church, His church. So, this group/organization/institution, must be important to Him. And it is an organization that uses the leadership abilities of mere men like Peter.

2. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28

This is Paul speaking to the leaders of the church in Ephesus. Note the responsibility of these men. Note also the name of this group, the church of God, that is, God’s church. He has a special relationship with this group. And then note what it cost God to obtain this church.

3. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, Ephesians 1:22

The Father put everything under Jesus and then gave Jesus, as the One who is over all things, to the church as a gift.

4. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:8-10

The church is the means by which ‘the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places’ [Satan and his angels?] will know the amazing wisdom of God that lies behind the Gospel.

5. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. … "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:25-27, 31-32

There are some profound things going on here, but for sure Jesus loves His church with a passion that every husband is supposed to imitate. Adam and Eve before the Fall are a picture of Christ and the church.

6. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev. 21:1-2

What is the hope of eternity? That the church should be wed to her groom. That wedding day is the point of this age. That is what we are aiming at. And by the grace of God, that day will arrive.

Again, we are not talking about the ‘really saved’ here and there who make up the ‘real church’, something that can’t be seen because it’s so spiritual. We are talking about visible institutions of people who profess to follow Jesus and strive to do that under the leadership of those whom Jesus has placed over them as undershepherds. We’re talking about [the person’s church], Faith Reformed and lots of other very visible groups.

Now, I haven’t gotten into what the church is to be doing. I think I need to stop. But being who I am I just have to add this little bit. The purpose of the church is the worship of God, the communion of the saints and the calling of the lost. We gather on Sundays for so much more than a lesson and a chance for some encouragement. If you want I can explain that later.

I hope that this is helpful – and not too much.

Leon