What Is The Church?
The lives of many people demonstrate little respect or appreciation for “the church.” Most of those who fall into this group are not atheists. Some claim affiliation with a church, but in reality it's only token affiliation. For many, though they believe in God, seldom do they even think about the church. It's not that they feel any hostility toward the church, the church simply holds no place in their mind. A prime reason for a lack of respect and appreciation for the church is a lack of understanding of what is the church.
First, a church building is not the church. The expression “go to church” is really a misnomer. It presents an image of people going to a building that they call their church. In actuality, it is the church that goes to a building that serves as a facility in which the church can meet and from which it can do its work. The building itself is not the church.
The church is the body of Christ. It is so identified numerous times in scripture: (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23, 30, 32; Colossians 1:18). Obviously, a church building cannot fit such an identity. The church is that body of obedient believers who have become faithful followers of Christ.
It's not enough to simply believe in Christ. Belief, by itself, does not make a person a member of His body, the church. Jesus gave the standard of living faithfully- obediently- by His teachings as distinguishing a true Christian from the world: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). The apostle John emphasized that living faithfully by the teachings (“doctrine”) of Christ is absolutely essential. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). According to Jesus' own words, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
A person comes “into Christ” through baptism. The apostle Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3). He stated this fact again in his letter to the Galatians: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Baptism not only serves as the means by which a person comes into Christ, but it is also the point at which he is granted forgiveness (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and salvation (Mark 16:15-16).
When a person comes to salvation in Christ, the Lord Himself adds that person to His body, the church. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Understanding the special, personal relationship the church has with Christ, and the fact that it is made up of the truly saved, should produce tremendous respect and appreciation for it. It should also stimulate a deep sense of need to be a part of it…
First, a church building is not the church. The expression “go to church” is really a misnomer. It presents an image of people going to a building that they call their church. In actuality, it is the church that goes to a building that serves as a facility in which the church can meet and from which it can do its work. The building itself is not the church.
The church is the body of Christ. It is so identified numerous times in scripture: (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23, 30, 32; Colossians 1:18). Obviously, a church building cannot fit such an identity. The church is that body of obedient believers who have become faithful followers of Christ.
It's not enough to simply believe in Christ. Belief, by itself, does not make a person a member of His body, the church. Jesus gave the standard of living faithfully- obediently- by His teachings as distinguishing a true Christian from the world: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). The apostle John emphasized that living faithfully by the teachings (“doctrine”) of Christ is absolutely essential. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). According to Jesus' own words, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
A person comes “into Christ” through baptism. The apostle Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3). He stated this fact again in his letter to the Galatians: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Baptism not only serves as the means by which a person comes into Christ, but it is also the point at which he is granted forgiveness (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and salvation (Mark 16:15-16).
When a person comes to salvation in Christ, the Lord Himself adds that person to His body, the church. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Understanding the special, personal relationship the church has with Christ, and the fact that it is made up of the truly saved, should produce tremendous respect and appreciation for it. It should also stimulate a deep sense of need to be a part of it…
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