TERMS FOR CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS

 

        Because of the errors, which have grown up during the passing of the centuries and the circumstances with which we are surrounded, it is very difficult to keep the plain fact of the N.T. straight in the minds of some.  To illustrate:  You may frequently hear the question, ÒTo what church do you belong?Ó  Such a question would have been meaningless, if not ridiculous, in apostolic times.  There were many congregations during the time of Paul, but they were all the same kind. Hence there was but one church, just as there was but one kingdom.  People do not ask you, ÒTo which of ChristÕs kingdoms do you belong?Ó A study of the scriptures tells us that the church and the kingdom are one and the same institution. 

        Furthermore, in apostolic times one never thought of asking what the name of ChristÕs kingdom wasÑneither did anyone ever ask what the name of his church was.  In most instances it was simply spoken of as Òthe church,Ó w/o any qualifying terms whatever. It designated a body of people who had been called out from the world through the gospel of Christ, over whom Christ reigned as head and in whom his spirit dwelt. This same body of people was often referred to as Òthe kingdomÓ or ÒThe family of God.Ó These were not party names given to GodÕs peopleÑthey were descriptive terms used to designate the people of God in contradistinction to people of the world. These terms give us a better understanding of the nature and character of that divine institution which Jesus came to establish through which to redeem men from their sins. You need to ask yourself, am I a member of a church or am I a member of the church?  If you are just a member of a church, you would have considerable difficulty find a thing of that kind in GodÕs book. I donÕt want to find something that resembles the church of Christ. I do not want to find something that is like the church of Christ.  I am not trying to find something that is more like it than anything else.  I want to find the church you read about in the Bible.   LetÕs notice some of the terms used.

 

I)           It is the Òchurch of Christ.Ó

A)   Jesus said, ÒUpon this rock I will build my church.Ó(Matt. 16:18)

B)    The Apostle Paul speaking for the different congregations in the region where he was at the time he wrote, said, Òthe churches of Christ salute youÓ (Rom. 16:16).

1)      These expressions denote Òownership.Ó

2)      When you think about the relationship, which Christ sustains to the church, you have Òownership.Ó 

3)      Thus, when we speak of the Òchurch of ChristÓ we do not have in mind some party organization but that spiritual body of which he is the founder and owner.

C)    Church is spoken of as ChristÕs bride (Rom. 7:4; Eph. 5:23-32).

1)      When we speak of his bride then, as his church, we exalt the church and honor Christ.

2)      If we should call the church by the name of some other man, we would humiliate the bride and dishonor the bridegroom.

3)      We are not then, narrow, selfish and bigoted when we speak of the N.T. church as the church of Christ.

D)   It is called the Òchurch of the LordÓ (ASV), Òchurch of GodÓ (KJV)

1)      Acts 20:28

2)      The Lord in this verse is Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord the Christian has.

3)      Which he purchased with his own blood.

4)      Church pictured in the N.T. belongs to Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

E)    When we speak of it as his church, we are speaking as the oracles of God.

F)     The church is composed of ÒChristiansÓ and ÒbrethrenÓ, but it is never designated by those names in the N.T.

1)      They emphasize the wrong thing.

2)      They give preeminence to the individuals who compose the body of Christ rather than to Christ.

3)      Colossians 1:18Ñthat in all things he might have the preeminence.

4)      At no time was the church ever mentioned in the N.T. in such a way as to give the preeminence to those who compose it.

G)    Once the church is called the Òchurch of the firstborn.Ó

1)      Heb. 12:23

2)      Just another way of saying the ÒChurch of Christ.Ó

3)      Romans 8:29

4)      Christ is referred to as Òfirst from the deadÓ in Col. 1:18

H)   Frequently the church is called the Òchurch of GodÓ

1)      Paul introduced both letters to church at Corinth with that reference.

2)      I Tim. 3:5Ñtake care of the church of God

3)      There is a sense in which everything in the universe belongs to God; but there is a special sense in which everything that belongs to Christ belongs to God.

4)      John 17:10Ñ

5)      Whether we say the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Christ, the church of God or the church of Christ, we have in mind the same divine institution.

6)      We possibly speak of it as the church of Christ more often than we do the church of God in order that we may distinguish it from the denomination known as Òchurch of God.Ó

I)      The church then, is designated in the N.T. as the church of Christ, the church of the Lord, the church of the firstborn, or the church of God. These are not different ÒNamesÓ used to designate different denominations: they are ÒTermsÓ used to point out one body of peopleÑ namely, the followers of Christ.

J)      The term ÒchurchÓ is found 110 times in the N.T.

1)      Ninety-two times it refers to a local congregation.

2)      Eighteen times it refers to the whole body of Christ.

3)      Never is the word used in any other sense.

K)   Jesus came into the world to build one and only one institution.

1)      This is a spiritual institution.

2)      It is represented as the church, the kingdom, the family or the body.

3)      It is designated by such expressions as the church of Christ, the church of the Lord, the church of the Firstborn, the church of God.

4)      Whatever figure may be used to describe it, or to designate it, we have in mind one and the same institution.

5)      It is that group of believers who have been called out from the world, over whom Christ reigns as head and in whom the H/S dwells.

6)      There is nothing else in the world comparable to it.  No lodge, no civic institution, no denomination, or worldly institution of any kind or description that can take the place of this divine institutionÑthis spiritual bodyÑ, which Jesus founded.

II)         Terms applied to those who compose the church.

A)   If we think of the church as a body, then we are Òmembers.Ó

1)      Romans 12:4,5

2)      I Cor. 12:12-31

B)    If we think of the church as a kingdom, then we are Òcitizens.Ó

1)      Eph. 2:19

2)      Phil. 3:27

3)      Term citizenship expresses equality or rights. In ChristÕs kingdom we all enjoy the same rights and privileges.

C)    If we think of ourselves as students, then we are Òdisciples.Ó

1)      John 8:31; 13:35

2)      Matthew 28:19

3)      The term ÒdiscipleÓ signifies Òlearner.Ó

4)      In early times students literally followed their teachers about.

5)      Thus, a disciple was also a Òfollower.Ó

6)      Today, those who accept the teachings of Christ are called Òdisciples,Ó or ÒfollowersÓ of Christ.

D)   If we think of God as our Father, then we are Òchildren.Ó

1)      Matt. 6:9ÑOur Father who art in heaven.

2)      Romans 8:14-17Ñ

3)      Gal. 3:26,27

E)    If we have in mind the relationship, which we sustain to one another in the family of God, then we are Òbrethren.Ó

1)      Gal. 1:1,2

2)      I Tim. 4:6Ñput the brethren in remembrance.

3)      I Peter 1:22

4)      I John 3:14

5)      No stronger term could be employed to show the close relationship, which exists between the followers of Christ.

F)     If we have in mind the purity of GodÕs people, then we are Òsaints.Ó

1)      Where anyone ever got the idea that the term ÒsaintÓ should be applied exclusively to a certain few who have been dead for centuries is a mystery.

2)      In apostolic times the term ÒsaintÓ was applied to the living.

3)      It signifies purity or holiness; it does not signify sinless perfection.

4)      I Cor. 1:1,2Ñcalled them saints, yet few chapters later, referred to them as carnal (3:3). Yet he still referred to them as saints.

5)      Paul opened 2 Cor, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians with Òsaints.Ó

6)      All Christians are saints, yet no Christian reaches the state of perfection while he lives on the earth.

G)    As regards our relationship to Christ, we are ÒChristiansÓ

1)      Christ  i-a-n-s.  of Christ, followers of Christ.

2)      The name Christian was not a name given in derision by the enemies of Christ.

3)      The word ÒcalledÓ is from a Greek word that implies that the calling was of God.

4)      Name not given until after establishment of the church and inclusion of the Gentiles.

(a)   Acts 11:26

(b)   Acts 26:28

(c)   I Peter 4:16

5)      James 2:7

Con:  Whether it is in reference to the church as a whole or individuals who make up the body, letÕs make sure we use GodÕs word as the standard by which we refer to each.  What about you as an individual?  Are you a member of the body of Christ?  Are you a citizen in the kingdom? Are you a disciple of Christ?  Are you a child of God? Are you a brother or sister in Christ?  Are you a saint?  Are you a Christian?  You can be all of these today if you will render obedience to the gospel?