The word for church is ‘eklesia’…it means the called out ones. It often is used to refer to an assembly of people. It never refers to a denomination….or a building…but only a group of people who are ‘called out’ of the world to follow God.

 

The primary New Testament scripture referring to the church is:-

 Matt 16:15-19

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 

16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."     NKJV

 

The key to understanding what the church is, is to examine the foundation on which it is built.

It is built on the revelation (ie from God) ….of who Jesus is….and what He has done for us. It is not an organization which is built on the apostle Peter ..or his authority. It is not referring to the system of men claiming to have ‘apostolic succession’ which authorizes their leadership.

 

This shows clearly that being part of the true church in NO WAY equates to membership of a local 'church' here on earth. No pastor can detemine who enters.......or decide who should be excluded.

 

This shows that man cannot build the church…man cannot of his own decide to get the revelation…nor can any man of his own give it to another (John 1:12-13)….it is GOD’s sovereign decision (Mat 11:25 & 26)

 

Today it is necessary to ask…..what is the church which Jesus is building?

 

Well sadly it is not the churches most individuals claim to be building....as they divide the body. (Acts 20:30)

It is first and foremost JESUS' church...one that HE is building

Ps 127:1

Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;    NKJV
 

It is certainly not the worldly organizations …where men control and dominate ...or decide who is not welcome

3 John 9-10

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.    NKJV
 

It is not the glorious and extravagant buildings of the many mega-(so called)-churches (Acts 7:48, Acts 17:24)

Acts 7:48

48 "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands,....NKJV
 

John 3:5-8
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'  8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."     NKJV
 

The true church is NOT the visible church....it is the worldwide family of born again believers...those transformed by the indwelling spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9-11)

 

We are called out not to be a ‘organization’…or a ‘denomination’…but firstly a FAMILY…..one which operates as single body...because we have the same spirit dwelling in us

 

Eph 3:14-15

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,.....      NKJV

 

Look at the 100's of scriptures indicating God’s desire for direct relationship with us personally by using family as the illustration…and not an organization…or a religion

 

Jesus came as the Son…every time he called Himself this He confessed it

He came to reveal…our Father…every time we hear this think ‘family relationship’

Our prayers are to our FATHER…our common Father

The Spirit of adoption in each of us calls out …. “ABBA” 

Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren…we are all related …one ‘family’

He came to reveal that we too could be children

We are all brethren…the epistles of Peter, John and Paul illustrate this

We are the ‘household’ of faith

'In my Fathers ‘house’….is clearly NOT refering to a building but a family

 

How should we then relate to each other?

 

The model for leadership of the church is to be as a family….loving service (as per Jesus example)

 

'Parents ought to lay up for the children…not children for the parents'

The head of each man is Christ….family members each directly relating to God

The main role of leaders is to SERVE…and be an example…and to bless and provide for (not to 'lord it over' or not to take from)

Families who LOVE each other…without being told to

Families who practically care for each other as their first priority

Families who serve each each other and help each others to walk in the Spirit

 

Eph 2:19

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,       NKJV

Gal 6:10

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.     NKJV

1 Tim 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.       NKJV

Matt 12:49-50

49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother       NKJV

 

In the Old Testament the 'house of the Lord' was a building

 

1 Kings 8:10-11

10 And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

 

The physical building is however no more ...it was only a type and shadow which has been fullfilled in Christ!

John 4:21

21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain (place NIV), nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.    NKJV

Matt 24:2

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."   NKJV
 

The temple was demolished by the Romans in AD 70 as Jesus prophesied.... and it has never been re-built!

 

Our worship today is a 24/7 relationship with our Father....and not a place we attend. (Rom 12:1-2)

 

In the New Testament the 'house of the Lord' is HIS FAMILY

 

The temple is fulfilled in Christ (Mk 14:58)

You are the temple of God! (1 Cor 3:16, 1 Cor 6:19, 2 Cor 6:16, Eph 2:19-23, Rev 21:22)   ...Christ resides on earth today IN HIS BRETHREN 

God does not live in a house made of stones…or human hands (Acts7 & 17)

We as living stones ....are a SPIRITUAL house

1 Peter 2:4-5

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.    NKJV

A 'spiritual house' does not have walls and doors

 

Where 2 or 3 are gathered……there am I in the midst of them (Mat 18:20)

We are to have new wineskins…no longer anointed priests and buildings….but only God’s children and family. ALL of us filled with His Spirit (Rom 8:9-11) and commissioned for a work ...our Fathers business! (Eph 2:10) ..ie ALL anointed!

 

The context of family is reinforced in that it is God’s sovereign election

 

A child does not decides have a Father....the FATHER decides to have children. 

 

John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.     NKJV
 

Acts 2:46-47

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.     NKJV

Acts 11:18

18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."    NKJV

 Acts 13:48

48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.      NKJV

Eph 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.    NKJV

2 Thess 2:13-14
... brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel,     NKJV
 

Rev 17:8
...whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world,    NKJV
 

  

The church is the family gathered together (not the buildings or the organisations)

Acts 2:41-47
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ......

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.    NKJV

Acts 11:22-24

22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. NKJV

Acts 12:5

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church .    NKJV

Acts 13:1-2

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,  ….      NKJV

Acts 14:27-28

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. NKJV

Acts 15:2-5

Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

3 So, being sent on their way by the church , they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.     NKJV

Acts 15:22

Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.    NKJV

1 Cor 1:2-3

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

1 Cor 11:18

18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.    NKJV

1 Cor 12:27-29

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church : first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.    NKJV

1 Cor 14:23

23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?     NKJV

Heb 12:22-24

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.     NKJV 

Eph 1:22-23

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.   NKJV

Eph 5:22-33

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

 

Jesus' church is not subject to the control of pastors or anointed 5-fold ministry...but CHRIST himself!

 

1 Cor 11:3

3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ     NKJV

Note each person is to have a DIRECT submission to Christ…not through a chain of command

 

Eph 4:11-13

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;     NKJV
 

The 5-fold ministry is not to 'lord it over' but to SERVE the saints ....They are to train up the body to do the work and NOT to do it all themselves! ...or to believe that they are exalted because they have a 'special annointing'

 

Eph 5:25-32

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."   32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church .     NKJV

 

We are each called to live experientially out of our one-ness with Christ...this is our goal   (1 Cor 6:17),

…..and Christ’s prayer (John 10:16, 17:11 and 17:20-23)

 

Col 1:18

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  NKJV

Christ is to have the pre-eminence...NOT man

 

3 John 9-10

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.     NKJV

This is sadly a common problem today ...so-called leaders not realising that if it is 'their' church...then it is NOT Jesus' church!

 

The church IS God’s family…those who have received from the Father the revelation of Jesus Christ….and those who today are filled with His Spirit …and hear HIS voice. (not the voice of a stranger!)

 

The Church IS the BODY of Christ in the earth today.....ie we are to be His hands to touch a lost world

 

Eph 1:22-23

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.   NKJV 

1 John 4:17

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.    NKJV