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Jerald Finney
Copyright © January 5, 2018
For our understanding of her nature, Scripture describes a church in many ways. Earlier lessons have examined some of them. This lesson will look at others.
One is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and becomes a member of the family of God at the moment of salvation (Ac. 10.45, 11.15-18; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:4-7). God’s desire for that individual is that he then be baptized and become a member of a local church under Christ (Acts 2:41).
Thus, all members of a church, except any who have not been saved form a family; a church is a family. “Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity” (1 Ti. 5.1-2). “And [I] will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Co. 6.18). “And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Mt. 12.49-50). Many other verses could be cited. Look for them as you read through the New Testament.
The Bible compares the church to a pearl of great price which “a merchant man sold all that he had, and bought it (Mt. 13.45-46):
- “A church is one body formed by the Holy Spirit. As Israel is the hid treasure, so a church is a pearl of great cost. Covering the same period as the mysteries of the kingdom, is the mystery of the church (Rom. 16:25, 26; Eph. 3:3-10; 5.32). Of the true Church a pearl is a perfect symbol: (1) a pearl is one, a perfect symbol of unity (1 Cor. 10.17; 12.12, 13; Eph. 4.4-6). (2) A pearl is formed by accretion, and that not mechanically, but vitally, through a living one, as Christ adds to the Church (Acts 2.41, 47; 5.14; 11.24; Eph. 2.21; Col 2.19. (3) Christ, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for the presentation to Himself (Eph. 5.25-27). The kingdom is not the Church, but the true children of the kingdom during the fulfillment of these mysteries, baptized by one Spirit into one body (1 Cor. 12. 12, 13), compose … the pearl.” A variation of a quote from 1917 Scofield Reference Edition, n. 3 to Matthew 13.45, p. 1017.).
Here are some other descriptions of a church from God’s word:
- the Father’s love gift to Jesus Christ (Jn. 17.2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 24);
- the bride and wife of Christ, who is the Head of the church as the husband is the head of the wife;
- a virgin espoused to one husband (2 Co. 11.1-2);
- “the household of God” and “an holy temple in the Lord” (Ep. 2.19-21; see also 1 Co. 3.16);
- branches on a vine (Jn. 15.5);
- an olive tree (Ro. 11.17-24);
- a field of crops (1 Co. 3.6-9);
- God’s husbandry and God’s building” (1 Co. 3.9);
- a harvest (Mt. 13.1-30; Jn. 4.35);
- lively stones (1 Pe. 2.5);
- built up a spiritual house ((1 Pe. 2.5), a spiritual body or organism (1 Cor. 13, Ep. 4.1-16, Ro. 12.3-8);
- an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pe. 2.5);
- Christ’s house (He. 3.6) built by Christ Himself (He. 3.3); and
- ‘the pillar and ground of the truth’ (1 Ti. 3.15).
God gave each description for a reason.
“Each of the [descriptors] used for the church can help us to appreciate more of the richness of privilege that God has given us by building us into a local church. The fact that a church is like a family should increase our love and fellowship with one another. The thought that the church is like the bride of Christ should stimulate us to strive for greater purity and holiness, and also greater love for Christ and submission to him. The image of the church as branches in a vine should cause us to rest in him more fully. The idea of an agricultural crop should encourage us to continue growing in the Christian life and obtaining for ourselves and others the proper spiritual nutrients to grow. The picture of the church as God’s new temple should increase our awareness of God’s very presence dwelling in our midst as we meet. The concept of the church as a priesthood should help us to see more clearly the delight God has in the sacrifices of praise and good deeds that we offer to him (See He. 13.15-16). The [descriptor] of the church as the body of Christ should increase our interdependence on one another and our appreciation of the diversity of gifts within the body. Many other applications could be drawn from these and other [descriptors] for the church listed in Scripture.”[i]
Click here to go to Bible Study of Ephesians. Ephesians reveals the institution of the church as God’s masterpiece. It is more wonderful that any temple made with hands, constructed of living stones, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1 presents the church as a body.
Bible Studies of various Books on the Doctrine of the Church.
The Biblical Doctrine of the Church
Endnote
[i] This is a variation of a quote from Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan; Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), p. 859.
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