Copyright
© 1994
Warren Litzman.
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Let the Church be the Church(Part 2) by Frank Stigall
At this point, we must come to some logical conclusion of what the Bible means in the usage of the word "church." The English word "church" is derived from the late Greek word kyriakon: the Lord's house, a church-building. In the New Testament, the word "church" translates to the Greek word ekklesia. In secular Greek, ekklesia denotes a public assembly.
There are several words used in the Old and New Testaments that are translated church. In some cases, the translators use the word "church" to denote an assembly of God, or a synagogue. Even in the New Testament, ekklesia may signify the assembly of the Israelites (Acts 7:38; Hebrews 2:12); but apart from these exceptions, the word ekklesia in the New Testament denotes the Christian Church (the people).
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Call it what you will, but know this, the meaning of the word "church" changed when the apostle Paul came along, as will be explained later. In reality, the word "church" appears three times in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus spoke these words Himself, and the word does not appear in any other gospel. The church as we know it now did not exist. For example, Jesus said to Peter, "..upon this rock I will build my church.." (Matthew 16:18). In other words. "It is something I have yet to do which I have not accomplished to this time." It is a logical conclusion when you stop to think: Jesus is the chief corner-stone and He must face Calvary before the stone is laid, or the building cannot come into existence. "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building" (Hebrews 9:11).
When it comes down to the definition of the word "church," the only possible interpretation that can be applied is in conjunction with what is going on in the spiritual realm. We will see as we read on, there is a far greater emphasis on the fact that the Church is a body of people and not a building.
Happy birthday! This day the body of Christ, the Church, the ekklesia of God born. Here we see the reality of what was celebrated at Mount Sinai. Fifty days after the Passover, just as it happened to the historical Israelites, the Father established -- His true Church. It was not the giving of law, but the fulfillment of the law by His placing the law keeper (Jesus) in His children.
These people are called the ekklesia (called-out ones), the living Tabernacle of God. Often the King James Bible translates the word ekklesia to mean some earthly structure, but the apostle Paul, over and over, refers to the born-again people as being "the body of Christ," which is a more exact interpretation .
Now we come down to some nitty gritty facts concerning the gospel that was preached at Pentecost. While this gospel seemed to be successful, as many wonderful things happened when Peter preached, it was without the new revelation of the body, but was rather an explanation of some prophesies pertaining to Jesus and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on the people. This message, of course, was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. He was the real player here, not Peter. The crux of the message Peter delivered was the same as it had always been: Israel was to repent.
While this is a valid message, they seemed to miss one thing, the coming of the Holy Spirit as Teacher (John 14:20). It was then much like today, people are caught up in the thrill of the moment and try to repeat experiences of Pentecost over and over again. This is evident because later we see Peter mixing law and grace. He did not have a good grasp on the true gospel. But in spite of all this, the true Church was on its way, complete with born-again believers and the promised Teacher sent from the Father.
It is not something we like to think about, but the Church was without the message of the revelation of the mystery for about thirteen years after Pentecost. It was not until Paul came along that the true message was revealed to the Church (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3; Colossians 1:26). Now we come to a change in the meaning of the word "church." It is no longer just a group of people but a single body. Let us look at some New Testament terms for the Church.
If one is to be true to the New Testament testimony, it must be acknowledged that there is a multiplicity of images and concepts that contribute to an understanding of the nature of the Church. Some of the images are as follows: 1) the people of God, 2) the new creation, 3) the fellowship in faith, 4) the body of Christ, 5) the salt of the earth, 6) branches of the vine, 7) the elect lady, 8) the bride of Christ, 9) ambassadors, 10) a chosen race, 11) the holy temple, 12) priesthood, 13) sons of God, 14) household of God, 15) members of Christ, 16) spiritual body. You will notice, not one time does any of these refer to a physical building or a denomination. The New Testament uses nearly a hundred different images that relate to the Church. The predominant image is the body of Christ, which is especially rich in what it communicates about the nature of the Church.
The Gospel of John speaks of the one shepherd and the one flock (John 10:16), and Jesus prays that his followers may be one, even as the Father and Son are one (John 17:20-26). In Galatians 3:27-28, Paul declares that in Christ all are one, with no distinction of race, social status, or sex. Acts 2:42 and 4:32 give an eloquent testimony to the oneness of the Church. Perhaps the most stirring passage on this point is Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." It is significant that Paul speaks of the Church as the body of Christ but never as a body of Christians or body of believers.
Union is the message to this new body of Christ; however, it does not demand uniformity. The New Testament church had neither uniformity of worship nor uniformity of theology. Union is God's will. Christians form a union (oneness) with Christ and with one another. Christ is acknowledged as the one head who stands over the Church (His body) and gives life to it. Union is not possible when we think of our church or denomination being the vine. Jesus is the vine and all believers are branches.
I think we need an awareness of what holy means in the Bible. To be holy is to be separated from the Satan nature and receive the Divine nature of God. It does not mean that Christians are free from sinning nor that they are perfect in mind or body. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us " (I John 1:8). The apostle Paul said of himself: "Not as though I have already obtained this or am already perfect..." (Philippians 3:12a), and he calls the Corinthian Christians sanctified and saints. Were they without sin? I don't think so. Christians are holy in that they are the called out ekklesia, and set apart by the Father and they have His divine nature.
God called the people of Israel to be "a light to the nations" (Isaiah. 42:5-8). So in the fullness of time, God Himself entered fully into human history in the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Simeon at the temple called, "A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32 RSV).
Jesus then called twelve disciples, symbolic of the new Israel of the end time. I think we need to see that these twelve disciples were called out by Jesus and were given a ministry to establish His earthly kingdom. I think this might explain why they, for awhile after Pentecost, continued preaching the Law.
The Father fully intended to establish His kingdom on the earth with Jesus as King. He desired for His creation to have fellowship with Him, but when that fellowship was broken, God called a remnant from the Gentiles.
One reason the ministry of the apostles had to change was to meet the challenge of the birthing message (Christ placed in believers). All these apostles were just like us. They had to be retrained in the grace of God. We don't know if they all made that transition, as some are not heard from again, but we do know a few of them did.
The visible church and the invisible Church have been lumped together, but, the facts are, they are very different. What you see is not the real spiritual Church. No one can build this Church, as this is the one that Jesus spoke to Peter about and said, "I will build my church."
The invisible Church consists of all those throughout the world who profess true salvation. It is called invisible because its members are known only by God, and they have a new name written down in glory. They are the structure that contains the Divine nature which, for the most part, is invisible to the world. The visible church is a building, a non-spiritual structure. It is not spirit-filled or born-again, and it surely won't be resurrected. When the resurrection takes place, all church buildings and organizations will be left behind. Not one of them will pass through the air to meet Christ.
In the Old Testament, and in the times of Jesus of Nazareth, the building was a very important structure. All spiritual life revolved around it. This is where we make our mistake today. We put no separation between law and grace, or between the visible and invisible church. I am not against having a building to worship in; however, I am against the idea that if you don't attend one, then you are backslid.
If Christ came to the visible church, how many secret evils would He discover? So many things are practiced every day under the cloak of religion. He most likely would find it to be more compatible to a den of thieves than to a house of God!
The longer a domination or a non-domination goes on, the more political it becomes, as well as richer and greatly increased in goods. It is at this point that Jesus calls it wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. It is plain to see from a collection of scriptures that the visible church can have the appearance of the real thing. Take the fig tree, for example, which had leaves but no fruit. Without fruit the tree was worthless and cursed. The vine of the visible church is empty. They blow bubbles of hot air about earthly programs and prosperity but are fruitless in the things of God. This professing, visible church may be cut off as unfruitful. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, holy unto Himself. He will preserve His true Church, and the holy Seed will shoot forth with numerous branches of righteousness.
Sometimes in the visible church the wheat is lost in the chaff, and the gold lost in the dross; that is not a problem to the Father. A sifting will take place, and a refining will come, separating the chaff and the dross. It looks like this is happening even now with many preachers who are falling and the vast numbers of church buildings that are closing throughout the world.
Now let us consider the difference between the visible and the invisible. The invisible Church is the one being built by Christ. It has the seal of the Spirit and is made up of all born-again believers. These distinctions represent the difference between the visible, nominal church, and the true spiritual Church, which alone has access to God, and communion with the Father; it is called the church of the first born. This Church requires a birthing to be in it.
The invisible Church is completely free from any measure of the anti-Christian spirit which prevails in every religious society. Christ has made possible, in His visible manifestation as Jesus of Nazareth, the discovery of the invisible God. He said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. " And Paul writes of Jesus Christ, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature " (Colossians 1:15). See also Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:20; I Timothy 1 :17.
The promise of this salvation was made to Abraham (a Gentile) who accepted it by faith. The promise was to his seed (Christ) and to those afar off, and to as many as the Lord should call (Acts 2:38-39). This invisible Church is called holy and saints of the most high. These titles designate the members of the Christian Church. The invisible Church consists of all the elect who have been, are, or shall be gathered into One under Christ, who is the head. This is a pure society, the Church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ, it is called invisible and it is in the fourth dimension.
Any building that has a foundation in this world is of this world. Your foundation is in Christ. Hebrews 13:14 says," For here have we no continuing city...." Nothing in this third dimensional world is eternal.
I have been accused of being picky on this subject of the Church, and maybe I am, but I do want to de-emphasize a worldly structure as being the habitat of God. Sometimes I still call the building a church, but I mean it only in the generic use of the word. It is not the real thing; it is a substitute structure without life. It could be considered blasphemy to transfer what Christ has done in us to a building. Let the church be the church!
Copyright © 1994 Warren Litzman. The Bible text in this publication, except where otherwise indicated, is from the King James Version. This article appears on the site: http://www.peterwade.com/.
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