Church: Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., "the Lord's house"),
which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the
New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which
is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament, both
words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be
known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no
clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of
worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this
meaning. Nor is this word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a
country united in the same profession, as when we say the "Church of
England," the "Church of Scotland," etc. We find the word ecclesia
used in the following senses in the New Testament:1. It is translated "assembly" in the ordinary classical sense
(Acts 19:32,39,41)
2. It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the
Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church
(Ephesians 5:23,25,27,29; Hebrews 12:23)
3. A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances
of the gospel are an ecclesia
(Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15)
4. All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled
together in one place or in several places for religious
worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch,
forming several congregations, were one church
(Acts 13:1) so also
we read of the "church of God at Corinth"
(1 Corinthians 1:2) "the church
at Jerusalem"
(Acts 8:1) "the church of Ephesus"
(Revelation 2:1) etc.
5. The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world
(1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Matthew 16:18) are the church of Christ. The church
visible "consists of all those throughout the world that profess
the true religion, together with their children." It is called
"visible" because its members are known and its assemblies are
public. Here there is a mixture of "wheat and chaff," of saints
and sinners. "God has commanded his people to organize
themselves into distinct visible ecclesiastical communities,
with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges, ordinances, and
discipline, for the great purpose of giving visibility to his
kingdom, of making known the gospel of that kingdom, and of
gathering in all its elect subjects. Each one of these distinct
organized communities which is faithful to the great King is an
integral part of the visible church, and all together constitute
the catholic or universal visible church." A credible profession
of the true religion constitutes a person a member of this
church. This is "the kingdom of heaven," whose character and
progress are set forth in the parables recorded in
(Matthew 13:1)ff
The children of all who thus profess the true religion are
members of the visible church along with their parents. Children
are included in every covenant God ever made with man. They go
along with their parents
(Genesis 9:9-17; 12:1-3; 17:7; Exodus 20:5)
(Deuteronomy 29:10-13) Peter, on the day of Pentecost, at the beginning of
the New Testament dispensation, announces the same great
principle. "The promise [just as to Abraham and his seed the
promises were made] is unto you, and to your children"
(Acts 2:38,39) The children of believing parents are "holy", i.e.,
are "saints", a title which designates the members of the
Christian church
(1 Corinthians 7:14)
(See BAPTISM)
The church invisible "consists of the whole number of the elect that
have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the head
thereof." This is a pure society, the church in which Christ dwells.
It is the body of Christ. it is called "invisible" because the
greater part of those who constitute it are already in heaven or are
yet unborn, and also because its members still on earth cannot
certainly be distinguished. The qualifications of membership in it
are internal and are hidden. It is unseen except by Him who "searches
the heart." "The Lord knoweth them that are his"
(2 Timothy 2:19) The
church to which the attributes, prerogatives, and promises
appertaining to Christ's kingdom belong, is a spiritual body
consisting of all true believers, i.e., the church invisible.
1. Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We
sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New
Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old
Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged
(Isaiah 49:13-23; 60:1-14) When the Jews are at length restored,
they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again
into "their own olive tree"
(Romans 11:18-24) comp.
(Ephesians 2:11-22)
The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their
ministry disciples were "added" to the "church" already
existing
(Acts 2:47)
2. Its universality. It is the "catholic" church; not confined to
any particular country or outward organization, but
comprehending all believers throughout the whole world.
3. Its perpetuity. It will continue through all ages to the end of
the world. It can never be destroyed. It is an "everlasting
kindgdom."
