Thesis 25/36: Church

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH
Doctrine 25 / 36: The Church

Ephesians 4 teaches that when Jesus ascended into heaven, from there He gave gifts unto His church (Ephesians 4:6-8). Some of the roles that were given by His gracious gifts were apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). These different gifts were given to the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:4). The purpose for these roles is found in verses 12-15, where it says, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Christ gave gifts to those in the church for the mutual edifying of itself, to grow each individual in the church into the image of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16).

The church is considered the bride of Jesus Christ in Ephesians 5:23-33; the relationship is to be the same as a husband to the wife. Just as a husband is to be "one flesh" with his wife, so the bride of Christ, is in fact one body with Christ (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 6:15; Ephesians 1:22-23). The church as a whole is the body of Christ. The purpose then of the body of Christ, is the same purpose that Christ had when His body was present on earth. Christians are to be, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body" (2 Corinthians 4:10). The life of Jesus Christ Himself is to be lived through His body, the church. The purpose of the church then is, as was Jesus' purpose, "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Also, as was already suggested from Ephesians 4, the body of Christ is to mutually encourage itself to be sanctified and holy, without spot or wrinkle, like Christ (Ephesians 5:27; 1 Peter 1:19). The purpose of the church can be summed up by the Great Commission, to go, preach and teach or, to evangelize and disciple (Matthew 28:19-20).

There are some that understand the word "church" in the Bible to refer solely to the local assembly. While the Bible certainly does refer to the church as being the local assembly, at times it refers to the church as a whole, as the entire body of Christ. The fact that it refers to the local assemblies can be seen in the use of the word "churches" (Acts 16;5; 2 Corinthians 12:13; Revelation 1:4). But as has been already seen, the church is the body of Christ, and "by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free" (1 Corinthians 12:12). There is one body of Christ (Ephesians 4:4); He will not have many brides. Therefore the use of the word "church" at times is referring to the local church, but at times to the universal body of Christ. The entire body of Christ is to be unified, and share with each other, encouraging and exhorting each other.

"Upon this rock I will build my church."