What is the Church? (Part 1)
By Allan E. McNabb

If we took a poll in the community, asking, “What is the church?” we  would get diverse and conflicting answers.

In this series of two articles, we let the Bible answer this question, so we can be the church God wants us to be.

Origin of the Church
God is the originator of the church, according to His eternal purpose in Christ (Eph. 3:11-12).  He foretold of the church in the Old Testament, indicating that He’d establish it during the reign of Rome (Mi. 4:1-3; Dan. 2:31-45).

During the reign of Rome, the church began on Pentecost, a few days after Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4).

The Church is the Called Out Body
The word “church” is translated from the Greek work ekklesia, denoting a called out body of people. 
God calls us out of the world of sin through the gospel (2 Th. 1:14).  The church is composed of people who respond to God’s call.

The word church is used in two ways.  “Church” can be used in reference to all Christians, or a specific  congregation.   Jesus uses “church” both ways:

  • In Matt. 16:18, Jesus promises to build His church, speaking of Christians everywhere who would respond to the gospel call.
  • In Matt. 18:17, Jesus uses the word “church” regarding Christians in a local congregation.

Names Identifying the Church
There are several names in the Bible that identify the church.

  • My (Christ's) church (Matt. 16:18).
  • Church of the Lord, church of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2).
  • Church  of Christ (Rom. 16:16).
  • The body, the church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; 1 Th. 1:1).
  • Household (house) of God, church of the living God (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15; cf. Heb. 10:21).
  • Church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23).
  • God's field, God's building (1 Cor. 3:9).
  • The flock (1 Pet. 5:3; Acts 20:28).

Since we are commanded to “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” congregations of the Lord’s church must use an authorized name.

Membership in the Church
On Pentecost, people asked Peter what they should do.  He told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).  The people who obeyed the gospel received the gift of the Holy Spirit – they were saved, and added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:38, 40-41, 47).

  • They were baptized into the body of Christ by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).
  • They were born again, born of water and Spirit (Jn. 3:3, 5).

The Church is God’s Kingdom
The word kingdom denotes the domain of the king.  God rules over the church; therefore, it is His kingdom.

We must be born again to see the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:3).  Jesus said, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God’” (Jn. 3:5).

We are born of water when we are baptized, and born of the Spirit when we are added to the church, at which time we become a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

Since we believed the good news about the kingdom of God and were baptized (Acts 8:12), we are members of God’s kingdom.

The Church is Christ’s Kingdom
God put all things under Christ’s feet (Eph. 1:22-23).  He is Lord of lords and King of kings, having all authority in heaven and on earth (1 Tim. 6:15; Matt. 28:18).  Therefore, He rules over the church (kingdom).

As Christians, God has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13-14).  As members of Christ’s kingdom, we have “redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).

Later in this epistle, Paul tells us exactly when these things transpire:  “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions (Col. 2:12-13).

Note, from Col. 1:13-14; 2:12-13:

  • We are forgiven when we are baptized (Col. 2:12-13).
  • We are forgiven in Christ’s kingdom (Col. 1:13-14).
  • Therefore, we enter Christ’s kingdom when we are baptized.

This perfectly harmonizes with Acts 2:

  • We are forgiven and saved when we are baptized (Acts 2:38, 40-41).
  • We are added to the church when we are saved (Acts 2:40-41, 47).
  • The church is Christ’s kingdom (Col. 1:13).
  • Therefore, we are added to the kingdom when we are baptized – the time at which we are saved.