6/07/2022 Wednesday
BIBLE BASICS
Review of Aspects of Salvation, p.3
What are the 3 stages of sanctification?
Past (salvation), Present (this life), Future (when we see Christ)
When will our adoption by God be fully complete?
When he takes us to heaven
Which keeps the Christian securely saved, doing right or God’s promise?
God’s Promise
What is the Christian’s glorification?
Being changed into Christ’s image when we see Him
Church: Introduction
Biblically, what is a church?
The Greek word “ekklesia”
▰ The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia refers to “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place”, a
called out assembly.
▻ The meeting may be secular or religious.
▻ It never referred to a building.
▰ The word is found 115 times in 112 verses of the New Testament (118 times if you include footnotes).
The Greek word “ekklesia”
▰ In the KJV Bible, ekklesia is always translated “church” referring to a called out assembly of Christians with four exceptions.
▻ In Acts 7:38, it refers to the assembly of Israel in the Old Testament.
▻ In Acts 19:32, 39, 41, it is translated assembly, referring to a secular assembly
The English word “church”
▰ Origin: Old English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma) ‘Lord’s
(house)’.
▰ The 1395 Wycliffe translation used the word “church” (chirche).
▰ The 1525 Tyndale version translated ekklêsia properly, as “congregacion”.
The English word “church”
▰ A definition-based English translation of ekklesia would be either assembly or congregation as it refers to the gathering of people, not to a building.
▰ We use the word “church”, not because it fits the definition, but because it is the common term in English.
A church is a local assembly
▰ The word ekklesia implies a local gathering. It cannot be a “called out assembly” without it being in a local place.
▰ Nearly all the 115 references to ekklesia in the New Testament clearly refer to a local congregation. For example:
▻ Acts 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havock of the church …” (at Jerusalem)
A church is a local assembly
▻ Acts 9:31 “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria …”
▻ Acts 14:27 “And when they were come, and had gathered the church together …”
▻ Acts 15:22 “Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; …”
see also Acts 15:41; 1Cor 14.33; 2Cor 8:18; Gal 1:22.
A church is a local assembly
▰ Once, ekklesia refers to a future general assembly in heaven.
▻ Hebrews 12:23 “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made perfect,”
A church is a local assembly
▰ Sometimes the word ekklesia represents any local assembly. It speaks of no particular church, but it refers to the institution – any church or every
church.
▻ This is the same way words like “heart” (Jer 17:9) and “marriage” (Heb 13:4) are used. Here are a few examples of how ekklesia is used of the institution of a
local church.
A church is a local assembly
▻ Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
▻ 1 Corinthians 15:9 “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
▻ (Ephesians 5:25) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
▻ (Ephesians 5:32) “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
A broader view of the church
▰ Ekklesia, as used in these and similar verses, is often called the “universal church”, referring to the overall body of Christ, including all true
Christians of all ages.
▰ While this interpretation is conceivable, it stretches the meaning of ekklesia. It never preforms earthly duties of a local church.*
▰ Perhaps these scriptures speak of the local assembly of all true believers that will gather around the throne of God in heaven.
What makes a church biblical?
▰ Not all “churches” are biblical local churches. To be a biblical church …
▻ It must proclaim repentance and salvation by faith in Christ alone.
▻ Its members must be saved by faith and immersed.
▻ It must hold to biblical doctrine and biblical practice.
▰ Christ is the head of each local church.
▰ Each local church is to be a type of the future assembly in heaven.
▰ Every Christian ought to be a member of a local church.
Church: Introduction Review
What is an ekklesia?
a called out assembly
What would be a good English rendering of ekklesia?
Congregation or Assembly
Why is the term “Universal Church” a questionable rendering of ekklesia?
It stretches the literal meaning
Name some things that identify a church as being biblical
Salvation by faith, saved immersed membership, biblical doctrine and biblical practice
An earthly local church is a type of what?
The heavenly assembly of believers
Let’s Get Practical
▰ If you move to a new area, what ought you look for in a local church?