We Are the Body of Christ (Introduction)

"There wouldn't be so many non-church goers if there were not so many non-going churches."  - Billy Sunday

May I ask you a question? What comes to mind when you think of the word "church?" Perhaps this brings images of an simple, quaint, white-painted, clapboard building with a plain cross mounted atop a tall steeple; this may even be a bell tower.

Or, a large, capacity worship center inside a cavernous structure, complete with a sizable stage, giant video screens and a top-notch sound system. These are but a few examples of what many may associate with the word "church."

For the next several weeks we shall delve into this question. As we will discover, there is so much more to "church" than what most of us think of. Now, in order to have a good start we should have some basic knowledge in order to better equip ourselves for our study.

"Church," as it is commonly used in the New Testament, is derived from the Greek word ekklesia, which by definition means “a called-out assembly or congregation.” As you can see, "church" refers not so much to a building, but rather to people.

As we saw above, the word "church" generally conjures up visions of structures of varying designs with four walls, windows, doors, and a roof. The apostle Paul in Romans 16:5 refers to the church as a body of believers, instead of a designated building.

We should think of the church as the "body" of Christ, with him being the head (Ephesians 1:22-23). In this respect, all of the believers in Jesus Christ make up the body of Christ, or the church. In addition, the body of Christ consists of two important features.

The first is the universal church. This is made up of all who possess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). According to this verse, anyone who believes (in Jesus Christ) is a part of the body of Christ; obtaining the Spirit of Christ as proof of this. Plus, they have all received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, as members of the universal church of God.

Second, is the local church (Galatians 1:1-2). This is not in the denominational sense as in the universal church, but rather a local body of believers, hence, a "local church." Consider the universal church as formed of those believers in Christ who trust in their salvation through him. The fellowship and instruction sought by these members can be found in a local church.

To summarize, we have learned that the church is not a building in the physical sense, as many think. It is the "body of Christ," or all who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). We find members of the universal church gathered with local churches (local bodies of believers).

Here, they can fully practice the principles imparted in 1 Corinthians 12, which are: inspiring, teaching, and strengthening each other in the understanding and grace of Jesus Christ. We now have a good footing on which to build on. Next time, we will embark on our study of the glorious church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope to see you then!

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5; Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28;1 Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 4:12 

Prayer: Lord, Lord, be the foundation on which I build my life always, amen.

May the Lord bless,

Shawna