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What The Bible Says About the Church
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised, "I will build My church." What was Jesus
promising to build in this verse? Did He have reference to a building? A
denomination? An institution? While these concepts are often designated as the
"church" in common parlance, the fact is that none of these definitions
accurately picture what Christ meant.
The Church Is People
The Greek word that is usually translated "church" in our English Bibles comes
from a Greek word that originally had no inherent religious meaning. Instead,
the Greek term EKKLESIA originally referred to a group of people. A good
illustration of this meaning is found in Acts 19. While Paul was preaching in
Ephesus, a mob formed in opposition to his message. In Acts 19:32 Luke says that
the "assembly was in confusion." "Assembly" here is EKKLESIA. Later, in verse
39, the town leader insists that proper charges be brought before the "lawful
assembly." Again, "assembly" is EKKLESIA. So the root meaning of the word
"church" has to do with a group of people.
Consequently, when Christ promised to "build [His] church," He was pledging to
bring together a group of people. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for
it (Ephesians 5:25). He did not die for bricks and two-by-fours, or for a
cluster of congregations, or for an ecclesiastical machine. He died for people,
and those who submit to Him in obedience are brought together into His group of
people, the church.
The One Body
Another metaphor that is often used to describe Christ's people is "the body."
This term is synonymous with the term "church," as is evident from comparing
Ephesians 4:4 and 1:22-23. In 4:4 Paul states, "there is one body." In 1:22-23
he refers to "the church, which is His body." Putting these concepts together,
we can conclude that there is one church.
The emphasis of NT teaching on the "one body" is that there is no distinction
among Christ's group of people regarding race, gender, nationality, or social
standing. Even the centuries old distinction between Jew and Gentile is removed
in the one body. "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups [Jew and
Gentile] into one...and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the
cross" (Ephesians 2:14, 16).
In this sense, the one body is equivalent to all those who have trusted in
Christ, unlimited by time or geography. We are saved, added to this body, when
our faith culminates in baptism. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into
one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made
to drink of one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13).
The one body, then, refers to all those who have truly been born again (John
3:3-5). It describes Christ's people from a universal perspective, all the saved
of all time. One more point should be stressed. As portrayed in the Bible, the
"one church" is never seen as a collection of churches. It is neither a
collection of local churches nor a collection of denominations. It is simply the
collection of all individual Christians. "Now you are Christ's body, and
individually members of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27). When we think of the "one
church," we must make sure our concept is the biblical one. Are you a part of
the one body Jesus promised to build?
By Shane Scott
From Expository Files 2.9; September, 1995
