Origin of the christian church

Origin of the christian church

Posted on July 19, 2012 Updated on July 18, 2012

Jesus promised to build his church. “…Upon this rock I will build my church…,” Jesus promised (Matt. 16: 18, see “Upon This Rock” and “Kingdom of Heaven” in Great Truths, accessed from home page). Jesus did build his church or kingdom (Acts 5: 11, Col. 1: 13). We read of the origin and growth of Jesus’ church in the Book of Acts (Acts 2: 14-47, 5: 11, 14, 14: 23, see Isa. 2: 2).

The term church (ekklesia, Greek). The word translated church is a compound word, “ek, out of, and klesis, a calling” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, by W. E. Vine). When “church” is spiritually used the idea is that of a called out people. Indeed, the gospel “calls” people out of “the world” (2 Thes. 2: 14, I Jn. 2: 15, 16). “Church” has a number of nuances in the New Testament but the two most common are the universal and local concepts.

The church universal has no geographic location, organization, or work, as such (see Matt. 16: 18, notice the singular use). The church universal is simply the saved of all the earth (Eph. 5: 27). In this respect, there is only “one body” or church (Eph. 4: 4). The Lord adds one to his church by means of water baptism (Gal. 3: 26, 27, Acts 2: 47, KJV).

Source: http://www.bibletruths.net/archives/BTARO32.htm

Subscribe    FB   Podcasts   Books   Twitter    Donate

BlackBerryPin: 286431e3