What is the Church?

By: Darius Wise (Guest of the O.W. Prince Ministries)

Originally Published: April 12, 2011
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Traditionally we’ve used the word “Church” in a number of ways. For instance, we say “I went to church today…” or “We had church today.” Many of us grew up saying those very things. We’d use the word “church” to define either a physical building or any religious gathering. We still use the word in that way today.

However, using the word “church” in such a secular manner only dilutes its true meaning. The Church is not a building, nor is the Church a religious gathering. The Church is The Called Out. Ones (Ekklesia) – “a called out people.”

Think about it, do you think that God would have given His only Son simply to be identified with a building, a song, a religious gathering or a program? Certainly not!! “For God so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Church is One – One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism. In Acts 2:38-42, the apostles of Christ demonstrated how we are to enter into Christ’s Church and become apart of the Kingdom Of God. If you confess Jesus as the Son of God, repent of sin and are baptized by submersion into water in the name of Jesus Christ, according to holy Scripture, then you are added to the body of Christ – The Church. 

John 4:24 teaches us that “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in Truth.” Therefore the “Church” is Spirit and Truth – not brick, mortar, clay, or wood. And in whomever God’s Holy Spirit resides, they are the Church. 

Romans 12:5 declares that we “The Church” are one body in Christ—many members, yet one body.

Repent!

 Please see “The Way of Salvation” to discover how to become the CHURCH.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.