The New Testament Church
Bobby Witherington

(Matt. 16:18). "...and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:4 7).

From these Scriptures it is evident that Jesus, during the days of His earthly ministry, intended to build His church. In plain language, He said, "I will build My church." And it is equally evident from the latter reference that Jesus honored His promise, for the record reveals that "the Lord added" the "saved" to "the church." Moreover, from Ephesians 3:10, 11, we discover that the church's very existence was in keeping with "the eternal purpose" of God, and from Acts 20:28 we learn that the church was "purchased" with the "blood" of Jesus. In view of these fundamental facts, it is evident that the church one reads about in the New Testament is very important in the eyes of God, and therefore it should be very important to us.

But we are living in a religiously divided world. Churches of every description abound, as well as the diverse doctrines they preach. Confusion reigns supreme. In brief, what is the church? How my it be identified? What must one do in order to become a member of the Lord's church -the one about which we read in the New Testament?

"Church" Defined:

EKKLESIA is the Greek word from which "church" is translated. EKKLESIA is a combination of two words, "ek" (out of), and "kaleo" (to call). "Church" therefore denotes the called out. Indeed, Christians (members of the church) have been "called... out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9), and the medium God uses to call people is the gospel. Hence, to "the church" (the called out) at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul said "God.. called you by our gospel..." (2 Thess. 2:14). In view of these facts, it becomes evident that whatever is involved in one's obedience to the gospel is the same as that which is involved in his becoming a member of the Lord's church. Incidentally, the very definition of "church" proves that the New Testament church consists of saved people; "church," in its biblical sense, never referred to a material structure!

"Church" Used in Two Senses

1. The Universal Sense. When we read of "the church" in "the eternal purpose of God" (Eph. 3:10, 11), it is evident that no specific earthly location is under consideration. The church in its universal sense consists of "the saved" (Acts 2:47), or of those whose names are "registered in heaven" (Heb. 12:23). With regards to the church in its universal sense, there is only one church (Eph. 1:22, 23) and in it "both" Jews and Gentiles may be reconciled "to God" (Eph. 2:16). Briefly put, the church universal has no earthly organization; the Lord keeps the record of its membership (Heb. 12:23; 2 Tim. 2:19); it began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and its membership is not affected by death (Phil. 1:20-24).

2. The Local Sense. Whereas there is "one" universal church (Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:4), there are many local churches. Hence, we read of "the church of God ..at Corinth" (1 Cor. 1:2), "the churches of Galatia" (1 Cor. 16:1), "the churches of Judea...in Christ" (Gal. 1:21), "the seven churches in Asia" (Rev. 1:1), etc. The church in the local sense consists of Christians who have banded together to work and worship in keeping with the Lord's directions. The local church has "earthly" organization (Phil. 1:1), and it may consist of both the saved and the lost (cf. Rev. 2:14-16)! Of course, death necessarily affects the membership in the local church.

How To Become A Member

With regards to this issue, we are referring to membership in the universal church. Inasmuch as the universal church constitutes "the saved" (Acts 2:47), then whatever is involved in becoming a part of "the saved" is what one does to become a member of the church.

In New Testament days, in order to be saved, sinners had to: (1) Hear the word, for faith comes by "hearing.., the word of God," Rom. 10:17. (2) They had to believe in God (Heb. 11:6), in Jesus Christ (Jn. 8:24), and they had to believe the gospel, Mk. 16:15, 16. (3) They were commanded to "repent" (Acts 2:3 8), an act brought on by "godly sorrow" (2 Cor. 7:10), and which resulted in a change of life, Matt. 3:7, 8. (4) They were required to confess their faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9, 10. (5) And they were to be "buried" in baptism (Rom. 6:3, 4) "in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins," Acts 2:38. Upon complying with these terms of pardon, people in the first century thereby became a part of "the saved" whom God "added to the church" (Acts 2:41, 47). Inasmuch as we yet live under the same "testament," a testament which became "of force" by reason of Christ's death (Heb. 9:15-17), then if we also become a part of "the saved, "we have to do what they did. And, upon becoming a part of the universal church, we, like Paul, should "join" a local church, and worship and serve God in keeping with His revealed will (cf. Acts 9:26-28).

The Local Church Identified

We may identify a sound local church in the same way we identify anything else; by its marks of identity. (1) It should have a scriptural name. Viewed from its relationship to God, it may be called "the church of God" (1 Cor. 1:2). Viewed from its relationship to Christ, a plurality of such churches may be called "the churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16). In so doing, a desire to follow the Scriptures and honor God and Christ is reflected. However, the "name" alone is not a sure guide. (2) Its organization should solely consist of bishops, deacons and saints (Phil. 1:1), with the bishops (or elders) limiting their oversight to the local church (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2). In Bible days there existed no earthly church "headquarters," consisting of an ecclesiastical hierarchy exercising control over local churches. (3) Its worship on the first day of the week included teaching the word of God, prayer, acappella music or the singing of praises to God, partaking of the Lord's supper, and contributing of their means as God had prospered them, Acts 2:24; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Eph. 5:19, etc. (4) Its work consisted simply of preaching the gospel, building up the saints through teaching the Scriptures, and benevolence to indigent saints, 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 4:11-16; Acts 11:27-30; 2 Cor. 8, 9, etc. The Lord's church did not try to become a social club, providing for all the secular, social, emotional, and recreational needs and/or desires of its members in particular, or for society in general. Faithful local churches today, abiding in the "apostles doctrine" (Acts 2:42), will reflect the pattern of the worship, work, and organization which characterized the Lord's church in the first century.

Conclusion

Admittedly, in an "anything goes" society wherein multitudes have embraced a "do your own thing" religion, the return-to-the-Bible approach advocated in this article will be ridiculed by some and ignored by most. However, when all is said and done, Jesus Christ is the head of His church (Col. 1:18); He has "all authority" (Matt. 28:18), and the Scriptures instruct us to submit to His authority in whatever we do, whether in "word or deed" (Col. 3:17). Moreover, we are warned of the dire consequences which befall those who "pervert the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:7, 8). In fact, the Bible virtually closes with a warning not to "add to" or "take from" that which God has revealed (Rev. 22:18, 19).

In view of the fact that God is the Creator and we are the created (Gen. 1:1-17), in view of the fact that "all have sinned" (Rom. 3:23), and "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), then it behooves every accountable person to submit to God's will as it is revealed in the Bible, which is "the word of God" (Heb. 4:12). This becomes especially evident when we consider the facts that each one of us "shall give account for himself to God" (Rom. 14:12), and that Jesus will "judge" us by His word (John 12:48). Life is too short, eternity is too long, your soul is too valuable, hell is too horrible, and heaven is too wonderful for any person to disregard the plain teachings of the Bible. Consider ye well!