We have seen what the Church is not,now let us look at what the Church is. When the Bible is read,we see the word “church” is used in two senses:universal and local.
1Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one,and hath many members,and all the members of that one body,being many,are one body:so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,whether we be Jews or Gentiles,whether we be bond or free;and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body is not one member,but many.
This passage points toward the universal church and can be called the Body of Christ. All born again believers of Jesus Christ become part of the Body of Christ and of the Church. Henry Thiessen defines the church as:all those who,in this dispensation,have been born of the Spirit of God and have by that same Spirit been baptized into the body of Christ. This church is not one specific location and it is not a building of brick or wood. It is made up of people who have repented of their sins and have fully trusted and have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. In this church there is no male or female,or Jew or Greek,or rich or poor,because God is no respecter of persons and does not esteem one person over another (Acts 10:34).
Galatians 3:26-28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek,there is neither bond nor free,there is neither male nor female:for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
What these verses do not mean is that women can pastor a church as some denominations try to teach. It simply means from a spiritual standpoint,God views all believers the same,and does not contradict what Paul wrote in the pastoral epistles.
This universal church is what Christ is referring to in Matthew 16:18. This is the church that Saul persecuted before his conversion. 1Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles,that am not meet to be called an apostle,because I persecuted the church of God. Saul did not focus on any one local Christian church alone,but placed his efforts against the church as a whole.
We saw in Ephesians 5 that Jesus Christ is the Head of the church – Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body,the church:who is the beginning,the firstborn from the dead;that in all things he might have the preeminence. As the head of the church,Jesus Christ has set up the organization of it —1Co 12:27-28 Now ye are the body of Christ,and members in particular. (28) And God hath set some in the church,first apostles,secondarily prophets,thirdly teachers,after that miracles,then gifts of healings,helps,governments,diversities of tongues. In Hebrews 12:23,the all believers in Jesus Christ are described as Heb 12:23… the general assembly and church of the firstborn,which are written in heaven.
The church is not mentioned in the Old Testament. In the New Testament,the word church most often comes from the Greek word ekklesia which means a body of called out people and it the context in which it is used,it refers to a assembly of called out,born again believers who have been called out from the world and sin and called to follow Jesus Christ. The Universal Church is further described in various ways in the New Testament.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God:ye are God’s husbandry,ye are God’s building. 1Co 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God,him shall God destroy;for the temple of God is holy,which temple ye are.
We see that the church is a building of God,but it is not man made,even though it is made up of people.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,which is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the foundation and the chief cornerstone of the Church. Eph 2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.