What is the church? What is it NOT:

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1 What is it NOT: An ecclesiastical building An organisation A denomination The professing church on earth A Jewish Church followed by a Church of Gentiles A continuation of Israel of the O.T. in the N.T. as a kind of a spiritual Israel.

2 What is it? It is the Church of the living God. It is the Church of Jesus Christ. Ecclesia = «the called out ones» (Acts. 15:14) The Lord Jesus Christ builds His Church (Mt. 16:18) The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. No church before Pentecost (John 7:39, Acts 1:5). However, in the counsels of God the Church was ever in God s mind und purposes from before the creation of the world. (Eph. 3:9; Rom. 16:25-26). All believers baptised into one body (Acts 2:1-4; 1.Cor.12:13)

3 Three main pictures: A body: characterized by UNITY and DIVERSITY an ORGANISM; not an organization A house: God s DWELLING PLACE on earth ORDER and RESPONSIBILITY A bride: AFFECTION, INTIMACY, and ASSOCIATION

4 Heavenly Heavenly origin Acts 2:2; Rev. 21: Heavenly calling Hebr. 3:1 We are in the world, but not of the world John 17: Heavenly hope Hebr. 11:16 Hope of the church is linked with Christ Hebr. 6:18-20; Rev. 22:20

5 The Body of Christ Christ Head of the Universe Eph. 1:9-10 Christ Head over all things to the church Eph. 1:20-23 Christ Head of the Body of Christ. Col. 1:18 Body made up of all who believe the gospel of salvation. Eph.1:13; Eph. 2:14-16; Eph. 4:4 Body a unity, united to Christ. Eph. 1:23; 5:30 Body a great variety of members with different functions, but one body. 1. Cor. 12:4-12.

6 The Body of Christ Every one of us has a gift, a function, a pound 1 Peter 4:10; 1. Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4,7 (grace), Luke 19:13 The gifts are given for blessing of the whole body, the church - Eph. 4: dangers: A believer is not happy with the God-given function (inferiority) - 1. Cor. 12:15. A believer thinks that he does not need the others (pride) 1. Cor. 12:21.

7 The Body of Christ seen under 3 different aspects: a) global and eternal aspect of the church; i.e. all believers from Pentecost to the rapture - Eph. 1:23; Eph. 5:25-27; b) global at one point in time; i.e. all believers at any point of time on earth. Eph. 2:22 - a habitation of God at any point in time; 1. Cor. 10:17 - for we are one bread and one body. c) local aspect of the church i.e. the Church of God in a place (Corinth) - 1. Cor. 12:27

8 The House of God Where did God dwell at different points in time? The Tabernacle (Ex. 25:8-9), The Temple of Solomon, of Zerubbabel and of Herod; The Temple of Ezekiel Christ, the temple of his body (Joh. 2:21) the Assembly/Church a habitation of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:22; 1. Petr. 2:5). Only one dwelling place / one house of God (Haggai 2:3 + 9 the latter glory of this house JND) Only one was perfect! CHRIST (Col. 2:9)

9 The House of God God s side: still growing with living stones (Eph. 2:20-21; 1. Peter 2:5) God s side: always complete (Eph. 2:22) Man s side: our responsibility 1.Cor. 3:9-16 labourers together with God gold, silver, precious stones = reward wood, hay stubble = suffer loss Ye are the temple of God The Spirit of God dwells in you.

10 The Bride of Christ intimate relationship between Christ and the Church exclusive relationship of love suited to Him (Gen. 2:18 his like ; Eph. 4:13) part of Him (Gen. 2:23 bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh ; Eph. 1:23 the fullness of Him ) Our affections and being faithful (2. Cor. 11:2 espoused unto one man ) Our subjection (Eph. 5:23-24) Our hope and destiny (Rev. 19:7-9 The marriage of the Lamb ; 1.John 3:2-3; John 17:24; Rev. 21:9-27)

11 The eternal state «And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying: 1. Cor. Behold, 12:27 - the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.» (Rev. 21:2-3). God will reach his goal in spite of all the failure of men! The «Tabernacle» was the first dwelling place. Do we have the same desire as Christ? Do we wait and long for the coming of our Bridegroom? (Rev. 22:20).