We learned that the word church is from the Greek word ekklesia which means an assembly of people called out with faith.

The Church is the Body of Christ

The church is defined in the Bible as the spiritual body of Jesus Christ.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Col 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.

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The church was built by God through Jesus Christ to be an assembly of His faithfuls. Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The church is made up of people whom God had chosen particularly the Apostles. 1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1Co 12:28  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.

The Church is Important to God

The church is important to God. God won’t build it if it is not important to Him. One of the characteristics of the church according to Jesus Himself is that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

To give further proof that indeed the church is important to God, the church was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Usually, we use money to buy anthing, but the church of God was purchased by His own blood. Therefore, God gave real importance to the church. Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Why is there a need to buy the church of God with the blood of Jesus Christ? What is the symbolical meaning of it?

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb 9:17  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Heb 9:18  Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Heb 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Heb 9:20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The shedding of blood of Jesus Christ symbolizes redemption from sins. We are all separated because of the sins we committed against God and His laws. Anyone who becomes a part of the church receives the forgiveness of sins from God. Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Anyone who repents and comes back to the Lord God through Baptism will become a part of the church of God and will receive the forgiveness from God.

 

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Act 2:47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

If God’s purpose of building the church is to give chance for people to come to Him, therefore, we should also give importance to the church of God.

Is there a need to build another church?

There is only one church built by Christ, the church of God. If the church of God was built, is there a need to build another one? What is the answer of the Bible? 1Co 3:10  As a skilled and experienced builder, I used the gift that God gave me to lay the foundation for that building. However, someone else is building on it. Each person must be careful how he builds on it. 1Co 3:11  After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ.

If we can’t build another church because there is an existing church built by Jesus, what do we have to do then?

As written in the Bible, we need to imitate what the early Christians did. 1Th 2:14  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

So, we follow and imitate what these members did, we follow the teachings and have the same foundation as the Apostles and the Prophets. Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Those who became members of the church of God are all followers and imitators of the teachings of the Apostles. They walked on the same teachings and doctrines founded by Christ and thus, they all became part of the house of God – the house of God is the church of God. There is only one church of God – we all have to be part of it, we all have to be members of it by imitating and following the teachings.  1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.