What is a Church?

God has given us parables, metaphors, and other parallels to describe His relationship with us. This relationship exists in His devoted commitment to us, not in an organizational structure.

The People of God

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. —1 Peter 2:9,10

Throughout Scripture, God has identified a people as His own—in the Old Testament it was Israel, in the New Testament it is the Church. We are family members in His Church—brothers and sisters to each other, all acknowledging his Fatherhood over us. As His people, we enjoy the benefits of and are obligated to meet the responsibilities of His kingdom.

The Dwelling Place of the Holy Spirit

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. —Ephesians 2:19-22

God has chosen to reside within believers individually and corporately. Together we are God's building. His Son, Christ, is the cornerstone, the apostles and prophets are the foundation, and believers are the building stones—priests to God, chosen and set apart. God's people are to offer themselves as living sacrifices in service to Him. His presence is demonstrated through His people by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Body of Christ

And God placed all things under his (Christ's) feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. —Ephesians 1:22,23

Jesus is in heaven, yet He continues to disclose Himself on earth. His followers are His body, an authentic expression of His person. We are to be the living expression of who Jesus is to our world. The love and unity amidst diversity show the life that He is and that He offers. As we maintain fellowship with Christ as Head, and relate in truthful love with other parts of the body, Christ's body and God's kingdom will grow.

Thus, believers are called by God to be a family, members of the body of Christ, and the residence of the Holy Spirit.

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Page last modified Monday 8 September, 2003 6:13 .