Tuesday, October 16, 2007

By Bro.Emmanuel Singh

True Meaning of His Church

"If you had asked, 'Where is the church?' in any important city of the ancient world where Christianity had penetrated in the first century, you would have been directed to a group of worshiping people gathered in a house. There was no special building or other tangible wealth with which to associate 'church', only people!" Walter Oetting, The Church of the Catacombs

The true meaning of God’s Church has been misunderstood and misinterpreted by the Christianity in past Centuries

Today if you asked any denominational Christian about the Church they will indicate some building which is founded by human hands.

Before going to details one this subject I would like tell you the Truth regarding Church, in the whole Bible Church has not given any name by Human Mouth. Church is Church, its compose of Called out People into one Common Ground where Christ’s Role is Head and all called out people are organs in the Body. This is the reality of genuine Church.

Eph 5:25 “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for”

Universal and invisible Church: In matt 16: 18 it talks about the Universal Church, here we see the Church is one not many. Here we find the Oneness in Body. Christ has loved and given Himself for this Church.

1. The Foundation of Church: 1Co 3:11 for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. in matt 16:181 Lord declared himself as Builder “I will build my church”.

In Christian ministry many people known as a Founder of so-called Church or Para Church what a sad to here this kind of silly things from Childish Christian.

Eph 2:20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

2Co 5:1 “we have a building of God, an house not made with hands”.

Again and again we see that the Church is not Build by human hands its all about Christ Himself is the founder and Chief cornerstone.

Local and Visible Church: in Mt 18:17 speaks about the local Church by the Lord “and if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

The universal Church has expressed by geographically in different locality of the world. This local Church existed to express body of Christ in visibility; the primary task of this Church is to witness Christ in the world till Lord returns Acts 1:18.

Church is one but expression of local Church is many due to the geographical reason here we can use term Church.

In Bible there are many verses which speaks about the local Churches let see some of them for the better understanding of them.

In Biblical Church History they always identified with Locality they had no special denominational name. there are many but few of them has

One Church expressed in seven Cities of Asia Minor Re 1:11 “send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

Churches in Galatia : Ga 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia, 1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

churches in Judaea: Ga 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

Churches in Galilee and Samaria:Ac 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Churches in Syria and Cilicia : Ac 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Churches in Macedonia: 2Co 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

This all local Churches were known by the geographical name that is the reason why they had Oneness or One accord; this is the genuine testimony of Church of God in the earth.