The basic meaning of the Greek word used for church; “ekklēsia” is assembly or gathering. In ordinary Greek, it most often refers to the citizens of a city gathering to decide political issues, much like the House of Assembly or Congress or senators of a country. But in the bible, it is used to refer to a gathering of Christians. It literally means “the called-out ones”. The first mention of the word was by Jesus in Matthew 16:18.
Matthew 16:15 He said to them, But whom say you that I am?
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus was figuratively using house construction to describe the church. The word Peter is the Greek word “petros” which means piece of rock while the word “this rock” in vs 18 means rock. The rock upon which Jesus will build the church is not Peter but the revelation of Him as the Christ(Anointed or Messiah) the son of the living God as mentioned earlier by Peter in vs 16.
1 Peter 2:5 You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:6 Why also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:7 To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
From Apostle Peter’s explanation, It is evident that the church is a gathering of people who believe that Jesus died for their sins and was buried and rose again on the third day. Hence, we are a people called out from the grave of sin, death, and darkness into His marvelous light to show forth His praises. We are the stones that make up the church’s edifice! But beyond an edifice, we are a brethren – a people born out of the same womb.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
So we are part of the family of God and we have the DNA of Jesus in our spirit. So to go to church is to go to a family gathering. Notice I said family, not a social gathering. It is important to know that church is not primarily a social gathering because it is a supernatural gathering where supernatural activities happen. One foremost reason why we go to church is so that we can grow spiritually. The local church is God’s wisdom for preserving and growing us in our relationship with him. The church is a family community. There is the global church, which consists of all Christians both in heaven and on earth and then there is the local church which consists of the physical gathering that you attend weekly. Your local church is part of the global church and it is important that you identify and are committed to a local church.
Ephesians 4:8 Why he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Ephesians 4:14 That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love.
We must understand that God is orderly and it is in His wisdom that He came into this world as a man to die for our sins and reconcile us back to Himself. Beyond reconciling us to Himself He desires that we grow more intimately in our walk with him and this will happen by continuous transformation as a result of encountering Him through his word and through other believers lest we become conformed to this world. This continuous transformation is what is called edification in Eph. 4:12.
Edification in this context means,
- The perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry meaning the local church matures you towards the fulfillment of God’s purpose for your life which is His assignment for you.
- Till we all come in the unity of the faith, that is we all come to the intimate knowledge of the Son of God, and be transformed by that knowledge to a perfect man, which is to be purely consisting of the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That is we become like Jesus in words, thoughts, and actions.
- That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Meaning that your doctrinal convictions are solidified in the local church and this shields you from being lured into heresies and devoured by the Devil. I want t
- To recognize your role in the church and function in that role faithfully. Whether it is to teach, evangelize, intercede in prayers, be hospitable, organize church activities, plant churches, raise disciples, etc.
I also want to say that being identified with a local church will do you more good than harm because if you become isolated from your spiritual tribe or family you might end up being vulnerable to the devil’s attack.
