What is the CHURCH?
Let’s first look at what the church is not.
It is not a building
It is not an organization
It is not a membership list
It is not biased against any race
It is not to confined to one generation
It is not exclusive to any one denomination
Then just what is the CHURCH?
The word that is translated “CHURCH” is “Ekklesia” (this is the transliterated Greek word). This is a compound word from ek (out of, from, by, away from) and Kaleo (to call). Literally this could be read as “one who has been called out away from.” Who are these called out ones? What are they called out away from? How can you tell who these called out ones are?
As we work our way through these questions we will be considering what it means to be a follower of Christ. There are many terms used to describe a disciple of Christ such as Born Again, Converted, Regenerated, Believer, Christian and Born Again Believer. Many of these terms are used very loosely today and have many different meanings to different groups. We need to understand these terms in light of the biblical definition of what it means to be a true follower of Christ.
Let’s first look at what the church is not.
It is not a building
It is not an organization
It is not a membership list
It is not biased against any race
It is not to confined to one generation
It is not exclusive to any one denomination
Then just what is the CHURCH?
The word that is translated “CHURCH” is “Ekklesia” (this is the transliterated Greek word). This is a compound word from ek (out of, from, by, away from) and Kaleo (to call). Literally this could be read as “one who has been called out away from.” Who are these called out ones? What are they called out away from? How can you tell who these called out ones are?
As we work our way through these questions we will be considering what it means to be a follower of Christ. There are many terms used to describe a disciple of Christ such as Born Again, Converted, Regenerated, Believer, Christian and Born Again Believer. Many of these terms are used very loosely today and have many different meanings to different groups. We need to understand these terms in light of the biblical definition of what it means to be a true follower of Christ.
Next time we will start going through what it means to be one of those called out to follow Christ.
2 Corintians 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17"Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord." AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18"And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
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