'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.' - 1 Timothy 3 vs 15
Firstly, who is the church? Is the church primarily a building? Let's find out:
'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.' - Matthew 16 vs 18 {KJV}
Was the Lord Jesus referring to a building? We'll find out:
'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.' - Colossians 1 vs 18 {KJV}
Who is the body of Christ? The Believers:
'Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.' - 1 Corinthians 12 vs 27 {KJV}
So every Believer combined is the body of Christ. Paul in Colossians 1 vs 18 which we have seen above calls the body the church. Meaning, basically, the Believers is the church. The church is simply every Believer in Christ put together. So you and I who are in Christ make up the church. Pay attention!
'Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.' - Ephesians 5 vs 24 {KJV}
Church here is the entire Believers combined. We can rephrase the first part of the verse as,
"Therefore as every Believer is subject unto Christ..."
'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.' - Matthew 16 vs 18 {KJV}
So we understand that here, the Lord was not speaking about buildings, but men. "I will build My church" - meaning, I will build men; I will save men. Glory to God! And He achieved that in His death and resurrection. And guess what? You and I who He has saved today are evidences that that word which He spoke is true! "I will build my church". Hallelujah!
Back to our opening Bible verse:
'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.' - 1 Timothy 3 vs 15 {KJV}
But here, we see church being referred to as the house of God. Basically, house of God as used here is not a building, but an assembly of Believers. Because Believers can gather anywhere, it doesn't have to be in a building. Now, let's see how the narrative of Church being the house of God was used in the Epistles:
'...And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.' - Acts 8 vs 1 {KJV}
- the church which was at Jerusalem
This refers to the Believers which were at Jerusalem, not building!
'Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.' - Acts 12 vs 5 {KJV}
- but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him
This means 'prayer was made without ceasing by the Believers unto God for him', not building!
'Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.' - Acts 13 vs 1 {KJV}
- Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers
This means that there were in the assembly of the Believers that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers. Not building!
'Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.' - Romans 16 vs 5 {KJV}
Notice that here, Paul mentioned that a church was in a house! He didn't call the house the church. Rather, the church was in the house. Beautiful! That makes it clear that the church is not a building, but the assembly of Believers, irrespective of where they assemble together, whether under a tree or in a building. You see... So, 'greet the church that is in their house' simply means 'greet the Believers that are in their house'.
'For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.' - 1 Corinthians 4 vs 17 {KJV}
- as I teach every where in every church
This simply means 'as I teach every where in every assembly of Believers'. It's the assembly of Believers, not building.
'If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?' - 1 Corinthians 14 vs 23 {KJV}
- If therefore the whole church be come together into one place
Obviously, he wasn't implying buildings coming together into one place. You see... So the whole church coming together into one place simply means the Believers coming together into one place. Meaning, there is a meeting point, which can be anywhere convenient. It doesn't have to be a building. You see...
'Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.' - Ephesians 5 vs 24 {KJV}
- Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ
This simply means 'as every Believer is subject to Christ'. Not building, but Believers. Pay attention!
So we have learnt that church is not a building, but rather, church is the assembly of Believers together in a place.
'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' - Matthew 18 vs 20 {KJV}
These are the words of the Lord Jesus. Here we see the definition of Church: the assembly of Believers together. This is church!
When you say "I am going to church", it's important that you re-orientate yourself on what that speech means in accordance to the Word, even as I have taught you now. To go to church means to go and assemble yourself with other Believers. Don't be so concerned about the place of the assembly - the place of the assembly doesn't have to be exotic. What's important is that you have assembled yourself with other Believers, and the presence of the Lord is in your midst. Amen. This is what is important - the presence of the Lord!
So therefore dearly beloved of God, as you go to Church today, know that it is called church not because of the building, but because of God's children that are gathered together. See this:
'Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.' - Hebrews 10 vs 25 {KJV}
- the assembling of ourselves together
This is church! The assembling of ourselves together.
WHY DO WE ASSEMBLE TOGETHER?
Paul tells us, it's in our opening Bible verse:
'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.' - 1 Timothy 3 vs 15 {KJV}
- the pillar and ground of the truth
We assemble together unto the doctrine of Christ, the truth! So therefore, if the assembly where you fellowship teach things that are untrue, that is an unhealthy assembly to assemble yourself in. Not because of the fellow Believers in that assembly, but because of the pastor of that assembly. Staying in such assembly where lies and false doctrines are taught will eventually color your understanding, and cause you to live a lie! You can never walk in the truth when you are being fed with lies. - Think on these words.
So therefore beloved child of God, be intentional about the church you will assemble with today. Carefully locate a church sound in doctrine, and continually assemble there. You will grow there, and you will grow well!
If you have followed my teachings well in the Global Bible Study Community, you should be able to tell that which is a false doctrine, and that which is sound doctrine. Keep following. God is with you. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Jenning Uweye
Teacher,
Global Bible Study Community
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