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What is the Church?

Answered by Gene Cunningham, Basic Training Bible Ministries · from The Basics

The Church is the called-out body of the Lord Jesus Christ, derived from the Greek ekklesia. It is a spiritual organism rather than a physical or human organization, as every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into union with Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13).

The Church is the possession of Jesus Christ, who is its head (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23). It is formed and empowered for its mission by the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; John 14-16; Acts 1:8; 19:1-7). Throughout all eternity, the Church will serve as the display piece of God's surpassing riches of grace (Eph. 2:4-7).

The two-fold mission assigned to the Church is evangelism and edification (Matt. 28:19-20). While the Body of Christ consists of all believers, they gather into local churches—geographic assemblies of saints—which serve as the base for training, preparation for service, and the study of the Word of God (Heb. 10:25; 13:7-17; Eph. 4:11-16).

Also asked: What is the meaning of ekklesia in the Bible? · What is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the group of believers? · What are the primary responsibilities and roles of a local church community?

Source: The Basics The Basics -- Subject Index entry 'Church' (printed pp. 32, 33, 34, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 154, 156, 157, 158, 159, 231, 233, 267, 271, 272) · Read this lesson in the book →

What this answer is about

The subjects this answer names in its own words. Where the record names that subject itself, it is shown in bold.

Body of ChristChurchEdificationEvangelismGreekSalvationService

Related questions

Scripture this answer rests on

Scripture the book prints on the pages this answer was drawn from. The passages printed closest to it are shown, in Bible order.

John 7:37-39What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Acts 1:8What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
John 14-16What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Also printed on these pages
1 Corinthians 12:4-31What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Ephesians 4:11-16What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Hebrews 10:25-31What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Matthew 16:13-18What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72
Matthew 28:19-20What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
p.72

Where this is taught in the book

Closest first: the pages where the book treats this subject most directly.

Lesson 2–2: The Base—The Church

p.72p.66p.75p.71

Lesson 2–3: The Commission—Evangelism

p.88p.85p.87p.81p.84p.86

Lesson 2–4: The Equipment—Spiritual Gifts

p.93

Lesson 5–4: The Victory—Grace and Truth

p.261

More pages teach this. The Source line above carries the full citation and opens the book.

Scripture is not BTBM’s to license: the references above link to Blue Letter Bible (NASB95), and the verse text shown on this page is served by BLB under their own license and terms.