"The Church"

1 Timothy 1:6-7 From which some having swerved have turned unto vain jangling: Desiring to be teachers of the law: understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (teach).

 

“CHURCH," in the Greek is (ecclesia), (ek-klay-see-ah) which means, a calling out, that is concretely a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation, Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both, assembly.

“DISPENSATION,” in the Greek is (oilonomia), (oy-kon-om-ee-ah), which means, administration of a household or estate, specifically a religious economy, stewardship. In the Bible seven distinct administrations are set before us. Each has its own beginning and ending: each ends in a crisis or judgment peculiar to itself, save number seven, which is without end. These maybe tabulated thus: (1). The Eden Dispensation (2). The Dispensation without law (3). The Dispensation under law. (4). The Dispensation of Grace (the church of God). (5). The Dispensation of Judgment (6). The Millennial Dispensation (7). The Eternal state of glory.

The word “Church” maybe considered here: for the changes in its meaning, though they might be classed under the following usage, depend rather on the changes of Dispensation than on usage, as such: and on Chronology rather than Grammar.

In the Pauline Epistles the word acquires a meaning which it never had before. The meaning which is peculiar to this present Dispensation must not, therefore, be read into the Word when it is used in the Past Dispensation.

As to its Etymology Ecclesia (Church) means “Assembly,” or a “Congregation” of called out ones. But there are various classes of people who are called out from others.

Israel was an Ecclesia (Church), or an “Assembly,” or a “Congregation” of called out from other Peoples and Nations. (Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;). Its first occurrence, where it is rendered “multitude,” and is used of Israel as a whole, as called out and distinct from all other nations.

In (Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.). It is used of a smaller company of “Israelites,” or assembly of people called out from Israel, of the Tribal Council of Simeon and Levi.

Later on, in the same “Past Dispensation,” we find it used of another kind of assembly, of those who are called out of all Israel as worshippers assembly themselves together, as such, before the Tabernacle and the Temple. This is the meaning of the word in (Psalms 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Psalms 22:25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.).

In the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, the called out ones are the “Sheep-fold” of (John the tenth chapter). The assemble was composed of “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” “The Porter,” John the Baptist open it and admitted the true Shepherd and the sheep whom He gathered: Baptism (the pool by the sheep gate) being the mode of admission. Christ was the good Shepherd of these “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” the called out. Hence He was at once the “door,” (John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.). The “ good shepherd,” (John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ).

Peter called out the “other sheep” which the Shepherd had, Acts the 8th to the 12th chapter, and brought them into the “one flock” (Acts 12:14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. Acts 12:16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.). They were “not of the Jewish fold,” but Gentiles as such, with Israelites in the place of their dispersion, who confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.

These are the Ecclesia or (Church) of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. They had been led into the fold, but they were to be led out, (John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.). This commission was given to Paul. In (Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.), He began this work when He “separated the disciple,” and the “harding” of Isaiah the 6th chapter was approaching its “completion.” When that Prophecy was fulfilled in (Acts the 28th chapter), the change of Dispensation was completed. (The four Gospels are the completion of the Old Testament, and the Acts of the Apostles being transitory) Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Henceforward the word Ecclesia (Church) acquires a more restricted meaning, and is used of “the Church of God” twelve times in Paul`s Epistles. (1). Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (2). 1Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (3). 1Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (4). 1Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (5) 1Corinthians 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. (6). 1Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (7). 2Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: (8). Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (9). 1Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: (10). 2Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: (11). 1Timothy 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (12). 1Timothy 3:15 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.

We must not, therefore, confuse the truth belonging and peculiar to those Dispensations, which is seen in the various usages of the word Ecclesia (Church).

There are thus no less than five distinct usages of the word Ecclesia (Church).

(1). It is first used of all Israel as called out from the Nations.

(2). It is used of those of Israel who feared the Lord and were called out as His worshippers, (Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: ).

(3). It is used of this company of called ones in the Gospels and the earlier chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.

In (Matthew 16:18 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.). The reference was to a future called-out people. “On this rock I WILL BUILD.” There could have been no reference here to the “Ecclesia (Church) in the wilderness”: nor to the Ecclesia (Church) of the Church of God in this Dispensation. Those who heard these words of the Lord`s promise could not connect them with the Secret or Mystery which was “hid in God:” and had not yet been made known to the sons of men. But they could connect them to (Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.). And ( Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.). This is the promise which the Lord`s hearers would have known. Only with that promise in Hosea could they have associated this promise of the Lord in (Matthew 16:18 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.).

The revelation here that was made was an addition to the promise in Hosea. The Son of Man was about to be rejected. The prophecies of Him as “the stone which the builders refused” were about to be fulfilled. Never less, the time was approaching when He would become God`s “sure foundation,” (Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.). That maybe either “I have laid, or I will lay.” Both are true. Christ had been laid already then, in the counsels of God, and He would yet be laid in their fulfillment by God.

The Lord here repeats that promise. And the whole point was, “Who was this Son of Man?” Some said one thing and some another, and the Lord ask: “But Ye, whom do ye say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus, answering, and said to him, “Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jona, for flesh and blood revealed it not to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens. And I say also to thee , that thou are (called) Petros (a stone), and on this Petra (a rock) I will build my Ecclesia (Church), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it, and I will give to thee the keys of the Heavens,” (Matthew 16:18-19).

In the words which followed we learn that the builders were about to reject God`s foundation: for in the following verse we read, (Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.).

Thus, his sufferings are not mention until the announcement had been made, that, though the foundation stone was about to be rejected, it would yet be built upon. This rejected “Son of Man” was indeed Christ, God`s “Anointed,” and He will become “the head of the corner.” On him, the Messiah, His Ecclesia (Church) or Assembly, spoken of in the Prophets, would yet be Built. “I will build” are His words. “I will called” are God`s words in Hosea: (Romans 9:25-27 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: ).

This Remnant is the Ecclesia (Church) mention by the Lord in (Matthew 16:18. The gates of hell will not strive against it, (Romans 9:29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.). Testifies, but the remnant shall be saved. This future Ecclesia (Church) of Israel is to be built upon Christ, the Messiah, as the Foundation Stone. As the Lord had 7,000 of those who had not bowed the knee to Baal, in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, so He will have 144,000 of those who will refuse to bow the knee to the Beast, or receive his mark in the days of the Great Tribulation. In Revelation the 7th chapter we see the remnant of Israel (144,000) specially sealed so that they should be preserved through the Great Tribulation: whereas the promise to those who belong to the Church of God is positive that that Day shall not overtake, or come upon it, (1Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.).

The Church of God, as an Assembly, is also compared to a building: its members are built individually on a “Doctrinal Foundation,” but the building itself is “a Holy Temple in the Lord”: (Ephesians 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.).

The Church of God is now a spiritual building in Christ: but the Ecclesia (Church) of (Matthew 16:18), is the future corporate, saved “remnant” of Israel.

The present Church of God is composed of Jews and Gentiles, but the Ecclesia (Church) of (Matthew 16:18), taken with (Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. Isaiah 10:22-23 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.). And, (Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:). Is a “remnant” of the children of Israel.

(4). In ( Acts 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. Acts 19:41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.). It is used of the guild or company of Ephesians craftsmen as distinct from the rest of the population of Ephesus, (Acts 19:25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.).

(5). In (Acts 19:39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly).. It is used of what we call a “Town`s Meeting,” i.e., a duly summoned gathering of the citizens in meeting, “Assembled.”

In (James 2.2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;). The word “assembly” is not the rendering of the Greek Ecclesia (Church), but Synagogue. “If there come into your Synagogue.”

From all this it will be seen how necessary it is to confine the meaning of the word Ecclesia, or (Church), to the Dispensation in which it is used: and to note whether it is used, in the Past Dispensation, of all Israel: or of Godly Israelites: or of the whole of God`s people: or of a portion of them in a certain District, City, or House. We must rightly divide the Word of Truth, (1). As to it is Literary Form. (2). As to its Subject Matter. (3). As to its Times and Dispensation. (4). As to its Dispensation Truth and Teaching.

The special usage of this word Ecclesia (Church), in this Present Dispensation, by the Holy Spirit was not known until it was reveal to Paul as the Secret (or Mystery) which was “hid in God, (“ Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:). “Hid from ages and from generations,” (Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:). “Kept secret since the world began,” (Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,).

 

Note, the “Great Mystery,” or “Secret,” is concerning the one spiritual unity of Christ and His Church,” and the end of it belongs to this present Dispensation, and will close it up when the members of that Body will be “Received up in glory,” (1Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.).

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