In the New Testament, the Church is a local assembly of believers, as well as, the entire body of those who believe from all the ages who follow Jesus Christ as King and Savior.
The church began on the Day of Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those who believed in Christ.1 The process by which believers are joined to Christ and to one another is called the baptizing ministry of the Holy Spirit.2 Entry into the church is based upon a person receiving by faith the kingship (Lord) and salvation (Savior) of Jesus Christ. After a person is saved by faith and becomes part of a community of faith, the church, they should be water baptized as a clear sign and public testimony of the breaking with the old life and entering into the new life.
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Literally, in the Bible, the word church (Greek: ekklesia) means 'the called out ones', or in other words the people of a kingdom called to take their role as responsible citizens.4 The church is not a building or place, but a people. It is a true group of believers of any size who meet in homes and larger facilities to worship God, pray, receive Bible teaching, exercise Spiritual gifts, give exhortation, and eat the Lord’s Supper together. The one requirement is that all believers must meet in the presence of Christ.
All work within the church is given to individual believers, and as they join efforts to each other a strong union of Christian purpose emerges. After the Lord Jesus was resurrected, He commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations, and teach them what He had taught.5 This is still the commission for the church today.
The book of Acts records the history of the early church and it’s activities.6 Throughout this early history, the church is simply the Christians united by their salvation, and filling of the Holy Spirit as they meet in various groups to share with each other, and with the sinful world the Good News of Jesus Christ the Messiah. The church is also known as the Body of Christ.7
The Body is made up of many parts (members), and each person is given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit to conduct various functions of this Body.8 The Body is strictly the Spiritual Body of believers united in Christ universally, and Christ is the Head of this Body.9
The history of the church that began at Pentecost will end at the Second Coming of Christ. When the last member has been added to the church, and the end comes, the Lord will resurrect the believers who have died, as well as those who are living at that time, and they all will be transported into His Presence. Following this there will be the Judgment, and then the believers will live in Eternal Life forever with the Lord.10
1. Acts 2:1-5, Acts1:14
2. 1 Corinthians 12:13
3. Romans 6:1-14
4. 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 3:10-21, Ephesians 5:23
5. Matthew 28:16, Mark 16:15
6. Acts 5:42
7. Romans 12:1-5
8. 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4
9. Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22-23
10. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
