Today the word “church” is often used for a collection of “Christian” people who have formed an organization and are known by the name they have chosen for it. Also, it often refers to the building where the people meet. Scripture does not use the word in the sense of a building. It does use the word to refer to a collection or assembly of people. But “the church of God” and the churches of men are not the same thing.
The Greek word “ecclesia” has been translated into English as “church” and as “assembly.” Since the word “church” has been so misused, we will use the word “assembly” instead, and Scripture quotations are from the JND translation.
God’s Assembly
God has formed His assembly of people who before His calling were Jews or Gentiles. “Give no occasion to stumbling, whether to Jews, or Greeks, or the assembly of God” (1 Cor. 10:3232Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32)). He has purchased them with the blood of His own Son (Acts 20:2828Take 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. (Acts 20:28)). He, not man, adds to the assembly. “The Lord added [to the assembly] daily those that were to be saved” (Acts 2:4747Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47)).
God’s assembly exists all the time, even when those in it are not gathered together. “If therefore the whole assembly come together in one place” (1 Cor. 14:2323If 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 14:23)). When gathered together, they are “in assembly” (1 Cor. 11:1818For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. (1 Corinthians 11:18)). Only when so gathered does the assembly act. “Being gathered together, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 5:44In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 5:4)).
God’s assembly is one whole. Those in a geographical location may be distinguished from the whole, but they are not to be separated in thought or action from the whole. Those in a place represent and are viewed as the whole in that place. “To the assembly of God which is in Corinth.” “Ye are Christ’s body, and members in particular” (1 Cor. 1:22Unto 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: (1 Corinthians 1:2); 1 Cor. 12:2727Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27)).
The Body and Bride of Christ
The Dwelling-Place of God
God is preparing His assembly to be an eternal dwelling-place for Himself.
The House of God
The place where God dwells among His people and where they come to meet Him is His house. (Notice 2 Samuel 7:66Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. (2 Samuel 7:6) and Leviticus 17:5-95To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord. 6And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto the Lord. 7And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. 8And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord; even that man shall be cut off from among his people. (Leviticus 17:5‑9).) Those in the house are to be behave in a manner which honors the house owner. As God is true, so His house is responsible to be the pillar and support of truth. Paul wrote to Timothy to “know how one ought to conduct oneself in God’s house, which is [the] assembly of [the] living God, [the] pillar and base of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:1515But 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 3:15)). The assembly is a responsible “candlestick” to display the light and love of God in this present world (Rev. 2-3).
The Lord
God has appointed His Son as head over all things (Heb. 3:46; Eph. 1:2222And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22)). He is head over His body, the assembly, and He is Lord of each individual in it. As Lord, He has a table, His table, where His own are to sit down with Him to partake of His supper in remembrance of Him (1 Cor. 10-11). When one partakes of the bread and wine, he expresses that he is part of the one body of Christ.
Within and Without
God speaks of a “within” and a “without” in respect to His assembly (1 Cor. 5:1212For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (1 Corinthians 5:12); 1 Thess. 4:1212That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:12)). “Without God judges” (1 Cor. 5:1313But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:13)). For those “within,” God has given directions dealing with all matters concerning the order, conduct and maintenance of truth. Christ is in charge of all, and He directs all by the guidance and power of the Spirit, which indwells each member of the body. If one teaches or practices evil, it must be judged, and such a one must be removed from among those within (1 Cor. 5).
God and Man As Builders
When God is a builder, the materials and workmanship are perfect, and so “all [the] building fitted together increases to a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:2121In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)). Also, God has made man a builder and he is warned to take care “how he builds upon” the foundation (1 Cor. 3:1010According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Corinthians 3:10)). All the work and the materials used in the construction will be tested by fire, which shall destroy all that is not of God.
A Great House
The foundation of God’s house is Christ, and “other foundation can no man lay besides that which [is] laid” (1 Cor. 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)). Sadly, man has introduced bad material into God’s house, and it now contains vessels of wood and earth (unbelievers). In fact, the house has become so contaminated that God no longer calls it His, but instead He calls it “a great house.” Today this house is often called Christendom or the house of profession.
If one belongs to Christ, he is not to leave the house, for no other foundation can be laid. But, instead, God gives careful instructions for how one is to live in this house as a clean vessel, useful to the Master (2 Tim. 14).
Formation, History, Destiny
When Christ was on earth, the assembly did not yet exist. Before His death, Christ declared to the disciples, “I will build my church.” Fifty days after the Lord’s resurrection (the day of Pentecost), God formed His assembly as “one body” by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
By God’s workmen the “good news” is presented to men. When they believe the gospel of their salvation, they are redeemed, cleansed, indwelt by the Spirit of God, added to God’s assembly, and so become living stones in His building and vessels of value in His house. Today that building is “increasing.”
The bride now lives in a world that must be judged for its rebellion against God and rejection of His Son, the Bridegroom. Soon the Father will send His Son to fetch home His bride for the wedding (1 Thess. 4; Rev. 19). Then, He, with His wife at His side, will execute the necessary judgments decreed by God upon the rebellious inhabitants of the earth. As King of kings and Lord of lords, He will reign over all created things in heaven, on earth and under the earth, to God the Father’s glory.
The Assembly Today
While men may form many organizations and call them churches, God has just one—one assembly, one building, one habitation, one house, one body—and that one body is united to her one Head to form the one “Christ.”
Today, the assembly, as responsible to God and for God, has become a great house and a miserable failure. As a candlestick for God, it will be put aside. In mercy, God has provided instructions so that each individual may still walk in obedience to the Word, may do so with others, and may still, by the guidance and power of the Spirit, sit down with the Lord at His table until He come.
Today, the Bridegroom, Christ, “nourishes and cherishes” the assembly. He is the Saviour of the body. He has delivered Himself up for it, and He is sanctifying it and purifying it that He might present it to Himself glorious, holy and blameless. The result of His work will be a perfect bride on the wedding day (Eph. 5:24-3124Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (Ephesians 5:24‑31)).
D. F. Rule