When the word “church” is used
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The Saints
Who were these people who made up Christ’s church? As always we can find the answer within the Scripture. Many New Testament books were originally simply authoritative letters sent from Apostles of Christ to various churches in the first century. From the opening words of these letters we can learn a great deal about who these people were. For example I Thessalonians is written by the Apostle Paul —“To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1). Thus the letter is to the “called out body” in the city of Thessalonica. Similar to this the book of Colossians is addressed—“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse” (1:2). Much like the word “church” the word “saints” has a different meaning in Scripture than in modern usage. In the scriptures a saint is not one who has been recognized by a religious body and then given this title. Instead all Christians are saints. The word “saint” is translated from the Greek word hagios meaning someone or something which is “set apart unto God; consecrated or holy”. Paul addresses the letter of I Corinthians—“To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (1:2). This shows us that the “church” in the New Testament was that group of people who were “sanctified” by Christ, thus “saints” who had been “set apart” and saved by his blood. Sometimes in the religious world it is suggested that a person can be saved without being a member of the church. This Scripture indicates to us that the “church” is those who are “saved.”
The Universal & Local Church
In Paul’s introduction to the church in Corinth he to refer to the “church” in two distinct senses. For example he speaks of “the church of God which is in Corinth” (a specific location) and also to “all who in every place call on the name of Jesus” (many locations). This teaches us that there are two ways in which the church may be viewed: The local Church (I Thessalonians 1:1 & I Corinthians 1:2) and The Universal Church;. (Matthew 16:18 & Hebrews 12:22,23). By considering this we can understand a great deal about how the New Testament church functioned.
Of the universal church the only structure that the Bible will describe is the fact that “Christ is the head of the church” (Ephesians 5:23). The universal church was authorized to determine practice, teaching and conduct first by the “apostle’s doctrine (or teaching)” (Acts 2:42) and then by those things which they through the direction of the Holy Spirit wrote (see I Corinthians 13:37, II Thessalonians 3:14 & I Timothy 3:15).
On the other hand, the local church was to have a very specific structure. Paul’s letter to the Philippians is addressed—“To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (1:1). This teaches us that these independent local churches were made up of “saints” (that is all Christians), “bishops” (men appointed from the congregation according to specific qualifications outlined in I Timothy 3:1-7 & Titus 1:5-9) and “deacons” (also men appointed from the congregation according to qualifications recorded in I Timothy 3:8-13). This seems to be the only structure the Bible authorizes for church organization.
In the religious world today much of the division that exists comes from misapplications of the universal and local sense in which the church is viewed. For example many groups seek to develop some kind of structure to regulate the universal church. Others will expand the authority of local elderships over a number of congregations. In the New Testament there is no superstructure larger than the local church yet smaller that the universal church!
The Assembly
The New Testament church was characterized by its simplicity. Rather than complex formal rituals and lofty elitist dissertations, New Testament Christian assemblies were simple, spiritual times of encouragement, edification, learning, meditation and praise. The Bible tells us these early saints assembled on the first day of the week “to break bread” (Acts 20:7). This “breaking of bread” was the simple memorial service which Jesus established to remember his death. In I Corinthians 11:20 Paul calls this “the Lord’s Supper” and shows that it’s observance was one of the primary reasons for their assembly.
It would be a mistake, however, to imagine
New Testament assemblies as important only for the observance of the Lord’s
Supper. A second fundamental reason for their assemblies (sometimes-more
often than just on Sunday - Acts 2:46) was to encourage one another. The
writer of the letter of Hebrews commands those Christians that they should
not be—“forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the
manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see
the Day approaching” (10:25). The means by which they encouraged one
another in these assemblies involved four activities:
1.) Singing. In the New Testament this was always vocal music alone
(Colossians 3:16, I Corinthians 14:26, Acts 16:25 & Ephesians 5:19).
2) Praying. (I Thes. 5:17 , I Cor. 14:15).
3.) Teaching. (I Corinthians 14:26, Acts 20:7). In the assembly this
teaching was done by men ( I Corinthians 14:34 & I Timothy 2:11,12).
4.) Collection. On the first day of the week a collection was taken
from among the saints, “for the saints” (I Corinthians 16:1,2).
This voluntary collection was how the early church raised funds.
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