The Called Out
The word that we find translated “church” in many of our translations has been translated from the Greek word ekklesia. Here we are dealing with the “called out feature” of God’s people. These are the people who have been called out of the world by the Gospel. That is they have had the opportunity to hear the saving Gospel of Christ. They have believed it (John 8:21, 24; Hebrews 11:6) and obeyed it (Romans 10:16-17). Hearing the truth with an open mind is what produces faith. They completed their obedience by repentance, confession of their faith in Christ and by being baptized into Christ for the remission of their past sins (Acts 3:19; 8:37; Romans 6:3-6; 10:9-10; Acts 2:38; 22:16). They had been called out of the world of darkness into the marvelous light of truth and love (1 Peter 2:9). They had cast off the works of darkness and had put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12). The church and the saved are the same.
The Kingdom of God
This refers to the government feature of the church. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). The word “kingdom” refers to the government feature of the church. Christians live under the Kingship of Jesus. We are under his ruler-ship, leadership and control. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:16). “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). He is King over His kingdom, and we are His servants. Don’t forget that the only way we can enter into this kingdom is through the new birth – Gospel obedience (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; Mark 16:16).
The Temple of God
The New Testament church is the temple of God. This refers to the worship feature of the church. The one true and living God dwells within the church. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16). The church is the people; it is not the material building. Let us seek to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
The Household of God
This refers to the family feature of the church. We should try to think of the church as a spiritual family. We have God as our Heavenly Father, Christ as our elder Brother and fellow Christians as our spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ. “But he answered and said unto him that told him. Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:46-50). “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17). See also 1 Timothy 3:15. We should seek to get along; after all, we are all a part of God’s family as Christians.
The Body
This is used to emphasize the unity feature of the church (Colossians 1:18, 24). We are to work together in peace and harmony under our one and only Head, the Christ.
