The Church-Ecclesiology
- Should the church be considered the same as Israel?
- When did the church begin?
- What does it mean that the church is the "Body of Christ?"
- What does it mean that the church is the "Bride of Christ?"
- Does the church have a special place in the future with Christ?
Should the church be considered the same as Israel?
There is a great degree of confusion about this very clear concept. A couple of places in the epistles it appears that there is a confounding of Israel and the Church. However a clear understanding of the passages involved will cause us to understand Israel as a distinct from the church.
Ephesians 2:12 "[remember] that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both [groups into] one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, [which is] the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, [thus] establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity."
This passage, often misunderstood as presenting the view that Israel and the church are one, is actually statement of clear distinction between the two. We learn that Gentiles were afar off from God but in Christ the two, Israel and Gentiles, are made one. The Law separated the two, but now has made them one. This in no way negates the reality of the distinction between Israel and other nations. The promises made to Israel were covenant promises and are irrevocable. God will perform that which He promised to Israel. He will give them the land (Palestine) and they will control the land and be blessed in it. This will take place during the millennial reign of Christ after His return.
The church is referred to as the "Body of Christ." We should keep in mind that you cannot have a body without a head. Christ became the "Head of the Church" through the resurrection and ascension. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was the beginning of the church. The Prophecies of the establishment of the church by Christ were given just before his death. This puts the beginning of the church at the giving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
What does it mean that the church is the "Body of Christ?"
The body metaphor is to show the interdependence of the church to Christ and to each other as members of the Body. We are organically linked together as one church not many bodies or churches.
What does it mean that the church is the "Bride of Christ?"
The Lord is called the groom and we are the bride of Christ. We are the bride and when the Lord returns we will have a wedding feast to celebrate our marriage. We will experience and have intimacy with Christ as His bride that we do not experience as His body.
Does the church have a special place in the future with Christ?
Those who are "in Christ" look forward to the rapture of the church. Christ will return and with the shout of the archangel we will be caught up in the air. This promise is only to the church and not to Old Testament believers. They will be with Christ during the millennial reign, but are not promised this rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words."