The Ownership of the Church

When considering the question, what is the church of Christ, one should study the following; what is the church, and to whom does the church belong? It has already been discussed that Jesus promised to build the church (Matthew 16:18). The word “church” in this passage comes from the Greek word “ekklesia.” This is a compound word composed of “ek” meaning, “out or out of,” and “kaleo” meaning “to call” (Thayer 189). Thus, the church our Savior promised to build is the “called out.” Jesus used this word to describe His followers that have been called out of the world and into fellowship with Himself, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Peter wrote, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:14).

The “called out” under consideration belong to Jesus. He said “…I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18) [emp. TB]. Here, Jesus refers to the church in the possessive case. He does so because he knew what would be required of Him to establish His church. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus he pointed out what was given for the church, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). Jesus was willing to die for His church. Paul also addressed the elders at Ephesus to remind them of the importance of them overseeing the church because of what it took to purchase her, “Take 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). The blood of Christ was the price that was paid in order to redeem every soul that is added to the church that belongs to Christ (Ephesians 1:7). When Christ died on the cross He paid to God what man owed. Therefore, the church belongs to Jesus. The church of Christ is blood-bought and paid for by the ultimate selfless sacrifice of Jesus.

(Lord willing, continued next week)