THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY -
By Joel Finck
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 1:22, 23
Many Christians believe
that every time the word "church" appears in Scripture, it
refers to the same thing. This is unfortunate, for this thinking has
led to much error and confusion -. The fact is, at least three
churches can be distinguished in Scripture.
The first church we find
in the Bible is "the church in the wilderness" (Acts
7=38). This was the Old Testament congregation of Israel. Some would
object to calling Israel a church, but this is exactly what the Holy
Spirit calls her. In fact the Hebrew word for "congregation,"
found numerous times in the Old Testament, is equivalent to the
Greek word for "church." (See Psalm 22:22 & Hebrews
2:12.) Yet, the Old Testament Israelite church is not the church of
today.
The next church we read
of in Scripture is yet future. Christ spoke of it in Matthew 16:18
where Christ told Peter, "I will build my church; and the gates
of hell (Greek hades) shall not prevail against it." This
church is still future, for it is begun with a resurrected people.
The "gates of hades" is not a reference to Satan's
forces, as many teach, but a reference to the entrance (and exit) of
the place of the dead (confer with Isaiah 38:10 where "gates of
the grave" is literally "the gates of sheo!" - sheol
being the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek hades).
The third church is the
church of today. Paul calls it "the church which is his body"
(Ephesians 1:22, 23). All true believers today are members of the
Body of Christ, the one true church in this dispensation of grace.
Are you a member of this church?
(A 10 Minute Video)
Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blCfzF1_3oY
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
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