"In the Midst of the Church ..."; v.12 = The word "church" translates from the Greek noun (transliterated "ekklesia"; pronounced "ek-klay-SEE-ah"), meaning a specific group of people called out and assembled for a particular purpose. That particular purpose is to worship and glorify GOD and LORD JESUS CHRIST and to preach the Gospel.
The Church is not the building wherein the Church meets, but rather, the redeemed saints are the Church whom CHRIST has quickened ( Eph. 2:1) from their state of "dead in trespasses and sins" ( Eph. 2:5) to actively preach and spread the Gospel of Salvation.
The Greek New Testament records "ekklesia" 118 times. Of those occurrences, it translates into the English noun "church" 115 times, all identifying GOD's people assembled as a church body.
In Ephesians 2:22, Paul described the Church as "an habitation of GOD" wherein GOD "dwells" with HIS people (cp. Rom. 8:9; 2Cor. 6:16; Eph. 3:17; 1Jn. 4:13). Rather than a passive place, a habitation is a building wherein much activity takes place. Living people actively live there, communicating with one another, and intimately interrelating within the family and carrying on with their private lives.
The "Church" is a living, breathing, animate organism because it is the "habitation" of "The Living GOD".
This same scenario occurs within "the Church of The Living GOD" ( 1Tim. 3:15), which is GOD's habitation. The Church does not exist passively, but GOD performs and accomplishes HIS purposes in the world through the Church as HIS base of operations.
The Greek New Testament records "ekklesia" 118 times. Of those occurrences, it translates into the English noun "church" 115 times, all identifying GOD's people assembled as a church body.
Hello Phillip Christian Parks, Thank you. The Church is a gathering of born again Christians that love each other so much that separation from one another is painful. There should be an immediate witness upon seeing even two or three gathered in His name in almost any situation. For example, a few walking together in an airport terminal. Regarding buildings where they meet more regularly, when I first walked into a place of the same as a seeker, I only made it around 15-20 feet inside when I met some elders visiting with one another. I immediately knew that whatever these people have is what I am searching for.
The Church is not the building wherein the Church meets, but rather, the redeemed saints are the Church whom CHRIST has quickened ( Eph. 2:1) from their state of "dead in trespasses and sins" ( Eph. 2:5) to actively preach and spread the Gospel of Salvation.
The Greek New Testament records "ekklesia" 118 times. Of those occurrences, it translates into the English noun "church" 115 times, all identifying GOD's people assembled as a church body.
In Ephesians 2:22, Paul described the Church as "an habitation of GOD" wherein GOD "dwells" with HIS people (cp. Rom. 8:9; 2Cor. 6:16; Eph. 3:17; 1Jn. 4:13). Rather than a passive place, a habitation is a building wherein much activity takes place. Living people actively live there, communicating with one another, and intimately interrelating within the family and carrying on with their private lives.
The "Church" is a living, breathing, animate organism because it is the "habitation" of "The Living GOD".
This same scenario occurs within "the Church of The Living GOD" ( 1Tim. 3:15), which is GOD's habitation. The Church does not exist passively, but GOD performs and accomplishes HIS purposes in the world through the Church as HIS base of operations.
The Greek New Testament records "ekklesia" 118 times. Of those occurrences, it translates into the English noun "church" 115 times, all identifying GOD's people assembled as a church body.
God bless our meditations.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?