What Is the Church? by Abdiel

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 1, 1910

What Is the Church?

By Abdiel

By Abdiel

The great Head of the church teaching from the humble fisherman's boat the wonderful life-giving truths, having in them all the potency of the world's salvation. “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63.

AND gave Him [Christ] to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” “Ye are . . . built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief Corner-stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the church to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 1:22, 23; 2:19-22; 5:25-27.

Of wonderful importance must that institution be of which Inspiration could use such words as the above. “The church of God,” “the church of Jesus Christ,” what is it? where found? How may we partake of its benefits and blessings?

The word “church,” as occurring in the New Testament, comes from the Greek word ekklesia (pronounced ek-klay-see’a). It means the “called out,” regularly, legitimately, called out. It is not a mere assembly (sullogos), coming together promiscuously, but a regularly summoned assembly, company, people. As it is the church of God or of Christ, that church is composed of those who respond to the regular call of God in His Gospel.

Out of What?

Out of what is the church called?—Out of the world of sin and misery and woe and darkness has God called His people. 1 Peter 2:9. He has chosen them out of the world. John 15:19. He has called them out from fellowship with unbelievers, with the iniquitous, with the unrighteous, the lawless, the idolaters. 2 Cor. 6:14-18. He calls His church out of Babylon, and from all her iniquity and the judgments which await her. Rev. 18:1-4. God does not, however, call His people to live hermits or not to mingle with the world, but to a separation from the principles of the world to the holy, the pure, the righteous principles of truth, in order that they might show forth the praises of Him who called them. 1 Peter 2:9.

The Means

The means by which God calls His church are variously set forth in His Word. God calls “by His grace” (Gal. 1:15); calls by “the Gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24; 2 Tim. 1:9; 2 Thess. 2:14); by His Word, by His Spirit. God calls to repentance and faith, the ever true characteristic of the Gospel. Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21. Those who respond to these calls constitute the true church of God.

Darkened Times

There are times in the history of the world when God’s call is not clear and distinct, because His human ministers have proved recreant. At such times His church becomes broken into fragments or scattered among various organizations and associations. And this God has denominated Babylon. But whenever there has been a crisis in God’s work in the world, at the beginning of every great epoch, when the church has seemed to be utterly lost and broken, then God’s call has come distinct and clear, and the line of demarcation between His true church and all pseudo-organizations has been drawn strong and plain. Such was Moses’ call: “Who is on the Lord’s side?” Such was God’s call through Elijah: “If Jehovah be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” Such was the call of John the Baptist: “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, . . . Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” It was the call of Jesus: “Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.” “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.” Such was the call of Pentecost: “Repent ye, and be baptized

every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.” “Repent ye therefore, and be converted.”

The early church wandered away from God, became broken and scattered and confused. “Babylon”—confusion—is she called by Inspiration. In the Reformation, God made an effort to call His church out of Babylon, that she might again be one. But stalwart and strong as were the Reformers, the creed power of the reformed churches continued a “reformed” Babylon, and muffled, modified, and perverted the clear call of God.

These characteristics of the church have been foretold in prophecy; and when we see the church meeting those very predictions, we may know it to be God’s church still, “scattered and peeled” tho she may be.

The False Church

The character and career of the false church is likewise foretold in the Book of God, clearly, step by step, all the way, wandering in the world, united with the world, depending upon the power of the world, yet always claiming to be the true church. By the fruits, by the likeness to the Word of God, may we know each and both. Both are witnesses to His truth; the one to His truth exemplified in life, the other to error as predicted in the “more sure word of prophecy.”

The test of the remnant church is set forth in another article in this issue. It may be said, however, in passing, that the evidence of the true church is not in “outward show,” not in pomp and display, not in signs and wonders; but in her likeness to the Word, and the power of that Word in the life.