The Greek word in the Bible that we translate as church (ekklesia) has nothing to do with buildings or Sunday services performed by a professional minister. It does not imply an institution or a denomination.  When the Bible speaks about the church it’s speaking about a people, a community. It’s speaking about people who have been called out from their various backgrounds to come together for a purpose. It’s speaking about the people of God.

Called to be Community

The church is not a collection of individuals who happen to meet together on a Sunday morning. The church is called to live and function as a community.  As such we demonstrate something wonderful and glorious about God himself who exists in total unity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus did not give his life so that Christians could relate to him in isolation from one another. He gave his life for the church so that we might be transformed into his glorious bride (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Built on Jesus

Jesus made it quite clear that he would build his church (Matthew 16:13-20). And he has never given up ownership of the church to a particular leader or organisation. He is building it his way for his purpose.

If we want to understand the true nature and identity of the church, we must first understand who Jesus really is. This is because the church is being built on Peter’s revelation that Jesus is the Christ (the King, Messiah, or Anointed One), the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:17,18). We mustn’t miss the significance of this. The fact that Jesus is the Anointed One, the fulfilment of all the Old Testament promises, is the starting point for the church.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”  (Luke 4:18,19)

Jesus said that the very reason the Father sent him into our world was to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43; see the separate article on the Kingdom of God). When we look at his life and ministry we realise Jesus did this through both word and deed; through both proclamation and demonstration.

And then Jesus said something incredible:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”  (John 14:12 NIV)

Jesus, the Anointed One, made it clear that he would not remain on this earth in bodily form but would ascend to be with the Father. Those who put their faith in him would continue to announce and demonstrate the kingdom of God:

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  (John 20:21,22 NIV)

Anointed to Advance the Kingdom

Jesus sends us as his church (his people) to go into our world in the same anointing, and with the same purpose, as he was sent by the Father. The church is sent by Jesus Christ to proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. We might say that the church is the primary agent of the kingdom of God as it fills and transforms our world. God intends that the church should make him and his kingdom known, even to rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 3:10).

Prophets, Priests and Kings

In Old Testament Israel there were three categories of people who were ceremonially anointed to set them apart for their work. These were prophets who ministered the Word of God, priests who ministered the presence of God and kings who ministered the rule of God. The church is to be a worldwide community of believers who have received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As such every member is to live and function in the powerful anointings of prophet, priest and king.

A Glorious Bride

The Bible presents the church as a loving, vibrant, powerful community. The church is not a hiding place for downtrodden victims hanging on until they go to heaven. It is a community of hope and faith that takes hold of heaven’s realities and lives them in the here and now. There is a wonderful picture of the church in the book of Revelation that shows her ultimate success (Revelation 22:1-5). Jesus will indeed return for a glorious bride who has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7).