Chapter 16 of the Matthean gospel provides the first instance the word church is used in Scripture. There, Peter gave the revelation of Jesus in verse 16, in response to the question found in verse 15. That revelation prompted Jesus’ declaration in verse 18, “… I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The word “church” in the Greek is “ekklesia”, which conventionally can be interpreted, “called out ones.” For over 2000 years, Christ’s Church has been existed; yet, from its early formation to this present age, there lies the question, “What is the church?” To examine this question, in 21st century context, there multiple things at stake, but our focus will be on only three, (1) the nature of God; (2) the doctrine
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Christ gave it a mission, to attack the “gates of hell.” An eschatological perspective would suggest that mission has an expiration date. When Jesus gave His disciples the “Great Commission” (Mark 16:15), an urgency accompanied it, as reflected in the words of the angelic messengers, in Acts 1:10-11. Though the work was just commencing, an end was made apparent. Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus, chapter 4, identifies four purposes of church leadership and subsequently the purpose of the church 1) equip for the work of [the Kingdom of God]; 2) build up the body of Christ; 3) attain unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God; and 4) attain the measure of Christ’s full stature. Yet, there is an underling timetable associated with the fulfillment of that purpose. The attention to the work of the church must also be accompanied by the culmination of that work. Paul’s letters to the churches of Thessalonica and Corinthians and John’s Book of Revelation, all were written to churches, each providing an observation of present conditions and a view to a conclusive end. In St. John, chapter 4, Jesus spoke of being sent to do a divine work and finish or completing it. As it was with Him, it would serve to be the same with the Church, in accordance to John 20:21. It is notwithstanding that the work bringing salvation to the world, with Jesus as the hallmark and culminating with the church, must have an
Christ gave it a mission, to attack the “gates of hell.” An eschatological perspective would suggest that mission has an expiration date. When Jesus gave His disciples the “Great Commission” (Mark 16:15), an urgency accompanied it, as reflected in the words of the angelic messengers, in Acts 1:10-11. Though the work was just commencing, an end was made apparent. Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus, chapter 4, identifies four purposes of church leadership and subsequently the purpose of the church 1) equip for the work of [the Kingdom of God]; 2) build up the body of Christ; 3) attain unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God; and 4) attain the measure of Christ’s full stature. Yet, there is an underling timetable associated with the fulfillment of that purpose. The attention to the work of the church must also be accompanied by the culmination of that work. Paul’s letters to the churches of Thessalonica and Corinthians and John’s Book of Revelation, all were written to churches, each providing an observation of present conditions and a view to a conclusive end. In St. John, chapter 4, Jesus spoke of being sent to do a divine work and finish or completing it. As it was with Him, it would serve to be the same with the Church, in accordance to John 20:21. It is notwithstanding that the work bringing salvation to the world, with Jesus as the hallmark and culminating with the church, must have an