The English word "church" is noted as being "from a prehistoric German word that is also the ancestor of the German Kirche; ultimately from Greek kuriakon doma "house of the lord", from kurios "lord." (Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2005) However, this is not the word that is accurately used in the Bible, but rather in Hebrew is qa·hal´, meaning "call together, congregate" and in Greek ek·kle·si´a, meaning "to be called out."Angelina said:Can anyone define what a Church is? is a Church the gathering of Christian believers or a mix of believer's and non- believers? What does the bible say about the God's Church? :huh:
Thanx
For example, Jesus did not say to Peter: "And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell (Greek Hades) shall not prevail against it."(Matt 16:18, KJV) Rather, he said: "Also, I say to you, You are Peter (Greek petros, meaning " a piece of rock"), and on this rock-mass (Greek petra, meaning "rock-mass" who is the Christ, 1 Cor 10:4) I will build my congregation (Greek ekklesian, meaning "a calling out"), and the gates of Hades (mankind's common grave) will not overpower it."(New World Translation)
Hence, most of those that form the Christian congregation were once part of the "world", those alienated from our Creator, Jehovah God, but upon coming to accurately know and love him, were "called out" from this wicked "world", separated to him. From its inception when Jehovah formed the Israelites into nation during the time of Moses, he arranged for the congregation to be ruled, not democratically by the people (like the churches do, the word church coming to stand for those of Christendom), but theocratically, by God himself. To that end the nation of Israel was taken into the Law covenant.(Ex 19:3-9; 24:6-8)
As Moses was the mediator of that covenant, it could be said: “Moses laid as a command upon us a law, a possession of the congregation (Hebrew qa·hal´ ) of Jacob.” (Deut 33:4) Jehovah was their Judge, Statute-Giver, and King. (Isa 33:22) Thus, the nation was a congregation of God and could be referred to as “the congregation of Jehovah” and “Jehovah’s congregation.”(Num 16:3; 1 Chron 28:8) As established with the "congregation" under the Mosaic Law, there were stipulations or exclusions of those who could and could not be part of "Jehovah's congregation".(Deut 23:1-8)
The congregation of Israel (Jews) was in a unique position. Moses reminded them: “You are a holy people to Jehovah your God. It is you Jehovah your God has chosen to become his people, a special property, out of all the peoples that are on the surface of the ground.” (Deut 7:6) But the Jewish congregation ceased to be the congregation of God, being cast off because of rejecting his Son.(Acts 4:24-28; 13:23-29; Matt 21:43; 23:37, 38; Luke 19:41-44)
The Christian congregation is founded upon Jesus Christ, not Peter, as Catholics so believe, and in which Peter identified Jesus as the figurative "stone" that was rejected by men ( the Jews, Matt 23:37; Acts 4:11), but was "chosen, precious with God" and as the "foundation cornerstone" on which a person could rest his faith without disappointment.(1 Pet 2:4-6; Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16)
This Christian congregation (Greek ek·kle·si´a), founded on Christ, also has him as its head. Thus it is stated: “He [God] also subjected all things under his feet, and made him head over all things to the congregation, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills up all things in all.”(Eph 1:22, 23)
The Christian congregation of God took the place of the congregation of Israel at Pentecost of 33 C.E., when holy spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem. The first prospective members of that congregation were chosen shortly after Jesus’ baptism, at the beginning of his ministry on earth. (Acts 2:1-4; John 1:35-43)
This congregation is referred to as “the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens,” the full number of which, under Christ the head, is 144,000. (Heb 12:23; Rev 7:4) These called-out ones are “bought from among mankind” to carry out a special work here on earth and then to be with Christ in heaven as his bride. As there were requirements for membership in the Hebrew congregation of God, so there are requisites for membership in the Christian “congregation of God.” Those making it up are spiritual virgins who keep following the Lamb, Jesus Christ, no matter where he goes, “and no falsehood was found in their mouths; they are without blemish.”(Rev 14:1-5)