The Temple of God

Another way that Paul describes, or defines the one true church is that it is God’s temple:

… you are the temple of God … (I Corinthians 3:16).
… your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit … (I Corinthians 6:19).
… you are the temple of the living God … (II Corinthians 6:16).
… a holy temple in the Lord … (Ephesians 2:22).

That the ecclesia is the temple of the living God is clearly borne out by Paul in these portions of Scripture.

We are the temple, we are God’s sanctuary; not a man-made building, but a God-made building, made up of His called-out-ones!

Notice how clearly Paul contrasts the human and the divine in this regard:

God … dwells not in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24).

That’s a simple truth, isn’t it? God does not dwell in man-made places!

Now consider the common language of Christendom:

“It is good to be in the Lord’s House today.”
“Please do not bring food or drinks into the Sanctuary.”
“It is nice to have God’s House full today.”

Do you ever speak this sort of religious jargon? Such talk denies the truth of the Scriptures that we have just considered!

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

The House of God

Another way that Paul refers to the one true church of this dispensation is:

… the house of God, which is the church of the living God … (I Timothy 3:15).

The ecclesia is God’s house. The living God lives in His living called-out-ones. Is this not a glorious truth?

Paul goes on to say that we are:

an habitation of God (Ephesians 2:22).
God’s building (I Corinthians 3:9).

Paul was working on a divinely appointed project: Habitat for Divinity! What a thought.

“God’s building” – just think of it! God has a “church” building in this dispensation, and it is not made up of brick and mortar. Rather it is made up of the members of His ecclesia. Praise the Lord for the one true “church” building of God!

Are you satisfied with this simple truth? Or do you embrace another “church building” instead? Are you “the house of God”? Or do you attend a man-made building that has been fraudulently pawned off as “God’s building”?

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

God’s Church

As we study through Paul’s epistles, we are able to glean even further fullness of the definition of the church.

Paul identifies the church, as God’s church:

… the church of God … (I Corinthians 1:2)
… the church of God (I Corinthians 10:32)
… the church of God … (I Corinthians 11:22)
… the church of God … (II Corinthians 1:1)
… the church of God (I Timothy 3:5)
… the church of the living God … (I Timothy 3:15)

We now see Who the church belongs to: the one true church of this dispensation is the sole possession of God Himself. It became His possession through legitimate means – He purchased it!

… the church of God, which He has purchased through His Own blood (Acts 20:28).

Who purchased “your church?” If it wasn’t God, then it’s not God’s church!

Over and over in the verses above, the one true church is clearly identified as “the church of God.” Believers commonly join the world in using such phrases as:

“my church”
“our church”
“his church”
“her church”
“their church”
“Jim’s church”
“Mary’s church”
“Brother White’s church”
“Reverend Smith’s church”

Whose churches are these? They obviously are not God’s. If they are not God’s, then they must be in competition and contradiction with God’s one true ecclesia. Does this not bother you? How long will we pursue such an obstinate course?

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

The One Church and Its One Head

We have seen that membership in God’s one true church for today is: one Spirit, by one baptism, placing us into the one Body – and, that one Body has a name.

“For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body …” (I Corinthians 12:12-13).

Look at that little phrase in verse 12:

“… so also is Christ …”

Any body is identified with its head. My physical body is “me” – identified by others with and by my “head.” God’s ecclesia is identified by our Head as well. The one Body is called Christ. He is the Head and we are His members. Thus, we are in living union with the wonderful Lord Jesus Christ. We are the many-membered Christ.

“… the church, which is His Body …” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Why is the ecclesia called “His Body?” Because the Lord Jesus Christ is our living Head!

“… Christ is the Head of the church: and He is the Savior of the Body” (Ephesians 5:23).

“And He is the Head of the Body, the church …” (Colossians 1:18).

This then, brings us to another aspect of the definition of the church. The one true church has but one Head, and that is Christ. There is no other Head of God’s church. This is how we can identify the true church – by its Headship.

Now the question is, who is the head of “your church?” Are you satisfied with the Headship of Christ over His church? Or, do you desire to belong to another “church” – different from His – that has another head?

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

Membership in the One Church

We have learned from God that the church, or ecclesia, is the Body of Christ. In this definition we were also able to learn that this church is, therefore, the one true church of our dispensation.

How can one become a member of this one true church? How do we become members of the Body of Christ? Let’s again consult the only source of ultimate authority – God’s Word!

For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body … (I Corinthians 12:12-13).

This passage tells us that the one Body has a membership. One does not “join” this church. One is “joined” to it by baptism – not water baptism, but spiritual baptism, where God’s Spirit unites us into Christ’s Body. Thus, the one Spirit through the one baptism joins us together into the one Body.

Look at the passage again, with emphasis upon these truths:

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body …

We also see these truths in Ephesians:

There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Here is the seven-fold oneness that we have in Christ:

• One Body
• One Spirit
• One Hope
• One Lord
• One Faith
• One Baptism
• One God and Father

This unity we have with Christ, and with every member of His Body. The one Spirit, by the one baptism, placed us into the one Body. There is no other Body of God today!

This one Body is at the heart of Paul’s message about who we are in Christ:

… many members in one Body … (Romans 12:4)
… members of Christ … (I Corinthians 6:15)
… members of that one Body … (I Corinthians 12:12)
… members of the Body … (I Corinthians 12:22-23)
… members of His Body … (Ephesians 5:30)

Notice in each verse we are said to be members. One cannot “join” this church. One is joined to it by divine calling. This church is made up of all the saints of this dispensation. What a wonderful privilege to be already “members one of another” in Christ, His Body, which is the church!

For as we have many members in one body … So we, being many, are one Body in Christ, and every one members one of another (Romans 12:4-5).

… for we are members one of another (Ephesians 4:25).

We are gloriously blessed with divine membership! God has made us members of His ecclesia! Membership in any other “church” stands in competition and contradiction to God’s present purpose: His one church, His one Body!

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

The Church, Which Is His Body

O send out Your light and Your truth: let them lead me … (Psalms 43:3).

Now let’s look at some Scripture definitions of “the church.”

When writing to the Ephesians, Paul tells us precisely what ecclesia is:

… the church [ecclesia], which is His body … (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Isn’t that clear? The church, “which is …” – and here comes the divine definition – “His Body.”

We can now say, with all authority and confidence, just what the ecclesia is! It is the Body of Christ!

Isn’t that so very simple? Just taking God’s definition; taking God at His Word!

Now, Paul shows us that the reverse of this is also true:

And He is the Head of the Body, the church [ecclesia] … (Colossians 1:18).

… for His Body’s sake, which is the church [ecclesia] (Colossians 1:24).

There is that “which is” again! We have here the Body of Christ defined. The Body, “which is …” and here comes the definition: “the church.” The ecclesia is the Body, and the Body is the ecclesia. That locks things up with clarity, doesn’t it? God has provided a clear definition and then back-defined it, to make it an iron-clad truth.

This double-ended definition will lead us to even more truth concerning the ecclesia.

For instance, how many “Bodies” does God have in this dispensation? Paul clearly reveals that,

There is one body … (Ephesians 4:4).

“One” means “one.” God has one single Body in the dispensation of grace. This Body is “the church [ecclesia], which is His Body.” Since God has clearly taught us that the Body is the definition of His ecclesia, and the ecclesia is the definition of the Body, then we can say with all divine confidence,

God has but one church in this dispensation – only one – and His church is the Body of Christ!

The church is the one body of Christ. God has no other church or Body today!

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

Common Definitions

Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalms 119:105).

Among the common definitions of the word “church,” we find the idea of:

• a physical building, as in, “It’s our turn to clean the church.”
• an organization, as in, “We are members of First Community Church.”
• a meeting, as in, “Church starts in a half-hour.”
• a doctrinal system, as in, “I’ve spent all my life in the Baptist church.”

These are all non-Bible churches. Therefore, dictionaries and other manmade reference tools can be of only so much assistance as we study the Scriptures; we should always keep in mind that they are just that – manmade. Ultimately, the premiere reference tool for any Bible study is the Bible itself, because the Bible has a way of defining its own words.

In all languages, it is usage which determines the meaning of words; and since usage determines meaning, biblical usage, certainly, always should determine biblical meaning. Therefore, we must acquaint ourselves with the Scriptures. We need not stumble around in the dark, for His Word sheds great light on our pathway. The more we read, study and learn the Bible itself, the more we will be equipped to know the meaning of Bible words, and to live our lives according to their context.

Let’s let God define His “ecclesia”!

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

What Is the Church?

The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple (Psalms 119:130).

The word translated “church” in many English versions is not, at first, easily defined or identified today because of the influence of centuries of religious tradition. If we would clear our minds of these traditions we would find that this Greek word “ecclesia” conveys quite a very simple truth.

Consulting dictionaries does not always prove helpful. This is because we naturally approach the definition of any word with our traditions firmly settled in our minds, and the producers of the dictionaries have usually done the same as well. This is not intended to be critical of them. After all, words in dictionaries are being defined in ways that they are currently being used. That’s just the intention of most dictionaries.

Words mean things, and since we are seeking the true meaning of God’s ecclesia, we will of necessity be consulting with His Word to find His definition. This is all that really matters to us, who study the Scriptures. After all, God knows what His ecclesia is, and His Word is the source of “light” and “understanding” regarding it.

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks (Ephesians 5:3-4).

In this passage we read Paul’s warnings, among other things, about “jesting.” Surely, there is nothing wrong with wholesome wit. In fact, a merry heart can be a great benefit in day-to-day living (c.f. Proverbs 17:22). A “sense of humor” can, indeed, go a long way, but “jesting” is humor without mercy. It is humor that tears down rather than builds up, and is unbecoming of saints. It’s simply not who we are.

“Jesting” or “jabbing” is as prevalent in our day as in Paul’s. Jesting forgets Paul’s admonition to “let your speech be always with grace …” (Colossians 4:6).

Let us notice the definition of jest:

To cast reproaches and sneering expressions; to rail at; to utter taunting, sarcastic words; to flout [mock or insult]; to fleer [derision or mockery]; to scoff (Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828).

To utter gibes [sneers] or taunts, to give utterance to ridicule; to scoff, jeer, mock (Oxford English Dictionary).

In part, Strong’s Greek Lexicon defines the Greek word here (#2160 eutrapelia) as “repartee,” which Webster defines as “to make smart, witty replies.”

Jesting is a major form of humor in our day – humor that cuts-down and insults. Modern comedy is often built on the foundation of jesting – who can best “one-up” the other in ridicule, taunting and sarcastic one-liner “comebacks.”

It is sad to see this form of “humor” enter into the life of Christ’s Body. It is unbecoming of saints. It is not who we are, but it does happen. Instead of giving thanks and praise, we give ribbing and roasting. Instead of encouraging and edifying, we jeer and taunt – all in the name of supposed “good fun.” Then after we sense that a dear fellow member has been hurt by our misconduct, we are quick to rejoin, “Oh, I was just kidding,” or, “I only meant it in jest.”

Dearly beloved, let us cast off the jovial jabbing to Adam’s race. We can better use our time together to encourage, edify and, with a merry heart, give thanks for and to one another.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (Philippians 1:3).

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook #47
© Bible Student’s Press, 2000, 2009

… Let us make us a name … (Genesis 11:4).

The Body of Christ has long been plagued by the sectarian spirit and the divisiveness of denominationalism. Webster, in his 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, defines denomination as:

The act of naming … A class, society or collection of individuals, called by the same name; as a denomination of Christians.

Denomination comes from the word denominate, which is defined by Webster as:

To name, to give a name or epithet to …

During the current dispensation, God is using the glorious gospel of grace to call out a people unto Himself. They are placed into living union with His Son. God has given this organism a name: the church, the Body of Christ.

Throughout the dispensation of grace, many members of Christ’s Body have failed to understand and appreciate fully their Divine completeness in Christ (Colossians 2:10). They have therefore become dissatisfied with being what and whom God made them in Christ. They have sought to establish their own institutions and have given them names of their own choosing.

Such human enterprises have often found acceptability, honor, prestige and respectability before the world. Yet the question we should ask is, “Does it bring glory to God to rival His organism and name with an organization and name of our own?” Is it not the Son, and the Body that is identified with Him, that brings glory to the Father?

Paul wrote:

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Galatians 6:14).

When asked, “To what church do you belong?” or “Where are you a member?” why do we feel inadequate with simply being members of Christ’s Body? Why do we feel the need to go beyond what God has done? Are we ashamed of being identified only with what He has done, and is doing with the church, the Body of Christ?

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:3).

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook #45
© Bible Student’s Press, 1999, 2009