Called Out
The term “church” comes from the Greek word EKKLESIA.
This word is also translated “assembly” or “congregation” in the
Scriptures. Vine’s defines it as “from ek, out of, and klesis, a
calling.” While this term can apply to any group which meets together
and assembles it has a more specific application when applied to
Christians.
This term refers to the universal body of believers in Jesus Christ. To
have a group of such believers was an intention Christ made known to His
early disciples as He said, “…on this rock I will build My church…”
(Matthew 16:18). These “called out” people assemble under the headship
of Jesus Christ. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 1:22,23, “And He
put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things
to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in
all.” The Apostle even uses the family relationship to make the
relationship of Jesus to the church pointedly clear. “For the husband
is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is
the Savior of the body.”
The church universal is united. Ephesians 4:4-6 says, “There is on
body and one Spirit, just as you were 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.” Yet, while we
are united by these principles, the governance of the Lord’s church has
been broken down into local congregations. These local churches are
autonomous or “self-governing.” So, there are times when the Scriptures
refer to the local body of Christ instead of the church universal. For
example, when the church at Ephesus appointed elders Paul said,
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which
He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). It was not the duty
of the elders to oversee other congregations outside of the one in
Ephesus, though united with Christians throughout the world.
We are all called to serve the same Lord, though we do so under the
guidance and watchful eye of different elders. Paul wrote to Corinth,
“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified
in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call
on the name of Jesus Christ out Lord, both theirs and ours…” (1
Corinthians 1:2). Notice he writes to a specific group but their
“calling” is just the same as the “calling” of any other Christian. It
seems obvious from the passages already used that this “calling”
requires accepting the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It means sitting at the
feet of the King of kings with other Christians and serving Him together
in unity. Does this not sound much better than the confusion, discord,
strife and emptiness sin brings?
God still calls you today by His gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13,14). Are
you prepared to come “out of” the world and into the spiritual
blessings Jesus Christ offers? “But you are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may
proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of
God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1
Peter 2:9,10).