God's People: The Church

GOD’S PEOPLE; THE CHURCH

     God’s people are called by many names.  In the Old Testament they were called Israel, Judah, His people; My People; The Lord’s people; The people of God; God’s people. In the New Testament they were called disciples, Christians, brethren, children of God, saints, the temple of God, the body of Christ, the elect, the church.

The designation “God’s people” indicates possession.  Like the  designation “churches of Christ” in Romans 16:16 indicates possession.  The preposition “of” is possessive.  Church of Christ is not the name of the church.  It is that which belongs to Christ.  And so it is with “God’s people.”

The concept of the church as used in the New Testament is from the Greek ekklesia meaning an assembly; the called out.  The Greeks used the word to indicate a body of citizens gathered to discuss the affairs of the state.  In the New Testament ekklesia has the meaning of an assembly of Christians who worship together, fellowship with one another, do the Lord’s work of evangelism and benevolence together.  In fact the church of the New Testament met together daily.

Many have distorted or completely ignored Hebrews 10:24 & 25; “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

Satan has provided a palatable way for the church to avoid being in assembly.  Obviously there are those who because of age, health issues or the care of others need to remain out of the public due to the current   pandemic.  It seems that many have convinced themselves that it is OK to stay away from the assemblies of the church while at the same time it is OK to go just about anywhere else they choose to go.  King David wrote in Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”   Can you say that?