As was pointed out in lesson five, the word translated assembly (ekkleesia) has no distinct meaning other than the meaning of a group of people. It must be linked to something to give it a distinct identity apart from all other identities. It also means to call forth or summon but not to call out as many teach. That would destroy the inherit meaning of the word to say it means to call out from amongst others (The Greek usage of the word contains no such idea. The word was used to summon forth people to hear some message which was anything that someone wanted people to hear.) in an effort to prove that the believers are the called out ones. Keep in mind that the assembly which Jesus built is people who have obeyed the gospel and are not members of any ecclesiastical organization. The assembly is composed of the ones who heard (and those who now hear the saving message of Jesus Christ) and who became members of the assembly by responding to the gospel message of salvation. Some hear the message and obey, while others hear and turn away.

The scriptures use many descriptive terms as general assembly (meaning all of those assembled worldwide with God due to the message received) and church of the first born, the ones registered or enrolled with God through Christ, with the idea of separation from others people or groups by having their names written in the Lambs Book of Life. (Hebrews 12:23 Confer with Philippians 4:3: Rev 12:27); church (assembly) of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15); churches of the Gentiles (Romans 16:4); churches Christ (Romans 16:16); church of God. Altogether, the word churches is used 37 times in 36 verses and in nearly every instance (there are some other Greek words translated church, but those are a reference to the assembly) the word church is a translation of the Greek word ekkleesia. Also the word church appears 77 times in 76 verses. In each occurrence of the word ekkleesia translated church, followed by of, to or other preposition, always means a group of people who through obedience to the gospel have chosen allegiance to Christ and ownership by God through His Son.

A search of the scriptures will show that the terms that many use to name a group of people to make them distinctive from other groups, aren’t names at all. In effect such names make divisions amongst the people who claim to be following Christ. The distinctiveness that people have who follow God is because they have given their life to Christ and that makes them separate and apart from all the other peoples of the earth. There isn’t one verse that teaches that distinctiveness comes from any other source than from obeying the gospel and that simply makes one a follower of Christ.

Group after group have adopted man made names and when the doctrines are studied that each group or denomination teaches, it is found that the doctrines are as diverse in belief as the groups teaching them. Each group claims that what they teach is the truth, but again, an examination of their doctrines show that they aren’t following the Bible. Unfortunately, many claim that it makes no difference what the Bible says on many subjects as long as you believe and are a member of some church. That is nothing more than an appeal to the unrepentant human who is looking for the easy way out of his dilemma.

It can be concluded that an examination of the scriptures shows that all the different names and doctrines are not biblical. All the attempts at being distinctive by name and by doctrine cannot be biblical and Paul gave a warning for such matters of false doctrines to the Galatians assembly in Chapter 1:6-9: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

If all the groups that claim to be teaching the way of Christ would drop their distinctive names and follow the scriptures instead of their man made doctrines, the world could be transformed in ways we can’t imagine. That transformation begins with each one who claims belief in Christ. It begins when whosoever claims Christ begins to transform their lives daily. Then others will begin to be transformed and that brings the subject for the next two lessons into focus. Those lessons will be on the nature of the assembly, separation, purity, holiness, good works and godliness of life. In truth, those aforementioned words are the very essence of the distinctiveness that God wants for those who call themselves his people.  

© 11-01-2009 DEC

                       Next Lesson The One True Body Part VII