The church

GLORIOUS CHURCH

The church has nothing to do with building .Act 17: 24 " The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands."

The word church comes from the Greek ekklesia. “In our English Bible the Greek word, "ekklesia" is translated in most places "church." The word "ekklesia" is found in one hundred and fifteen places in the New Testament. It is translated in English one hundred and thirteen times "church" and the remaining times it is translated "assembly." In classical Greek the word "ekklesia" meant "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly."⁽²⁾ The word as used in the New Testament is taken from the root of this word, which simply means to "call out." In New Testament times the word was exclusively used to represent a group of people assembled together for a particular cause or purpose. It was never used exclusively to refer to a religious meeting or group”(Cooper, A).

The church is the community of all believers of the New Covenant that thef faith and regenerative action of the Holy Spirit unite in a vital way to Jesus Christ. This church is the Lord's body which becomes a member by baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12: 13).This church is universal because it includes all children of God from all countries and all nations (Acts 2: 47 and 9: 31). It also includes all the redeemed already raised from the Lord (Hebrews 13: 22-23).The church is invisible in a sense, and also visible as it is manifested on earth through living and active members that the world must see the brotherly love, good works out, and hear the faithful witness ( John 17: 21, 1 Peter 2: 12, Philippians 2: 15-16).
The local church is also (Romans 16: 4-5, Acts 8: 1; 1Thessalonissiens 2: 14).

A °) the relationship between Christ and the Church

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church and its leader (1 Corinthians 12: 12-27, Ephesians 5: 23-30). He is the Bridegroom, the heavenly Bridegroom (2 Corinthians 11: 2, Ephesians 5: 31-32). It is the cornerstone of the temple of the Lord, the living stones which are individual believers, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2: 19-22, Matthew 16: 18, 1 Peter 2: 4-5). Christ is the Priest at the head of the royal priesthood consisting of all members of the Church (1 Peter 2: 5, 9-10, Hebrews 9: 11-14; Apocalypse 1: 6).

B °) UNITY OF THE CHURCH
This is a gift from God and a miracle done by the work of the cross from the day of Pentecost, which brings together in one the dispersed children of God.(John 11: 52, Ephesians 2: 13-16, 1 Corinthians 12: 13, John 17: 11-23).

C °) GIFTS AND MINISTRIES IN THE CHURCH
 
In the body of Christ, each member receives or more gifts of the Spirit, which enable it to perform its function for the good of all. A list of gifts and ministries is given in 1 Corinthians 12: 7-11, 28-30, Romans 12: 4-8, Ephesians 4: 11. Since the members of Christ's body and are gifted and called to the priesthood. 1 Corinthians 12: 28 tells us that God has placed first in the Church (Body of Christ) of the apostles, second prophets, third teachers etc ... Ephesians 4: 11 speaks also of the five departments of speech.

THE GOAL OF THE  FIVE FOLD MINISTRY
 
1) The perfecting of the saints:
All who have accepted Christ are justified is to say, declared holy by his blood (Hebrews 10: 14, Romans 5: 1).These departments have the task of bringing Christians to perfection, by word and teachings (John 17: 17) because Christ will return seeking a holy church (Ephesians 5: 21-27, Colossians 1: 27-29). This perfecting of the saints is also intended to make us fit and able to serve God. (Galatians 4: 19, Matthew 28: 19-20).

2) building up the Body of Christ:
Edifier means: build, build. We are built with the word of God. (1 Peter 2: 5).

3) Achieving unity of the faith:
It is faith that saves. (Romans 10: 9-10). There is only one true faith. (Ephesians 4: 1-5). It is faith in Jesus Christ, his atonement and redemption on the cross. (Acts 13: 31).

2) Have knowledge of the Son of God:
To be delivered, we need to know the truth (John 8: 32-36). Jesus Christ is truth (John 14: 6; 1 John 5: 20). This knowledge is not unilateral but bilateral (John 10: 14).