What is the Church?

This evening, we are beginning a new study in the book of Acts. The first two chapters of Acts tell about the birth of the Church. Sometimes it is easy to get confused about what the church actually is. We call the building we meet in a “church,” and sometimes we speak of worship services as “church.” But what is the church?
Biblically speaking, the church is the whole spiritual body of true Christian believers in heaven and on earth who are saved between the Day of Pentecost and the Rapture. Notice several things: first, it is a group of people; namely, it is saved people. Second, it is not limited to one place or geographic location because it includes believers both in heaven and on earth, those who are alive and those who have died and gone to heaven. It is a spiritual body— it is not an assembly that meets in one place or at one time. Third, it involves a specific time period. It includes those who have been saved since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and those who will be saved until the Rapture, when Christ comes in the air and takes the Church to heaven with him (1 Thess 4:13–18).
The church includes two aspects: the Body of Christ, sometimes called the “universal church” or the “invisible church” and involving all the people saved (both living on earth and in heaven) since Pentecost and until the Rapture. The other aspect is the local church, which is a subset of the Body of Christ in a specific place and time (for example, saved people who meet together in Westerville, Ohio in 2007).
A local church is composed of true believers (Acts 2:47), who are organized with officers: elders and deacons (Phil 1:1). The church meets together regularly to fellowship around a common faith (Jude 3), to observe the ordinances of baptism and communion (Acts 2:41–42), and to carry out the work of the Great Commission: teaching and making disciples (Matt 28:18–20).

In the Beginning

What’s the first Bible verse you ever learned? John 3:16? Maybe Genesis 1:1? “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” As simple and straightforward as this verse is, I think there are implications here that go far beyond what meets the eye.
Notice some of the assumptions the verse takes for granted. First, the verse begins, “In the beginning, God. . . .” The Bible simply, quietly, yet powerfully, assumes the existence of God. It does not try to prove God’s existence with logical “proofs.” It does not argue stridently or quasi-intellectually. Rather, it states that God exists and existed in the beginning even before our universe existed.
Second, the verse clearly states that “God created the heavens and the earth.” Without even mentioning any debate raging over human origin (much less the origin of the universe), the Bible simply affirms that God created everything. The phrase “the heavens and the earth” sums up the entire universe, from vast galaxies to miniscule microscopic particles. Everything— in heaven and earth— finds its origin in the pre-existent God.
Every unbeliever without exception denies these two assumptions because they scream accountability. While he knows in his heart that God exists because of God’s powerful and wonderful creation (cf. Rom 1:18–24), he chooses to ignore that truth and deny God’s existence in the off chance that perhaps he might not have to stand in judgment before this God. This denial of God’s existence and creation forms the foundation for his lifestyle.
On the other hand, a Christian’s affirmation of these truths ought to serve as the basis for his godly living. Because God exists and has created all things, I must live in a way that glorifies and honors him. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev 4:11).

Premeditated Purity

I’m no law guru, but we all know that the punishment for murder is much more severe if that act was premeditated, or decided on beforehand. We make a distinction between a person who, caught up in the passion of the moment, commits a crime and one who plans every detail months in advance (cf. Num 35:10–24).
I believe that the Bible commends, and even commands, that our purity be premeditated. We all know it is important to be pure, and we never know when we might be caught in that one situation, that one moment of temptation where we might lose our purity forever. Scripture commands us to carefully, meticulously, and deliberately plan ahead of time to be pure. Consider 1 Peter 1:13–16: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Notice the beginning: “gird up the loins of your mind.” We are familiar with the Ancient Near Eastern custom of “girding up the loins.” It meant to tuck the long folds of one’s robe up into the belt so they were ready for action. Here we are to prepare our minds for action and be serious about living as obedient children of God. We are not to live like unsaved people do (and we once did!) in lust and impurity, but we are to live in holiness, just as the God who saved us is completely pure from sin.
I want to focus on the idea of preparing to be pure. Don’t wait until you are in the middle of temptation to decide that you will be pure and holy. Decide now. Avoid places where temptation is likely. Stay away from people who you know are not interested in pleasing God or being pure. Practice premeditated purity in your life.