What is the Original Church?

The Greek word ekklesia, from which we get “church”, simply means “assembly”, and when used in reference to followers of Jesus it is used in a universal as well as a local sense.

In Matt. 16.18 we find the first reference to the group known as the church: “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (NASB) This is the “original church”: One universal body of believers in Jesus Christ.

This “church” is not made up of individual “churches” or denominations but of individual Christians, all of whom together comprise “the church” as a whole. Sometimes this is referred to as “the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12.27). The identification of those who are members of this body or “church” is critically important. After all, Jesus taught that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7.21 ESV) Simply put, a person can self-identify as a “Christian”, but only those who do God’s will are recognized by Christ as His followers. (John 14.15-24)

Paul also described the church in this largest sense, the universal sense: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4.4-6) Notice that we’ve already seen some important requirements for this original church:

1. It will only be comprised of individuals that have obeyed Jesus’ words!
2. It will be made up of those with a singular faith, a singular baptism, a singular hope!
3. It will submit to Jesus as its head, and Jesus alone!
4. It will never cease to exist: Hell’s gates will not prevail against it!

But “church” isn’t used in the Bible in the universal sense alone. Often, it refers to a group of God’s people who meet locally to carry out specific spiritual work. This sort of “church” or assembly of God’s people is localized, and throughout history they have come and gone, as believers in a location grow or dwindle in number. One of the first places we see a local gathering of Christians referenced as a church is in Acts 8.1: “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem...”. Similarly, John addresses the Revelation to “the seven churches that are in Asia” (Rev. 1.4), wherein Jesus addresses the Christians in each individual city as “the church” (cf. 2.1, 8, 12, etc.)

Universally, the original church has always existed since the days of the Apostles, but local churches (or local gatherings of the Lord’s people) have come and gone.

Did you notice that in our study something was missing?

Where were all the biblical references to the different “types” of Christians: Catholics, Baptists, non-denominational Christians, etc.? These cannot be found in the Bible because the Bible and the original church predate the concept of denominational Christianity. Furthermore, the Bible forbids God’s people from subdividing the body of Christ into different sects or persuasions, whether that be at the local level (1 Cor. 1.10-13) or the universal level (John 17.20-21; Eph. 4.4-6). There is no scriptural justification for different churches to believe, teach, or practice their faith differently than others (cf. 1 Cor. 4.17; 7.17; 1 Tim. 1.3).

Finally, consider two of the works of the flesh in Gal. 5:19 "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5.19-21)

Dissentions (Gk. dichostasia): Division, dissension, disunity

Divisions (Gk. hairesis): Sect, faction, heresy, denomination

Still think it’s ok to have different types of Christianity?