Which “Church”?

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The Greek word translated “church” in the King James Version is “ecclesia” and means “called out ones.” There are various “called out ones” in the Scriptures, but only one at the present time. These are believers, constituting the Body of Christ with Christ as the Head, crucified, buried, risen, ascended and seated with Him in the heavenlies, and revealed only in Ephesians and Colossians.

The “church” during the book of Acts was a corporate body of believers that belonged to Christ. In I Corinthians 12 a parallel is drawn between a physical body and the body (group) of believers. They were members one of another, just as the members of a physical body are. The head (:21) represented a member (not Christ) and is no more important that the foot or any other member. Christ was not the Head of that “church.” Nowhere does it mention that Christ was the Head of the “church” during the book of Acts.

The “Church” which is Christ’s Body is distinct from every other church in the Scriptures. It is not the “church” in the wilderness (Acts 7:38); neither is it the “church” (“congregation”) spoken of in Psalm 22:22 and Hebrews 2:12. This “called out” Body, with Christ as the Head, cannot be found in prophecy or traced in any previous writings prior to Ephesians and Colossians. It was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and is the only group of “called out ones” whose destiny is in the heavenlies. We will be manifested with Him in glory in the heavenlies, a witness to principalities and powers during the coming ages (Colossians 3:3; Ephesians 3:10).

Rex B. Grant (1941-2013)
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