Each characteristic of our corporate life and responsibility has its corresponding picture.
In Matthew 16:18, our Lord promised, “I will build my church,” and, believe me, He’s an experienced builder. His résumé includes the entire universe. Thousands of years later, we’re still discovering and learning about His handiwork! When He commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle, He gave specific, detailed instructions about it, the priesthood, and the activities to be carried on there. Hebrews 8:5 reminds us what the Lord told Moses, “See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Heb. 8:5). So, when the Lord builds His church, we can be sure that it comes with specific, detailed instructions about its form and function. We are not left to our imagination or innovation—there is a God-given pattern to follow.
Much instruction is given in the New Testament about the form and function of the church. Additionally, our Lord gives us at least ten different figures to aid our understanding and emphasize certain points. They are God’s illustrated guide to the church.
1. The church is a bride, the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:22-33).
A bride is loved, and Christ loves the church. As a bride is loyal and true to her bridegroom, so should the church be to the Lord. “Love not the world!” (1 Jn. 2:15) is only part of the picture. The church loves the Lord (1 Pet. 1:8), and the Lord detects and protests any lack of love (Rev. 2:4; 1 Cor. 16:22). A bride eagerly awaits her wedding day, and the church anticipates the coming of the Lord for her (2 Tim. 4:8). “Come, Lord Jesus,” is, or should be, our fervent desire.
2. The church is a body, the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:11-16).
Today, there is great emphasis put on the human body. Some consider it an object to be put on display. A premium is put on physical health and well-being. But do we value the body of Christ? As the head of the body, He nurtures, protects, and governs the church. Are we allowing the Head to govern in practical ways? The picture of a body also highlights the interdependence of the members. Every believer is a member of the body and should contribute to the spiritual health and well-being of the congregation (1 Cor. 12:12-27), for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7). There are no useless members in the church. Does each one of us take his function in the body seriously?
3. The church is a building, God’s building (1 Cor. 3:9; 1 Pet. 2:5).
We aren’t speaking of a church building in the sense of a chapel. This is a metaphor, an illustration. The Lord has carefully designed the church with Himself as its unshakable foundation (1 Cor. 3:11). All edification should be done on this foundation and with great care to use the right materials, according to code (1 Cor. 3:9-15). The church is built with living stones (1 Pet. 2:5). In the New Testament, only those who are truly born again are part of the church; reception to a local assembly should take this into account.
4. The church is a flock that belongs to the Good Shepherd (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2).
He, and not some mere man, is the Pastor. The flock speaks of the sheep together; loners or strays are out of place and in danger. Sheep need care, protection, and guidance. The Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) knows this and, in His wisdom, designates certain men as under-shepherds to feed, lead, and care for the flock. But it will always be His flock. It does not belong to any man or group of men. He bought it with His own precious blood. Psalm 23 is the voice of the sheep, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” What blessed comfort!
5. The church is a family, the household of God (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15).
The only way into this family is to be born again. In a family, there is love, fellowship, care, and responsibility. Our wise and loving Father deserves and expects obedient children (1 Pet. 1:14). Brotherly love and practical caring (Rom. 12:10) should mark God’s family, the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). Family life is much more than meeting attendance. How is our local expression of the family of God functioning?
6. The church is a field, God’s field (1 Cor. 3:6-9).
The idea of a cultivated field illustrates the process of growing, maturing, and bearing fruit. Just as a field requires a lot of hard work, there is plenty of work to do in God’s field, the church, but the laborers are few! There is the breaking up of fallow ground, the sowing of the seed of the Word, the watering, the weeding, and then, of course, the increase. There is cultivating work to be done in the assembly, which should bear fruit for God (Rom. 7:4). Second Peter 3:18 exhorts us to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
7. The church is a lampstand or candlestick for the Lord (Rev. 1:20; 2:1, 5). T
his illustrates the testimony of the church, shining as a light in a dark world (Php. 2:15) and, if it was dark back in the apostles’ days, it’s even darker now! The Lord has equipped us to shine. “Let your light so shine before men” (Mt. 5:16) refers to the light of good works done in the Lord’s name, for God’s glory. Second Corinthians 4:4 mentions “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,” and this gospel light should shine out from the church. If it doesn’t, the Lord may remove the candlestick. We should remember that He is in the midst of the candlesticks in Revelation 1:20. Each local church has a direct relationship with the Lord. He is in the center, governing and guiding.
8. The church is a temple, God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
The temple is a holy place, set apart, where neither the world nor anything else that defiles is allowed. It is neither a place for worldliness in dress or deportment, nor for entertainment or selfish pursuits, but for sacrifice, worship, praise, thanksgiving, reconciliation, and divine guidance. The world system and its ideas should be kept out of the temple. We need to remember, especially in our times, that the temple is to be pleasing to God, not to the world. Yet some have lost sight of this and, thinking only of what will please the world, end up with a worldly church, not unlike Laodicea.
9. The church is the pillar and ground of truth, God’s truth (1 Tim. 3:15).
God’s truth is not given to institutions, organizations, governments, creeds, dogmas, or councils, but to the church. This truth is “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The church is key in God’s plan for this age—“the church age,” not the “parachurch age.”
A pillar or column supports weight. The church supports the doctrines of the faith by her teaching and practice. The ground is literally the “bulwark,” a defensive structure or fortification. The church is charged with the firm defense of the faith. Our orders are, “stand” (Eph. 6:11-14), “fight” (1 Tim. 6:12), and “earnestly contend” (Jude 3).
10. The church is a holy priesthood to worship and serve the living God (1 Pet. 2:5).
“Holy” means “set apart for special use.” First Peter 2:5 reminds us that we are “to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” We are priests and should be holy, separated from the world and careful not to defile ourselves. Neither the strange fire of human innovations nor unacceptable sacrifices should be offered. As a holy priesthood, the church serves God according to His instructions, for His pleasure and glory, and takes no advice from the world on how to do it.
Much more could be said, of course, but these vignettes should suffice to stir us to study, meditate, and put into practice the things which God has been pleased to reveal to us about His church. May it be so for His glory. It’s a privilege and blessing to be part of the church of the living God!