Make no mistake about it - I very much believe in local New Testament churches.
However, I look at them just a little bit differently than some other folks in the ABA.
As a member of an ABA church in the years of my youth, I was taught that the bride of Christ was composed of all of the members of all of the local New Testament churches.
"What? Really?? You mean that there are lost people in the bride???"
Needless to say, ABA church membership includes some lost souls. This cannot be denied.
This false teaching, while unintentional, did not provide an acceptable answer to the question.
Only after further personal study of the Bible did I obtain a proper answer. As a result of this personal study, I do not believe that local New Testament church membership has any bearing whatsoever on "who is in the bride"; albeit, I do believe that it is acceptable to God for the true purpose for which it is intended.
The following discussion is based on my personal study of this topic.
I sincerely believe that there is a 'the church' clearly indicated in the Bible.
In this discussion, I will attempt to explain what I believe the Bible says about 'the church' as well as describe the significance of local New Testament church membership in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm.
Consider these verses:
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
In these verses, each and every occurrence of the word 'one' declares and specifies that there is "exactly one" of what is described by the word or phrase that follows it.
And, we know that 'one body' is referring to the body of Christ (the entire complete whole body of Christ), as is also 'the body' here:
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
and 'his body' here:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
In the context of these verses, the words 'the church' are referring to an assembly (as a noun) of [the collective whole of] the members of 'the body' / 'his body'.
Therefore, 'the church' is an assembly of the entire complete whole body of Christ.
It is a spiritual [realm] assembly, as indicated in this passage:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
A local New Testament church is a physical [realm] assembly which is a subset of 'the church'.
Consider this passage:
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Verse 13 makes it very clear that there is "exactly one" body [of Christ], and that we are made a member of that body by the Holy Spirit.
At the time of the writing of this epistle:
The usage of the words 'the body' in verse 27 is in the general sense of being "of" the body, not as being the entire complete whole body. It would be a similar thing today for someone to say "All of you are baptists."; thus, making reference to the group that is of the largest scope. (At the same time, the words 'All of you' are referring to a subset of that group.) Paul is addressing them as being members of the body of Christ, associating it with the illustration he made in verses 14-26.
Paul wrote the words 'the church' in this passage (verse 28) at a time when there were multiple local New Testament churches already in existence.
Why does it not say 'in the churches'?
It does not say 'in the churches' because, in the context of the passage, it is not referring to a grouping of each-and-every [separate, individual, local] church. Nor is it referring to any-and-every [local] church (separately or individually). Otherwise, according to this verse, God hath set some in your local New Testament church; first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, ...
If you say there can be no apostles or prophets in your church, then the scope of 'the church' in verse 28 automatically becomes larger than your church.
The church represented by the words 'the church' in verse 28 includes apostles and prophets. How can your church be the same church if it is separate?
The context and wording of the passage provide for complete certainty that those to whom the epistle was written are included in 'the church' in verse 28.
If you say that your church is included in 'the church' in verse 28, then the scope of 'the church' in verse 28 automatically becomes larger than your church.
Do you see how that the words 'the church' in verse 28 must have a scope that is larger than any [single] local New Testament church?
Do you see how that the words 'the church' in verse 28 mean the-church-as-a-whole that has existed throughout history since it began?
It is the only meaning by which 'the church' in verse 28 may include apostles and prophets in that time but not in the modern day.
Consider these verses:
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, ...
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
The following are Strongs definitions for the words 'general assembly' in verse 23:
| πανηγυρει | N-DSF | ||
| Strongs | G3831 | paneguris | pan-ay'-goo-ris |
from 3956 and a derivative of 58; a mass-meeting, i.e. (figuratively) universal companionship:--general assembly.
| Strongs | G3956 | pas | pas |
including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
| Strongs | G58 | agora | ag-or-ah' |
from ageiro (to gather; probably akin to 1453); properly, the town-square (as a place of public resort); by implication, a market or thoroughfare:--market(-place), street. see GREEK for 1453
| Strongs | G1453 | egeiro | eg-i'-ro |
probably akin to the base of 58 (through the idea of collecting one's faculties); to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence):--awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-)rise (again, up), stand, take up. see GREEK for 58
In modern day parlance, the words 'universal companionship' could be replaced with the word 'fellowship' in the sense of it being the collective group that is the body of Christ.
The following are Strongs definitions for the word 'church' in verse 23:
| εκκλησια | N-DSF | ||
| Strongs | G1577 | ekklesia | ek-klay-see'-ah |
from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.
| Strongs | G1537 | ek | ek |
| or | ex ex |
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
| Strongs | G2564 | kaleo | kal-eh'-o |
akin to the base of 2753; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):--bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)). see GREEK for 2753
| Strongs | G2753 | keleuo | kel-yoo'-o |
from a primary kello (to urge on); "hail"; to incite by word, i.e. order:--bid, (at, give) command(-ment).
In the context of these verses, and based on the above Strongs definitions, the words 'general assembly and church of the firstborn' in verse 23 mean 'a gathering (as a noun) of [the collective whole of] the body of Christ [in the same place]'.
What - and where - and who - is 'the general assembly and church of the firstborn' in consideration of the fact that it is "present" among that which is 'unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels' and 'to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant'?
Who is included in the heavenly assembly of Christ, all-of-the-names-of-which are collectively written in heaven?
Please don't think for even one second that I am trying to promote any 'Universal Church' ideas in this discussion.
What I am trying to get you to realize and understand in this discussion is not the same thing.
There are two well-known 'Universal Church' ideas to consider:
Both of these definitions consider the 'Universal Church' to be a world-wide all-members-included physical realm church on the earth.
I do not believe that either of these ideas is supported in the Bible.
In other words, I do not believe in the existence of a world-wide all-members-included physical realm church on the earth.
However...
What about all of the saints who are no longer present in their body on the earth? Are they still members of 'the body' or 'the church'?
Is 'the body' only 'the body' in the physical realm?
Is 'the church' only 'the church' in the physical realm?
If you are a part of 'the body' and 'the church' today - and you die tomorrow - on the following day, will you still be a part of 'the body' and 'the church'?
If, after you die, your local New Testament church removes your name from the membership list, will you still be a part of 'the body' and 'the church'?
What I am trying to get you to realize and understand is:
In accordance with modern practice, it is by acceptance in the form of a 'democratic' vote of the membership of a church (Or, rather, by those of the membership who are present in assembly at the time of the vote.) that one becomes a member of a local New Testament church.
This "democratic process", which is a practical necessity for the "sane" operation of church activity among humans in the modern day, is "relevant" only in the physical realm.
The "democratic process" is a man-made construct that serves a purpose for us on the earth. It has no power in the spiritual realm. It's power is limited to the physical realm.
No "democratic process" exists in the spiritual realm; Almighty God [the Father] is sovereign, and the Lord Jesus Christ [the Son] is the head of 'the body' / 'the church'; and, "that is that", as the popular saying declares.
As a member of a local New Testament church, your 'vote' may help determine who has a part in its membership, who will ['officially'] serve the church in a particular capacity, how church money may be spent, what color the new carpet will be in the sanctuary, and a variety of many other things. All of these things are a part of the necessary "conducting of business" in the operation of church activity of a local New Testament church on the earth. However, "who is in the bride" is not something your 'vote' can sway.
The significance of membership in a local New Testament church is limited to the physical realm, and can only affect change in the physical realm.
It is by, because of, and due to, the spiritual realm 'the church' that a Christian - having the Holy Spirit - may affect change in the spiritual realm.
The primary example of which is to carry out the Great Commission.
This is how and why a born-again-but-not-yet-baptized believer who is not a member of any local New Testament church can do the 'work' of leading someone else to Christ.
For those of you who are so absolutely sure that no 'work' of God can possibly be done by anyone who is not "a born-again baptized member of a local New Testament church", the above statement should give you something to think about.
The same people who would suggest this will stand up and say:
"Our God is so great that He can even use a lost person to carry out His will."
(Which is, of course, true.)
But, then they will also say:
"If you are a born-again Christian, God cannot use you unless you are first baptized and [also] become a member of a local New Testament church."
(Because, they will say, the 'work' of God can only be done "through" a local New Testament church.)
And, my question is:
"If God can use a lost person to accomplish something He wishes to bring about, where does that [automatically] place every born-again Christian?"
Is it not ridiculous and senseless for someone to declare that first statement and then dogmatically proclaim that second statement?
It is by, because of, and due to, the Holy Spirit that the believer in the above example is able to do the 'work' of God.
And, the believer in the above example is made a member of the spiritual realm 'the church' by the Holy Spirit before they are ever a member of a local New Testament church.
A local New Testament church is a physical realm subset of the spiritual realm 'the church', which is the entire complete whole body of Christ.
A local New Testament church is a group of individuals (a body of Christ) who fellowship together (in their local area) and 'work' to further the cause of Christ.
The fact that you possess power on the earth to affect change in the spiritual realm is not because you are a member of a physical realm 'local New Testament church'.
It is because you are a member of the spiritual realm 'the church'.
A local New Testament church can exist only in the physical realm; albeit, it is a subset of the spiritual realm 'the church'.
If you say:
"My local New Testament church is a called-out assembly of born-again baptized believers..."
(And, you say it in terms of 'called-out assembly' being a defining reference of the church with regard to its membership.)
Then, I would like to ask you:
"What group [of larger scope] would you say that your local New Testament church is 'called-out' from?"
I would suggest to you that a local New Testament church is a group "called-out" from 'the body' [of believers] that is the spiritual realm 'the church'.
I would also suggest to you that the 'work' of God can only be done "through" that which is 'the body' / 'the church' by virtue of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit works only through individuals within whom He dwells.
There is no 'separate' outside-of-the-indwelling-of-a-born-again-individual 'presence' of the Holy Spirit on the earth.
We know from what the Bible tells us about the operation of the plan of God on the earth that God did all that He did so that His Holy Spirit could be 'present' on the earth - yet while totally separated from sin. Of course, we don't fully understand the 'mechanism' of it. However, we know that the indwelling of a born-again individual by the Holy Spirit is a necessary requirement. That is, we know that it is the chosen temple of God with regard to the New Covenant. (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19)
The Holy Spirit does not "manifest a presence" on the earth in any manner other than by-and-through the indwelling of born-again individuals.
The idea of the Holy Spirit having an 'office' - "in the church" (other than by-and-through the indwelling of born-again individuals) - has no support in the Bible (as to it being an actual physical realm manifestation). In other words, it is an abstract idea which may certainly have merit in explaining the 'work' of the Holy Spirit "in the church" (which is real and true); however, it does not describe or include a "separated" physically-manifested 'presence' of the Holy Spirit.
The 'presence' of the Holy Spirit "in the church" only exists in the form of the indwelling of born-again individuals.
The only way the Holy Spirit 'works' on the earth "in the church" is through individuals within whom He dwells.
In this passage...
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Did one single cloven tongue appear "in the midst" of those who were in the house, or did a cloven tongue appear "upon each of them"...?
The cloven tongues appeared [separately] upon each of them because of the Holy Spirit within them [individually].
If you were to suggest that the word 'church' in the Bible is sometimes used in an abstract sense that refers to the church as an 'institution', then I would suggest to you that the 'institution' of which you speak is representative of the-church-as-a-whole that has existed throughout history since it began.
Consider this verse:
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Could the gates of hell possibly prevail against a physical realm 'local New Testament church'? Yes.
Could the gates of hell possibly prevail against the spiritual realm 'the church'? No.
What did Jesus say in this verse?
He did not say 'my churches'.
In this verse:
The words 'my church' are referring to something which has a larger scope than a local New Testament church.
The words 'my church' are referring to the spiritual realm 'the church', which is the entire complete whole body of Christ.
In no way does the existence of the spiritual realm 'the church' take anything away from what a local New Testament church is.
Why? Because the spiritual realm 'the church' is the very base-and-basis for everything that a local New Testament church is all about.
A local New Testament church is a physical realm subset of the spiritual realm 'the church', which is the entire complete whole body of Christ.
A local New Testament church is a group of individuals (a body of Christ) who fellowship together (in their local area) and 'work' to further the cause of Christ.
A local New Testament church is a group of individuals who fellowship together and 'work' to carry out the Great Commission.
The Great Commission was given to 'the church'; it was not given separately to each-and-every local New Testament church.
The Great Commission has never been "given" to a local New Testament church by another local New Testament church.
The Great Commission was given by the Lord Jesus Christ to His Church ('the church'), which is His Body ('the body').
So then, local New Testament church membership is only "relevant" to the activity of that church in the physical realm.
For some time after Jesus started His church ('the church'), there was only one 'local New Testament church' in existence.
Because of this simple fact, people sometimes confuse the two and attribute all that the Bible says about the spiritual realm 'the church' to the physical realm church.
Look carefully at the highlighted sentence in this passage:
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
It says the Lord added to the church (by virtue of the Holy Spirit - "such as should be saved"), not the 'democratic' vote of the membership of a local New Testament church.
In this passage:
The words 'the church' are referring to the spiritual realm 'the church', not the physical realm church. Those who were added to the spiritual realm 'the church' were a part of the physical realm church by default; because, there was only one physical realm church in existence at that time. And, it was a physical realm assembly of the spiritual realm 'the church'.
Spiritual things are spiritual. Physical things are physical.
Where church membership is concerned, the Lord adds to the spiritual realm 'the church', and a 'democratic' vote adds to a physical realm church.
I am not suggesting that Christians should be apathetic or nonchalant about local New Testament church membership.
I am not saying that in every place in the Bible the words 'the church' are found, they are referring to the spiritual realm 'the church'. In many places, it is certainly referring to a local physical realm assembly. What the words 'the church' are referring to must be determined from the context of the passage where the words are found.
The proper understanding of 'the church' rests upon the proper understanding of 'the body'.
If you are not willing to believe that the Wisdom and Power of God has in some way made you to be spiritually "present" in the spiritual realm of heaven, then simply think of the spiritual realm 'the church' in terms of it being an assembly of names written in heaven.
Keep in mind as you read the Bible that the word 'church' means 'assembly'; it does not always mean 'local physical realm assembly'. The scope of the assembly must be determined from the context of the passage where it is found, and in view of the Bible as a whole.
Bible: KING JAMES VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE
Strongs: STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE