THE CHURCH - THE HOUSE OF GOD
The word “Church” does not appear in the Old Testament; however, in the Book of Acts reference is made to it in relation to an Old Testament event.
Acts 7:37-38
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
KJV
This word “Church” is never used in the New Testament to describe a building, contrary to the popular usage today. This word is a translation of the GREEK> ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah); 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): translated in the King James Version of Scripture as – assembly or church. The first mention is in Matthew 16:18.
Matt. 16:18
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.
KJV
The kingdom (that part of the kingdom which had been offered to Israel - that nation that God had chosen to establish His Theocracy; - the kingdom of the heavens, here called “the kingdom of God” in Matt. 21:43) was taken from Israel with a view to the previously mentioned Church being called into existence to be the recipient of the offer. This is what Paul was addressing in Rome, recorded in the Book of Acts:
Acts 28:28
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
KJV
This is the same group Peter made reference to:
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
KJV
The term “House of God” is used by most Christians to describe the building that houses the meetings of the Church. This must be an incorrect expression as we see a strong rebuke given by Stephen to those who would build a “house” for God.
Acts 7:48-50
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
KJV
In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle as well as the Temple were referred to as the “house of God” because the symbolic presence of God dwelled there (the Ark of the Covenant). However, God now dwells in the believer and so he or she becomes the Temple/House of God.
1 Cor 6:19
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
KJV
1 Peter 2:5
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices , acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
KJV
Satan has blinded the eyes of men to be misguided into thinking the building in which the Church meets is the “House of God,” and so much attention and money is put into it to even further his cause.
One may ask, “Is this really an important issue to understand?” It is most important because if we don’t we miss a very important truth.
1 Tim 3:15
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God , which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
KJV
If the “House of God” is a building, then we need only to know how to behave ourselves when we are there; but if it’s the spiritual house of which the believer is a part, he must behave himself at all times.
Moses in the Old Testament was not arbitrarily told to build a Tabernacle, but to prepare a people: (See Deut. 32:1-21). A people whose failure to bear fruit and rejection of God’s kingdom brought about a “new people”; the Church which is predominantly made up of Gentiles. Jews can be a part of this Church but they have to put their faith in Jesus Christ to be recipient of this new creation.
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ , he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
KJV
When David desired to build a house for God, he was told by Nathan the prophet that God would build him – David a house (1 Chron. 17:1-15) and his seed, in (v. 12) was primarily fulfilled in his son Solomon, but the secondary reference had to be Jesus Christ, the only One with an eternal throne. Let us rejoice in the fact that we are apart of this house through David’s greater son, Jesus Christ. And may our behaviour in this house be one that will cause the Lord of glory to commend us at His Judgment Seat some day.
1 Peter 2:1-6
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
KJV
The word “Church” does not appear in the Old Testament; however, in the Book of Acts reference is made to it in relation to an Old Testament event.
Acts 7:37-38
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
KJV
This word “Church” is never used in the New Testament to describe a building, contrary to the popular usage today. This word is a translation of the GREEK> ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah); 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): translated in the King James Version of Scripture as – assembly or church. The first mention is in Matthew 16:18.
Matt. 16:18
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.
KJV
The kingdom (that part of the kingdom which had been offered to Israel - that nation that God had chosen to establish His Theocracy; - the kingdom of the heavens, here called “the kingdom of God” in Matt. 21:43) was taken from Israel with a view to the previously mentioned Church being called into existence to be the recipient of the offer. This is what Paul was addressing in Rome, recorded in the Book of Acts:
Acts 28:28
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
KJV
This is the same group Peter made reference to:
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
KJV
The term “House of God” is used by most Christians to describe the building that houses the meetings of the Church. This must be an incorrect expression as we see a strong rebuke given by Stephen to those who would build a “house” for God.
Acts 7:48-50
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
KJV
In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle as well as the Temple were referred to as the “house of God” because the symbolic presence of God dwelled there (the Ark of the Covenant). However, God now dwells in the believer and so he or she becomes the Temple/House of God.
1 Cor 6:19
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
KJV
1 Peter 2:5
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices , acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
KJV
Satan has blinded the eyes of men to be misguided into thinking the building in which the Church meets is the “House of God,” and so much attention and money is put into it to even further his cause.
One may ask, “Is this really an important issue to understand?” It is most important because if we don’t we miss a very important truth.
1 Tim 3:15
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God , which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
KJV
If the “House of God” is a building, then we need only to know how to behave ourselves when we are there; but if it’s the spiritual house of which the believer is a part, he must behave himself at all times.
Moses in the Old Testament was not arbitrarily told to build a Tabernacle, but to prepare a people: (See Deut. 32:1-21). A people whose failure to bear fruit and rejection of God’s kingdom brought about a “new people”; the Church which is predominantly made up of Gentiles. Jews can be a part of this Church but they have to put their faith in Jesus Christ to be recipient of this new creation.
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ , he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
KJV
When David desired to build a house for God, he was told by Nathan the prophet that God would build him – David a house (1 Chron. 17:1-15) and his seed, in (v. 12) was primarily fulfilled in his son Solomon, but the secondary reference had to be Jesus Christ, the only One with an eternal throne. Let us rejoice in the fact that we are apart of this house through David’s greater son, Jesus Christ. And may our behaviour in this house be one that will cause the Lord of glory to commend us at His Judgment Seat some day.
1 Peter 2:1-6
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
KJV
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