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The Spiritual Nature Of The Lord's Church

When our Lord stated that He would built His church (Matthew 16:18), the figure is that of constructing a temple (1 Corinthians 3:10-17) where “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5) are put together upon the “foundation” — the truth that Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16; cf. Acts 8:37). When messengers of Christ are considered the as “builders” (1 Corinthians 3:10) or even the “foundation” (Ephesians 2:20-22), the essential truth is that Christ is building His church. He is bringing together all people who heed His call (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

We might ask, “What did Christ purchase when he bought the church?” (Acts 20:28 ). The figure is that of paying the price for a slave in order that he may be freed. (Leviticus 25:39-43; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:21-23; 1 Peter 1:18-19). This was a common practice in the first century, records of which are preserved to this day. We were slaves of sin until we “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine” (Romans 6:17) — a freeing that was made possible by Christ’s death on our behalf (Romans 6:1-6; cf. Romans 5:6-11).

When our Lord “paid the price” for our sins. By His death He “purchased” people (1 Peter 2:9 ESV; cf. Exodus 15:16; Deuteronomy 14:2; 1 Chronicles 17:22; Titus 2:14 ESV), saving those individuals who humbly submit to His will (Matthew 7:21).

Knowing the above information, we ask, “What did Christ cleanse when He cleansed the church?” (Ephesians 5:25-27) He made clean those people who willingly submit to “the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26). This figure is a common one — the removal of sins being likened to filth, washed from clothes or body. (cf. Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21) As the application of “the washing of water with the word” is an obvious reference to baptism, “the church” (made up of obedient individuals to God’s word by submitting to baptism – Gal. 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-6) is then cleansed of any and all sin (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16), thus making it “holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).

From the above Scriptures, we learn that our Lord (1) built His church, (2) bought the church, and (3) cleansed the church. The foundation was firmly laid, the purchase price paid, and the cleansing blood shed. The sacrifice of Himself was “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10), and need never be repeated. However, there is a sense in which the construction work continues and “lively stones” continue to be placed upon that foundation (1 Corinthians 3:12).

The “price” for freedom from sin is still amply provided for all who will avail themselves of this marvelous opportunity. The cleansing power of the blood of Christ is ours for the asking — not only in initial obedience to Him (Acts 2:38), but as we sometimes falter in His service as well (cf. 1 John 1:7-9; 1 John 2:1-3).

Christ did not build, buy, and cleanse some sort of earthly vehicle by which we may come, be seated, and have an easy ride home to heaven. Rather as obedient individuals, He will place us into His spiritual building (2 Corinthians 5:1), purchase us from our slavery to sin (1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:12; cf. Romans 6:16-17), and cleanse us from our spiritual filth called “sin” (1 John 3:4 – NKJV; Romans 3:23; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). Then and only then will we be a part of that body of people who have been saved by His grace, and have thus become a part of His body — the spiritual church of Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 16:16).