Information Related to "Biblical Phrases and Terms for God's Special People"
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Sidebar: Biblical Phrases and Terms for God's Special People
Biblical Phrases and Terms for God's Special People
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia summarizes the other descriptions
of the people of God in the New Testament:
"This Church is not a human organization; it is God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
. . . It may thus be described in several pregnant phrases, of which the
following are to be noted.
"The Church is the people or Israel of God (Eph. 2:12; cf. 1Peter 2:1), in
whom there is fulfillment of the ancient covenant promise: 'I will be your God, and
you shall be my people.'
"It is the household or family of God (Eph. 2:19; 3:15; 4:6), consisting of
those who are adopted by God as sons and heirs in Christ.
"It is the planting of God to bring forth fruit to His glory (1Cor. 3:10: cf.
Jn. 15:1f.).
"It is the temple of God, built by God Himself in Christ to be His dwelling
and therefore to be the center of true holiness and worship (Eph. 2:21f.: cf. Jn. 2:19f.: 1Cor. 3:9; 1Pet. 2:4f.).
"It is the bride of Christ for which the Bridegroom gave Himself that it might
be presented, cleansed, sanctified, and pure at the eternal marriage feast (Eph. 5:25).
"It is the body of Christ, the fullness of Him that fills all in all, Christ
Himself being the head (Eph. 4:15f.) and yet also in a true sense the totality (1 Cor. 12:12), with each Christian being a member in particular (1Cor. 12:27)."
These references tell us much about the biblical definition of the Church. Rather
than a building, the Church is a called-out assembly -- the group of believers invited
to come out of the world for God's special purpose.
©1999 United Church of God, an International Associtaion
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