Ecclesiology is the study of the Christian church. The word comes from the Greek ekklesia meaning “assembly” and logos meaning “word” or “study.” As a field of theology, ecclesiology looks at the origins, nature, structure, and mission of the church. Some key topics in ecclesiology include:
The Nature of the Church
The Bible uses several images and metaphors to describe the nature of the church:
– The body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) – The church is the living, breathing manifestation of Jesus on earth empowered by his Spirit.
– The temple/building of God (1 Corinthians 3:9, Ephesians 2:19-22) – The church is God’s dwelling place, built on the foundation of Christ and the apostles.
– The bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7, 21:2) – The church is the bride that Jesus loves, protects, and ultimately marries at his second coming.
– The family/household of God (Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 2:19) – The church is the family of all believers adopted as God’s children.
These images emphasize that the church is not simply a human institution or organization, but a spiritual reality instituted by God’s work and empowered by His Spirit. The church is the very body of Christ active in the world.
The Marks of a True Church
Historically, Protestant reformers emphasized three “marks” or signs of a true church:
– Proclamation of the Word – The pure preaching and teaching of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 4:2).
– Administration of the sacraments – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
– Practice of church discipline – Corrective measures for sin and false teaching (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).
Churches that faithfully proclaim the gospel, practice the sacraments, and exercise discipline can be regarded as true churches. Of course, no church perfectly lives up to these ideals. But these marks help distinguish churches attempting to follow Scripture from groups that contradict or abandon orthodox Christian teaching.
Church Government
There are several main forms of church government:
– Episcopal – Leadership by bishops, as in Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican churches
– Presbyterian – Governed by elders/presbyters; Presbyterian, Reformed churches
– Congregational – Self-governing congregations; Congregational, Baptist churches
Each system has strengths and weaknesses. But fundamentally, the Bible does not command one specific church government. Key leaders in the early church include apostles, elders/overseers, deacons, and prophets/teachers (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11). But the New Testament leaves room for diversity in how churches organize and govern themselves.
The Sacraments
A sacrament is a sacred ceremony instituted by Christ to convey grace. The two sacraments accepted by almost all Protestant traditions are baptism and the Lord’s Supper:
Baptism
– Commanded by Christ (Matthew 28:19)
– Signifies union with Christ, cleansing from sin (Romans 6:3-4)
– Done in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit (Matthew 28:19)
– For repentant believers and their children (Acts 2:38-39)
– Modes include immersion, pouring, and sprinkling
The Lord’s Supper
– Instituted by Christ (Luke 22:19-20)
– Remembers Christ’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26)
– Take bread/wine in “remembrance” of Christ (Luke 22:19)
– Strengthens believers’ fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16)
– Should be taken in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
Debates include frequency/restriction of the sacraments, the exact nature of Christ’s presence and the role of children. But almost all traditions agree baptism and the Lord’s Supper were ordained by Christ and are means of grace.
The Mission of the Church
The Great Commission provides the church’s marching orders from Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). Key aspects of the church’s mission include:
– Evangelism & Discipleship – Calling people to faith in Christ and teaching obedience to him.
– Worship – Magnifying God’s glory and grace through prayer, preaching, sacraments, singing, giving, etc.
– Fellowship – Mutual care, accountability and community among believers.
– Service – Compassion ministries to help those in need.
– Justice – Defending human rights, protecting the vulnerable, advancing righteousness in society.
The church accomplishes its mission through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and in accordance with God’s Word. A biblically faithful church that preaches the gospel and makes disciples impacts lives and transforms communities.
The Church and Israel
One area of debate is the relationship between the church and Israel in God’s plan:
– Dispensationalism sees a distinction between God’s program for Israel and the church. God has an earthly kingdom promised to Israel and a spiritual body comprising the church.
– Covenant theology sees the church as the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Israel. There is continuity between Israel and the church, with Gentiles being grafted into the promises given to Israel (Romans 11:11-24).
– Some mediating views see both continuity and discontinuity between Israel & the church. The church fulfills some of God’s promises to Israel but not all of them, especially those involving the land and earthly reign of the Messiah.
This relates to different interpretations of prophecies concerning Israel’s role in the end times. But all perspectives agree that God still has promises to fulfill specifically to ethnic Israel in the future, culminating in their ultimate redemption (Romans 11:25-29).
The Attributes of the Church
Theologians also recognize that the true church of Jesus Christ has certain attributes or qualities:
– Unity – There is only one worldwide church of all true believers. Local congregations express their unity through cooperation, accountability, and common confession of faith (John 17:20-23).
– Holiness – The church is called to moral purity, set apart for God’s purposes in the world (1 Peter 2:9-12).
– Catholicity – The church is “catholic” meaning universal, encompassing people from every tribe and nation (Revelation 5:9).
– Apostolicity – The church is founded on the teachings of the apostles as recorded in Scripture (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 2:20).
Though marred by divisions and imperfections, the church should strive to exhibit these attributes. As Christ’s spotless bride, the church is called to grow in maturity and purity as it carries out its mission between Christ’s first and second comings.
The Authority of the Church
Protestants believe that Christ alone is Head of the church. Scripture is the supreme authority for faith and practice. However, God has granted the church derivative authority in certain spheres:
– Preaching & Teaching – The ministry of the Word (2 Timothy 4:2)
– Administration of the Sacraments (Matthew 28:19, 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
– Spiritual Oversight – Watching over the souls of believers (Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:17)
– Church Discipline – Encouragement, correction, exclusion (1 Corinthians 5:4-5, Titus 3:10-11)
– Settling Doctrinal Issues – Through the guidance of Scripture and the Spirit (Acts 15:1-21)
The church exercises this authority under Christ’s headship. All human church authority is subordinate to the greater authority of Scripture.
The Means of Grace
In addition to the preached Word and the sacraments, Protestants recognize other means of grace provided by God to grow the church in faith and sanctification:
– Prayer – Both individual and corporate prayer. (Ephesians 6:18, Acts 2:42)
– Worship – Singing praises, hearing testimonies, giving thanks. (Hebrews 13:15, Acts 2:47)
– Fellowship – Mutual encouragement, accountability, service in community. (Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42)
– Fasting – Abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. (Joel 2:12, Acts 14:23)
– Disciplines – Bible study, stewardship, virtue development. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Galatians 5:22-23)
These means of grace nourish Christians and strengthen the church from the inside out as believers avail themselves of God’s provisions for growth.
The doctrine of the church is ultimately encouraged by God’s many promises to build His church through the power of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling His purposes in Christ:
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47)
“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…” (Ephesians 5:25-26)
