Doctrine of

Ecclesiology
(doctrine of the church)

Literal Translation of Church

- group of select people

heathen, Jew, Christian

Def. the Church

- the community of all true believers for all time -Grudem
- a company of saved people who are by their salvation

called out from the world into living, organic union with
Christ to form His mystical Body over which He is the
Head - Lewis Sperry Chafer

- a term used by some to refer to the whole group of

people belonging to the Christian religious tradition
throughout history
-Wikipedia

Distinctions of the Church in scripture

Visible

Invisible

Local
&

Universal
What we can see
* people
* buildings
* government
* places
* unbelievers

What God sees

* True believers

Metaphors for the Church

Family
1 Tim 5:1-2
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him
as you would a father, younger men as brothers,
older women as mothers, younger women as
sisters, in all purity.

Metaphors for the Church

Family
Bride
2 Cor 11:2
2For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I
betrothed you to one husband, to present you as
a pure virgin to Christ.

Metaphors for the Church

Family

Bride
Sheep

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep.

Metaphors for the Church

Family

Bride
Branches
Temple

Olive Tree
Sheep
Body

Crops

Chafer Breakdown
Pauline
a new order or class
of humanity, namely,
a redeemed
company taken both
Jews and Gentiles,
and, together with
the resurrection of
Christ, forming a
new creation which
is his body and his
bride

Visible

Walk

The outward
or visible
church, the
assembly of
those who in
any place who
gather in the
name of Christ

The walk and

service of
those were
saved

Church and Kingdom

Audio- Wayne Grudem

Purity and Unity

Less Pure

False Church

True Church

More Pure