SEMESTER 5
174 – The Kingdom and the Church
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY V LESSON # 74
ESCHATOLOGY – THE KINGDOM OF GOD – THE KINGDOM AND THE CHURCH
Read: Mat. 16:13-18
INTRODUCTION:
1. Perhaps no other Scripture brings the church and the kingdom into such close proximity.
2. It may be for this reason that they have been confused by some.
3. Certainly, because of divine attributes manifest in administration, there are many similarities.
4. Yet, the differences are so clear, there is no real reason for confusion.
5. Probably no other confusion is so contributory to the false Catholic notion.
I. THE NATURE OF THE WORDS CHURCH AND KINGDOM
1. The Greek word for church (Ekklesia) has 115 occurrences in the New Testament. It is translated 2 times assembly (Acts 19), 112 times church or churches, and one time hierosulos, “robbers of churches” (Acts 19:37).
i. This word always means assembly and is so translated.
ii. It has no rendering that can include invisibility.
iii. It cannot possibly by definition involve universality.
2. The word kingdom, (Greek basileia) having 16 occurrences, always means a kingdom of some kind.
i. There is no other rendering of basileia.
ii. Kingdom is never translated from any other word in the New Testament.
iii. By definition the word never implies a gathering.
II. DIFFERING BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM
1. Church necessitates assembly, but not a kingdom.
2. The church is necessarily local, but a kingdom reaches as far as the power of the king.
3. The church may be addressed by any member, (Mat. 18:17) not so of a kingdom.
4. The church is symbolized by the human body, the kingdom is never so mentioned.
5. The church has a “husband-wife” relationship with Christ, not so with the kingdom.
6. The church is a theocracy, the kingdom is a monarchy.
7. The church makes decisions as a democracy (Acts 1:6, 6:5, 15:, 9:6, 10:47, I Cor. 5:5, II Cor. :6, Mat. 18:17). Kingdom actions are totally monarchistic. (Jn. 3:5 and Col. 1:13)
8. There is a gospel of the kingdom (Mat. 4:3), but no gospel of the church.
III. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH THEORY MAKES IT THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM
1. I do not say they equate it in all kingdom aspects, but in the present spiritual aspect.
2. If you were to take the universal church definition of church members, it will be equal to the spiritual kingdom.
3. Consider the Catholic word basilica, from “basilikos” meaning royal, (property) the king’s country.
4. The Catholic concept of the church explains why the “Pontiff’s word is law.” He is royal. The world is “his country.”
IV. THE CHURCH RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST
1. It is not mediatorial as in all king – subject relationships.
2. It is a union of love (won, not conquered). (Eph. 5:3-5)
3. What condescension that the great King lifts us up, as “little children, and loves us as “a wife.”