202 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 3 - Part 2 - Book 17 - Acts Chapters 3, 4, 5 - Part 2

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 3 * PART 2 * BOOK 17 ACTS CHAPTER 3, 4, & 5 Here the word Church must be defined. The word translated Church in our Bible comes from the Greek word "ecclesia" It's where we get the word ecclesiastes or ecclesiastical which pertain to religious hierarchy. But the Greek word `ecclesia' translated `Church,' is also translated `assembly.' Not every time you see the word `Church' in Scripture is it the New Testament Body of Christ. Let's start with verse 35. Stephen is making the allusion that Moses was just a forerunner of The Christ. He was a type of Christ. That the second Deliverer, Christ, they had crucified. Was that a New Testament Church? That is also the word `ecclesia.' Israel was a called-out assembly. God called them and led them out of Egypt, encamped them in Sinai, and they became a called-out assembly. Not a Church. (Ecclesia) Is that a Church? When you see the word `church,' you don't automatically think it's the Church as we know it, or as Paul refers to it as the Body of Christ. In Acts Chapter 2 the word `ecclesia' was a called-out assembly and that is indeed what the Jewish believers were. Turn to I Corinthians Chapter 12. This called-out assembly is not usually called the Church in Paul's writings, but it's the Church which is His Body, or the Body is the Church. The Church today is a called-out assembly Who's Head is in heaven, as the Head of the Body. And we are the Body. That's a big difference. Peter makes no mention that Christ is the Head of this called-out assembly, and that these Jewish believers are part of Him. I Corinthians 12:12 "For as the body (human body) is one, and hath many members and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." The Church which is His body. It doesn't matter what country that believer is in tonight, they are members of that Body. As we become believers we are placed into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. "For the body is not one member, but many." Paul constantly makes reference to the Church which is His Body (the word `ecclesia'). Still a called out assembly, but with one difference, this Church has the Head in heaven, and the Body is on earth. Ephesians 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:" Ephesians 1:20 Ephesians 1:22,23 What Church? That word `fulness' in the Greek also means `complement.' Peter doesn't even mention the Body of Christ, and Peter doesn't mention being baptized into the Body of Christ. Now Ephesians 5. Remember, Paul only writes to believers. Ephesians 5:21-23a Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto The Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:..." The Bible never gives authority for the husband to downtrod his wife. Paul by inspiration is making it so plain. The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church. To the Church, Christ's the Head of the Body, and is never referred to as The King of the Church. Just like the wife is part of the husband. Verse 24: Ephesians 5:24 "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." Now husbands we are to have the same attitude toward our wives as Christ has to the Church. You see, there is a whole different attitude when we treat our wives as Christ treats the Church. I often wonder how many American husbands today would die for their wives? Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" Do you realize that Scripture never tells wives to love their husbands. Never. I know Peter tells the mothers to teach their daughters how to love a husband. But it's never commanded the woman to love your husband. But husbands are commanded to love their wives. Why? God created Adam with the ability to love his helpmeet. Ephesians 5:26,27 Ephesians 5:28-31 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Ephesians 5:32,33 Remember, Peter wrote in II Peter that Paul wrote things that are hard to understand. That we as Gentiles believers are made one with Christ), but I speak concerning Christ and the church." The Body of Christ. Now isn't it amazing that Paul in these series of verses constantly flips back and forth with the parallel of Christ and the Church, with the husband and wife. Why? Christ is the same to us as the husband is to the wife and the husband and wife relationship is the same as Christ and the Church. "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And The Lord added to the church (called-out assembly of believing Jews) daily such as should be saved." #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible