What is the Biblical understanding of Church?The church as "the people of God"

In the Bible, the Greek word used is "ekklesia"; "ek" means "from" and "klesis" means "call", therefore the closest English equivalent is "the called out ones" This term is translated "church" 115 times; and translated "assembly" 3 times in the New Testament. So, accordingly, the church should be rightfully translated "an assembly of the called-out ones."

The English word "church" has various meanings. Webster gives the following definitions for the word church.

1. a building for public Christian worship. 2. a religious service in such a building. 3. (sometimes cap.) a. the world body of Christian believers; Christendom. b. any major division of his body; a Christian denomination. 4. a Christian congregation. 5. organized religion as distinguished from the state. 6. (cap) a. The Christian before the reformation. b. the Roman Catholic Church. 7. the profession of an ecclesiastic -V.C. 8. to perform a church service of thanksgiving for (a woman after child birth). [Go RI(a)on (DOA) the Lord's house).⁽¹⁾



The Bible uses a few metaphors to represent the church. One of these metaphor is "the People of God".

The term "People of God" was first used in the Old Testament to the nation of Israel in covenant with God. (Exodus 15:13,16)


Paul wrote that it was God's decision to make believers His people:

“ I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

(2 Corinthians 6:16, NKJV)

Millard J. Erickson says that "the concept of the church as the people of God emphasizes God's initiative in choosing them. He did not adopt an existing nation, but actually created a people for Himself."⁽²⁾

God takes pride in the "people" He calls to be His own, He cares for and protects His people; he keeps them "as the apple of his eye" (Deut.32:10) and God expects His people to be holy.

This creates a problem for us. Is the church today the continuation of the Old Testament "People of God." or are we a totally new entity separate and displaced the OT "people of God"? Please comment!

Footnotes:


1.Webster's Universal College Dictionary (New York: Gramercy, 1997), p. 143.

2. Millard J. Erickson, "Christian Theology", 2nd Edition, (U.S.A.:Baker Publishing, 2005), 1045.