The Church Is Called Out

By Danny Cottrell

 The purpose of this article is to discuss the church as that group of people called out of darkness into light by Jesus Christ through the gospel.  The first section of this study will be a definition of terms.  Then the subject will be discussed in the body of the article under three headings.

Definition

The term church is from the Greek word ekk lesia.  This word has two definitions.  It can be translated as (1) assembly (Acts 19:32), or (2) church  (I Cor. 1:2).

 The Greek term comes from another Greek word kaleo, which means, "to call."  In the New Testament it can mean the call of God.  Thus, the ekk lesia (church) means those who are called out of God.  (I Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:19; Gal. 1:13; I Tim. 3:5,15).

Called Out By Whom?

 It has already been noted that the church consists of the people who are called out of God.  These people are called out by Jesus Christ.  "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and by burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30),

 Jesus here calls those who labor under, and are heavy laden by the burden of sin.  "The labor and the rest here spoken of are primarily those which affect souls.  That is, the labor and the heavy burden which sin imposes, and the rest which follows the forgiveness of that sin."  He calls them to take his yoke.  This is a symbolic expression meaning "Submit to me and become my disciple."  Thus, Jesus calls men out of the bondage of sin into His service.

 Those who are called out are called through the gospel.  Paul says of God, "Whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thess. 2:14).  Paul makes it clear that men are called through the gospel.  There is no evidence of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit separate and apart from the word of God in the act of calling men to Christ.  The gospel is God's means of calling people to Jesus.  The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  (Rom. 1:16)

Called Out Of What?

 If the church is called out, from what is it called?  Peter tells us that the church is called out of darkness into light.  "But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (I Peter 2:9,10)  "But ye" means those who are Christians in contradistinction to the Jews who had rejected Christ.  By obedience to the gospel, Christians had become an elect race, royal priesthood and holy nation.

 Christians are called out of darkness to walk in the light. "And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:5-7)

 God is light.  This is His essence, His character.  And God, as light, is diametrically opposed to darkness.  If we walk in darkness, we are not in fellowship with God.  But Christians have been called out of darkness to walk in the light.  And as long as we continue to walk in the light, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from sin.  "Cleanseth" is from the Greek work katharizei.  It is a present tense verb as used here.  This cleansing, then, is a constant, continuing process.  Notice, however, that this cleansing is conditioned upon our continuing to walk in the light.

 Because we have been called out of darkness, we are to walk as children of light, children of God.  "For ye were once darkness, but now light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:8) "To walk in the light means to conduct oneself in holiness or freedom from sin."

Called Out For What?

 The church is made up of those who have been called out of darkness by the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For what purpose have they been called out?

 Peter says that they have been called out for three reasons. (1) They are called out to "show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (2) Christians are also called out to be "the people of God." (3) The are called out to obtain mercy.

 Paul gives the purpose of the Christian's calling in II Thessalonians 2:14-"to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

 John says that the church is called out for at least two purposes:  (1) to walk in the light, and (2) to be cleansed from sin.

 And Jesus says that His followers are called out (1) to receive rest, and (2) to accept His yoke, or to serve Him.

Conclusion

 In this article, we have attempted to show that the church is the called out.  The very term ekk lesia means "called out".  Ekk lesia is the Greek word translated "church" in the New Testament.

 The church is called out by God through Jesus Christ.  This call is sent forth though the gospel. (Matt. 11:28-30; II Thess. 2:14; Rom. 1:16)

 The church is called out of darkness into light, out of evil into God, out of sin into salvation. (I peter 2:9, 10; I John 1:5-5; Eph. 5:8)

 The church is called out for several purposes: (1) to show forth His excellencies; (2) to be the people of God; (3) to obtain mercy; (4) to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ; (5) to walk in the light; (6) to be cleansed from sin; (7) to receive Jesus' rest; (8) to serve Him. (I Peter 2:9, 10; II Thess. 2:14; I John 1:5-7; Matt 11:28-30)