I was reflecting upon an anniversary the other day. The marker was personally significant to me but understandably, it had gone completely unnoticed by pretty much everyone in my circle of family and friends. The anniversary was the occasion of forty-five years since the day I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force (I know, I’m old!). What moved me most in remembering, was comprehending not what I had done in the last 45 years, but what God has done so patiently and faithfully, even as I gave Him many reasons to not be patient with me!

As I look back, I am overwhelmed by the goodness and graciousness of God over the decades. The journey has not been easy, and I never knew in the present moments of the past  what the future held, but the living God of the universe did, and now, in this later phase of life that I have found myself navigating, He has led me to a healthy and beautiful local church—a local community of faith that feels like God has placed me in the single most important destination of all my 68 years of sojourning.

As I think of all the places the Air Force has taken me and how the Hatters came to Alaska, and what our time here has been like, I see a very, very big God who keeps getting bigger and more wonderful as I grow in knowledge. If I have any regret, it’s that I waited so long to go after Him with the intensity and focus as I do now. So, today I am humble, grateful beyond words, and appreciate Anchorage Grace Church. As such I thought I might write about the New Testament Church as God has revealed it to us in His Word.

Understanding the nature of the Church—its origins and purposes within God’s storyline—is essential for every Christian. Scripture says nothing about the many common cultural ideas regarding the Church—that it is a physical building, a particular denomination, or a political entity such as a state church. However, within the pages of the New Testament, a clear picture emerges of the birth of the Church, its composition, and the vital mission it has been given by God. The following will consider this picture revealed in the Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the epistles penned by the Apostle Paul.

The key term related to the Church in the NT is the Greek word ekklesia, which conveys the idea of a purposeful assembly of people. Theologian and author Michael Vlach has observed that there is a notable increase in occurrences of the term “ekklesia” beginning in the Book of Acts, and this uptick in usage indicates a new development in God’s overarching storyline for His creation. There are only two uses of ekklesia in the Gospels (Matt. 16:18; 18:17), indicating that Jesus’s gathering activities documented in the Gospels were not yet “the Church.” Furthermore, Luke omits the word “ekklesia” in his Gospel, yet he uses it twenty-three times in writing Acts. These observations suggest that the Church’s inception occurred during the historical events chronicled in Acts after Christ’s ascension to the right hand of the Father. Most instances of ekklesia appear in Paul’s letters (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:16, 22; 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:14; 2 Thess. 1:4; Rom. 16:16).

The precise origin of the Church can be pinpointed to the upper room miracle at Pentecost, which marked two critical storyline milestones: first, Christ’s historical arrival, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension; and second, the sending of Christ’s promised Helper—the ministry of the Holy Spirit promised to take place after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 2:1-21, 38–47). These occurrences established the conditions for creating the Church as God’s New Covenant community, which He intends to exist during this current era until the Church’s rapture.

The members of this New Covenant community are authentic believers—those chosen before the foundations of the earth (Rom 8:29-30) from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds who receive the grace gifts to believe. John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue explain in their systematic theology, Biblical Doctrine, that limiting the Church to those called exclusively by grace to repentance and saving faith in Christ alone is crucial (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 5:10; Rom. 8:28). This clarifying limitation suggests that authentic church members are eternally predestined, presently called and justified, sanctified and being sanctified, and have hold of a future promise of glorification (Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:11).

Moreover, there is particular emphasis in the Church Age on Gentile salvation following Israel’s failures under their Mosaic Covenant (Rom 9-11; Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31, 42; 11:21, 24; 14:1; 16:5). The manifestation of these called and justified people the world over is a “universal” church encompassing all genuine Christians. The universal church is further displayed through local congregations—just like Anchorage Grace Church—where believers come together to support one another and advance their mission—the Great Commission (Matt 28:16-20).

MacArthur and Mayhue also emphasize that a crucial means of advancing the Gospel is for believers to demonstrate God’s attributes to an unbelieving world. In particular, the church should express godly wisdom and mercy (Eph 3:10; Rom 9:23-24; 1 Cor 1:20-31) such that people from various ethnicities may be drawn to Christ (Col 1:12–13). Such gracious expressions are even aimed at rousing national Israel to repentance (Rom 10:19; 11:11).

Regarding the Church’s internal mission—how it is to relate to its own members—the called are to focus on edifying and serving one another (Eph. 1:5–6, 12–14; 3:20–21; 2 Thess. 1:12). God is glorified and the assembly is blessed when there is the faithful teaching of the inspired Word (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16–17), the regular observance of the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42), the encouragement of fellowship among believers (Acts 2:42–47; 1 John 1:3), and the communication of the Gospel to the lost (Matt. 28:19–20).

So here is the punch line: All Christians must find a local church that is sound in doctrine and wherein they can serve one another and grow in grace. Health and vitality that is spawned inside the congregation, and expands outward to the world, is God’s beautiful design.

Looking ahead to the future, God has revealed in Scripture that His Church will someday reign with Him in glory (1 Cor 6:2; 2 Tim 2:11-13; Rev 20:4-6). This is why it seems to me that Anchorage Grace Church, even with its imperfections here and there, is the most blessed destination of the story of my life. And someday, there will be wonderful and never-ending fellowship with all of our Lord’s local churches, coming together from all of history, to worship the author of it all. What a glorious Savior we serve! ….. I’ll see you in church!