VI.          THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST:

The church is spiritually and figuratively seen in many areas:

    A.  BODY

          1.  The church is the body of Christ -- Eph.1:22-23.

          2.  The members are the body which is the church -- Col.1:18, 24.

          3.  The members always come together as one body -- I Cor.12:12-14.

    B.  KINGDOM

         1.  The Church of Christ is the Kingdom of Christ --Matt.16:18-20

         2.  The church is a group of people who have been translated from power darkness into the Kingdom of Christ   -- Col.1:12-14

        3.  The church is called out into a kingdom -- I Thess.2:12.

        4.  We (the church) have received a kingdom -- Heb.12:28.

        5.  We (the church) have John as our brother in the kingdom -- Rev.1:9.

       6.  The kingdom which is the church will be delivered to the God the Father -- I Cor.15:24

    C.  FAMILY

       1.  The church is a family of God having Jesus Christ as family head -- Eph.2:19; 5:23; 3:15.

       2.  The church is a household of faith -- Gal.6:10.

       3.  If God is seen as the Father of the family then Jesus becomes the firstborn -- Rom.8:29.

       4.  The church is for Jesus being the firstborn -- Heb.12:23.

       5.  We (the church) are joint-heirs with Christ -- Rom.8:15-17; Gal.4:6-7.

   D. BUILDING (HOUSE)

       1.  The church is seen in nature as a spiritual building or house -- ICor.3:9-10; I Pet.2:4-5.

       2.  Jesus is the foundation or chief cornerstone of the building -- Eph.2:20-22; Psa.118:22; Isa.28:16;                     Matt.21:42;  I Cor.3:11.

       3.  The church is the House of God -- I Tim.3:15; Eph.2:19; Gal.6:10.

       4.  The church is a Temple of God -- I Cor.3:16-17; 6:19; II Cor.6:16.