The Greek word “ekklesia” in the New Testament

• Israel in the wilderness (Acts 7:38)
• Riotous mob (Acts 19:32, 40-41)
• Legal court (Acts 19:38-39)
• Here’s the first place we find it in the New Testament: Matthew 16:18
  • “I will build my church” (singular)
  • Matthew 4:4; Ephesians 1:22-23
• Here’s the last place we find it: Revelation 22:16
  • “the churches” (plural)
  • Acts 15:41
  • Romans 16:16

Salvation

“church”

• Membership is equivalent to salvation
• Ephesians 5:23-29
• Hebrews 12:22-24
• Matthew 16:13-20

“churches”

• Members are not necessarily saved (I Corinthians 5), and the saved are not necessarily members.
• Acts 8:38-39 – The eunuch was not a member of any local church (yet), but he was in a saved relationship with God.
• Revelation 1:9

Important note

• The universal church is not composed of local churches. It’s composed of individual Christians.