What is the Church?
A People Set Apart
We live in a time when “church” can mean almost anything. For some, it’s a building with a cross out front. For others, it’s a livestream or a weekly tradition. Some people view the church as a denomination or an organization with its own programs, staff, and branding.
But in Scripture, the church is none of those things. It’s not about where you meet, how polished the service is, or what name is on the sign. The church is not defined by structure, style, or size.
The church is people. People who’ve been rescued by Jesus, set apart by His grace, and brought together to live for Him.
If we want to understand what the church really is and why it matters, we need to let God define it. Not tradition. Not culture. Not our preferences. What does the Bible say about the church? For example, what it is, who it belongs to, and what it’s here to do.
I want to begin with this simple but essential truth: The church is a people set apart.
The Meaning of “Church”
The word “church” in the New Testament originates from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning “assembly” or “called out.” It’s not a religious word by itself. In ancient times, it could describe any group of people called together for a purpose, like a town meeting or public gathering.
However, when used in the Bible, it assumes a richer meaning. The ekklesia is the group of people God has called out of the world through the gospel. These people are gathered, not by location or culture, but by their shared faith in Jesus Christ.
It’s not about where they meet. It’s about who they are. They’ve responded to God’s call. They’ve turned from sin, trusted in Christ, and now belong to Him. They are the church.
That’s what happens in Acts 2. After Peter preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the people were cut to the heart. They asked what to do, and Peter told them to repent and be baptized. About 3,000 responded in faith that day. And here’s what Luke tells us:
“So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”
— Acts 2:41–42, CSB
That’s the beginning of the church, a community of believers devoted to Jesus and to one another.
The church is not formed by human effort. It’s formed by God calling people through the gospel. And when people respond in faith, He brings them together into a new family, a new identity, and a new purpose.
Who Belongs to the Church?
Not everyone who attends church services is part of the church in the biblical sense. The true church is made up of people who have been saved, those who have turned to God in faith, repented of their sins, and been born again through the gospel.
It’s not about being religious or moral. It’s not about growing up in a Christian family. It’s not about being on a membership roll. You become part of the church when you respond to God’s call by trusting in Christ and submitting to His will.
Peter describes this identity in a powerful way:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
— 1 Peter 2:9, CSB
Look at those phrases: chosen, royal, holy, His possession. Those are not titles we earn. They are gifts God gives to those who are in Christ. The church isn’t a crowd of consumers or spectators. It’s a holy people set apart for God’s glory.
And Peter says why: so that you may proclaim His praises. The church exists to reflect who God is, to show the world His mercy, His truth, His love, and His power to change lives.
So, who belongs to the church?
Those who have obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:26-27)
Those who have been added by God, not by vote or popularity (Acts 2:47)
Those who now live for Christ instead of self (2 Corinthians 5:15)
If you’ve responded to Jesus in faith and obedience, then you are part of His people. You belong, not because you earned it, but because God called you out of darkness and brought you into the light.
Baptism: When We’re Washed and Added
If the church is made up of people who have been saved, then we need to ask: When does that happen? When does someone go from being outside of Christ to being part of His people?
The answer in Scripture is clear: at baptism.
Baptism is not just a symbol or tradition. It’s the moment when God does something real. He forgives sin. He gives the Holy Spirit. He brings a person into new life and adds them to the body of Christ.
That’s exactly what we see in Acts 2. When the people asked Peter what to do, he answered plainly:
“Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
— Acts 2:38, CSB
And verse 41 tells us that those who accepted the message were baptized—and that day, God added them to the church.
Paul says it another way in Titus 3:
“He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
— Titus 3:5–6, CSB
This “washing” is not something we do to earn salvation. It’s what God does to us in baptism. Our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). We are raised to walk in new life (Romans 6:3-4). We are born again into a new identity.
Without this moment of obedient faith, we remain outside the church, still in our sins. But when we respond to the gospel and are baptized into Christ, we are forgiven, made new, and added to His people.
What This Means for Us
If the church is made up of people who have been saved, people called out, washed, and brought together by God—then that should change how we see ourselves and how we live.
First, it means the church isn’t something we “go to.” It’s something we are. If you’ve been baptized into Christ, you are part of His church. You’re not on the outside looking in. You belong.
Second, it means we’re not alone. God didn’t just save us as individuals … He brought us into a spiritual family. In Acts 2, those early believers immediately began sharing life together. They worshiped, prayed, gave, and encouraged each other. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation.
Third, it means we’re set apart. The church is different from the world. We are holy because we belong to a holy God. That calls for a new way of thinking, new priorities, and a new way of living. We don’t blend in. We reflect Christ.
Finally, it means we have a purpose. As 1 Peter 2:9 says, we were called out so we could “proclaim the praises” of the One who saved us. We’re not just saved from something, we’re saved for something. The church exists to honor God, spread the gospel, and help each other grow.
So ask yourself:
Am I truly part of the church Christ built?
Have I obeyed the gospel and been washed in baptism?
Am I living as someone who has been set apart?
Belonging to the church isn’t just about where you worship. It’s about who you are, someone saved by Jesus and living for Him.
Conclusion: Set Apart, Together
The church is not man-made. It wasn’t invented by tradition or built on personality. It’s the result of God’s saving work through Jesus Christ. He calls people out of darkness, washes them clean in baptism, and brings them into a new family.
If you’ve obeyed the gospel, that’s who you are. You are part of something bigger than yourself, a people chosen by God, forgiven by grace, and united in purpose.
So don’t settle for a shallow view of church. Don’t reduce it to a building or an event. See it for what it is: a living community of saved people, set apart by God, gathered for His glory.
And if you haven’t yet been baptized into Christ, the call is clear. God wants you in His family. He’s ready to forgive, to renew, and to give you a place among His people.
“Now why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
— Acts 22:16, CSB
