Eph 3:21 reads, "Unto Him be Glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
Years ago when I first started preaching, this passage was frequently used to emphasize the importance of the church, and it seems to me to reference the local church, the organized congregation. I even used it myself in that regard.
Than I read R.L. Whiteside, which commentary I still have, who set me straight on this. Showing me the passage referred to the universal body of Christ, to saints, distributively, (Eph 3:10,15). All the promises of God are in Christ, unto God's glory, (2 Cor 1:20).
Faithful service to God through Christ includes both collective work, and that done by us individually and God is glorified in both ways.
When the "whole church comes together" (1 Cor 14:23-25) teaching maybe done by which the unbeliever is made to glorify God. The "church" at Phillipi sent assistance to Paul by which God was glorified (Phil 4:18). And certainly God is glorified when the church relieves those who are "widows indeed" (1Tim 5:16). even though the word glory is not attached to these passages in this case.
But one is foolish indeed who denies that saints may glorify God in service not related to collective (or congregational) activities. In 1 Cor 10, Paul discusses the eating of meats that came from animals slain as pagan sacrifices. In such matters, not remotley related to congregational activity, Paul says, "Whether therefore you eat, or drink, whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God" (vs 3) note-saints, members of the universal church, acting distributively, may glorify God. For further confirmation see Titus 2:5,10; 1 Peter 2:12; Col 3:17.
In reality, many brethren have allowed "party" pride and a sectarian conception of the church to warp their thinking on this subject. They speak of "giving the church the glory." They are confused, when trying to stipulate the "work of the church" because they do not distinguish between the universal church and the local church, nor do they see that the church may act distributively, or in the case of the local church collectively.
Add to this the absurd conclusion that "whatever Christians may do, the organized church, out of its treasury, may do" and the resulting mess is enough to make a grown man cry.
The thanksgiving of many, for the work of Paul, gave glory to God (2 Cor 4:15). The message of the churches, bearing assistance to the needy saints in Jerusalem, glorified God (2 Cor 8:19,23). And the Philipians were "filled with the fruits of righteousness" unto the glory of God (Phil 1:11). Serve God faithfully, and the glory will take care of itself.
Steve Corbett
When Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi (4:5) he addressed "all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Phillipi, with the bishops and deacons" (1:1).
Saints are "set apart" people, who have come "out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9), who belong to the Lord (1 Cor 6:20). This is another way of saying that all christians are saints (in the New Testament sense) and beatification by some Roman council has nothing to do with it.
One does not become a saint by "joining" the church; but one becomes a part of the church by becoming a saint. The church does not save; it is the saved, only Jesus saves. So that when we read in Acts 2:47, "And the Lord added to the church ("to them" "together" ARV) daily (day by day) such as should be saved (those that are being saved)."
The word church is a collective word, such as "herd" "covey" "flock." Literally, it indicates a collection or assembly (called out people) and is translated "assembly" in Acts 19:32, 39 and 41, with no reference what-so-ever to God's people. In some places it refers to saints literally assembled (1Cor 11:18) but is perhaps more often used to "collect" figuratively those who have something in common.
All of God's children (first born ones, Heb 12:22-23) make up the church in its general or universal sense. They are "collected" in this designation because they have something in common, their relationship to God the Father, this consists of all the saved of all the ages. They do not need to know one another, and God authorizes no plan for collective acts. But as each seeks to serve God through Jesus Christ, he "glorifies God in the church" (Eph 1:6, 12; 2:6, 22; 3:21). It would be an error to try and bind these passages to the local organized church.
But there are requirements, and provisions in the New Testament, for saints to work collectively, to function as a unit. They were to assemble, (Heb 10:25) worship, (1 Cor 11:22) have overseers, (Acts 14:23) a treasury, (1 Cor 16:2) etc. It was to such a group as this that Paul addressed the Philippian letter, and he called them a "church" (Phil 4:15). This is the local church or congregation, large or small, and the only organization of christians given divine sanction in the New Testament.
These saints are "collected" by something more than a common relationship to God; they enter into a certain oneness by agreement (Acts 9:26-28; 3 John 10), discipline one another, (Matt 18:17, 1 Cor 5) send messangers, (Phil 2:25) and in many other ways work as one, collectively.
Many errors arise because we fail to recognize the New Testament definition of "church" (Ex, the importance of being a member) or various uses of the word (Ex, some try to make each obligation of the individual saint, an obligation of the local church).
Careful reading would keep us from making many mistakes and foolish notions. Besides that we might learn something.
Steve Corbett
