It may surprise you to learn that the church of the Bible does not have a proper name. By definition church (ecclesia) means "the called out" and refers to those who have been called out of the world into fellowship with God, by faith and obedience to the gospel (Hebrews 5:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

The church is pictured in different ways, according to which aspect one is considering. It is called a body when one is considering the unity of its members. It is called a vineyard when one considers it is the place where God's servants work to grow the fruit of the Spirit. It is called a family when one considers its members' relationship to the Father and each other. It is called an army when one recalls that it engages Satan's forces in a to-the-death battle for the souls of men. When its government is considered it is called a kingdom because it is a monarchy (ruled by a monarch or king).

This should not be confusing:

I am a man, a son, a husband, a father, an American. a taxpayer. a fan. an employee, a writer, and a Christian. Likewise, the church is referred to by several designations in Scripture.

Consider these descriptions:

• the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16).
• the church of the Lord (Acts 20:28 ASV).
• the church of God (I Corinthians 1:2).
• the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
• the church of the living God (I Timothy 3:15).
• the church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).

Church and kingdom are used interchangeably in the New Testament. Jesus said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19). Obviously, He is talking about the same institution in back-to-back sentences, much like I might say, "You may borrow my van. Here are the keys to the Honda.”

Jesus promised to build His church and gave Peter the keys (terms of admission) of the kingdom. If the church and kingdom were different, Peter would have no right to use the keys of the kingdom on the church. It would be like using your Ford keys to try to drive my Honda.

If the kingdom has not yet been established, as many teach, then Peter lived the rest of his natural life and never got to use the keys at all. Why would Jesus give him useless keys? The kingdom or church was established on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On that day Peter used the keys of the kingdom to let three thousand people into the door of the church (Acts 2:38-47).

It is hard to miss that the institutions are the same when carefully reading the New Testament. Consider:

• The church and the kingdom have the same head. Christ is the head of the church (Colossians I: 18; Ephesians 1:23) and He is also the King of the kingdom (Acts 17:7; Revelation 1:5; I Timothy 6:15).
• They are entered into on the same conditions. Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Men are born into the kingdom by being baptized in water according to the Spirit's gospel. On Pentecost the Spirit led sinners, through the apostles' message, to believe, repent, and be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). They were then added to the church (2:47). The same process by which a person entered the kingdom added him to the church. The kingdom and the church have the same subjects. Paul said that the saints had been translated into the kingdom (Colossians 1:13), which was also "the body, the church" (1:18).
• The church and the kingdom have the same seed. Jesus spoke of the word of God as being the "word of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:19) which produces subjects of the kingdom. When the same word was preached in Corinth (I Corinthians 15:1-3), many of the Corinthians heard it, believed it, and were baptized (Acts 18:8). Paul addressed them as the "church of God" (I Corinthians I :2). If the church and the kingdom are not the same, then one seed was producing two different plants, which is a contradiction to both nature and revelation (Genesis I:ll; Galatians 6:7-8).
• They have the same laws. Peter wrote: "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness; through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). If either the kingdom of the church had one thing that pertained to life or godliness---which the other did not have, then the one lacking it would be imperfect, and Peter's statement would not be true of both. Hence, they must have the same laws.

Someone designed a helpful chart comparing the identifying marks of the kingdom and the church, and in so doing, showed they are the same institution.

1. Beginning place/date        Isaiah 2:2-3 / Acts 2:1-47

2. Boundary of territory        Daniel2:44 / Mark 16:15

3. Owner of institution          John 18:36 / Matthew 16:18

4. Ruler of inhabitants           I Timothy 6: 15 / Ephesians 5:23

5. Governing law                     Isaiah 2:3 / Acts 2:38-47

6. Christ gave keys                  Matthew16:19 / Matthew 16:18

7. Terms of entrance               John 3:5 / Acts 2:38-47

8. Membership                         Colossians 1:13 / Colossians 1:2

9. Its glory and exaltation     Isaiah 2:2-3 / Ephesians 3:21

10. Memorial supper              Matthew 26:29 / 1 Corinthians 11:20

11. Reward of faithful            Matthew 25:34 / 1 Corinthians 15:58

12. Time of deliverance         1 Corinthians 15:24 / 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Since things equal to the same thing are equal to each other, it is easy to conclude that the kingdom and the church are the same institution.

Christ invites you to become a member of the greatest institution on earth (Matthew 11:28-30). Why not take Him up on it?