These words were written by Paul to the church at Corinth regarding moral disorders in the church.

The word "church" appears two times in the gospels, once in Matthew 16:18 and second in Matthew 18:17. The first is where Jesus details that He will build His church  upon divine revelation and profession of faith in Christ, and that the gates of hell will not overpower it. The church that He'll build will have authority to open the doors of Christendom, and whatever is allowed to happen or not to happen will be reflected in heaven. The second time church is mentioned is when Jesus was illustrating discipline in the church. Matthew 18:17.  This discipline is essential for He had just spoken to them regarding the true and awesome responsibility of each Christian and the reason of this exhortation and reason to be obedient to growing in the word.  Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to  stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the sea. Matthew 18:3-6.

So, there it is, the church has an awesome responsibility. Matthew 5:17-20 states, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away  from the Law, until all is accomplished . Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

The word church comes from the Greek word "Ekklesia", meaning a popular meeting place of community members. These members having been called out. This seems quite straight forward, but, when one looks at the words in which "Ekklesia" comes from we'll see a different picture. "Ekklesia" comes from these other root words, "Ek", "Kaleo", "Keleuo", and "Keleuma". "Ek" denotes origin. The point whence motion or action proceeds. Often used in composition of completion. "Kaleo", is to call, bid, call forth as name having been called. "Keleuo", is to urge or hail. To incite by word, that is by order. "Keleuma", is a cry of incitement, a shout.

Now, lets put this altogether and we will have a true definition of the church.

CHURCH

A popular meeting place of community members, having been called out, to do bidding and to call forth. The point from which motion and or action proceeds. A place where one is urged on, to "hail" and to incite by word, in order, to bid and give commands and commandments . A place where the cry of incitement brings completion.

Gods' word has shown us that the church is to be sanctified out from the world unto God, to do His bidding. The church has an awesome responsibility to judge itself, for God judges those who are outside the church. The church is to discipline from within and cause itself  not to associate with any immoral person who claims to be a brother in the Lord. Yes, Jesus says, "If a brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. And if he still refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen to even the church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:15-17. These verses refer to the local congregation and in Matthew 16:18, the church refers to all the followers of Christ. So, again, the church has an awesome responsibility to police from within, that as they go out into the world, being separate from the world, "Let their light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven". Matthew 5:16.

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in Love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:11-16.

"And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Revelation 19:6-8 And who is His bride? Those who have been chosen, who have remained faithful, who have truly made themselves ready. "And he said to me, Write, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." "And he said to me, These are true words of God". And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:9-10

And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Revelation 19:11.

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