在本期视频中，魏泰德牧师和他的妻子南茜分享了《圣经》中有关教会的教导，具体是什么，它是如何开始的以及如今它的目的是什么。

在创世记，上帝创造了亚当。但是“那人独居不好”，所以祂创造了夏娃成为他的伴侣。他们一起敬拜上帝—他们的创造主。

 “旧约圣经描写教会是一个上帝子民有组织的会众。从最古的时候起，在亚当、塞特、挪亚、闪、亚伯拉罕的族系中敬畏上帝的家庭，乃是祂真理的保卫者。这些以父亲为祭司的家，可以视为小教会。上帝赐给亚伯拉罕丰盛的应许，藉着这应许，这个上帝的家庭，要渐渐成为一个国。以色列的使命不过是亚伯拉罕使命的延伸而已：要使万国得福，彰显上帝对世人的爱。”（《基本信仰二十八条》第十二章）

上帝期望借着以色列人创建地上最大的教会，让各国的代表聚集在那里敬拜，了解祂，并向他们自己的人民传讲救恩的信息。不幸的是，以色列陷入了偶像崇拜，民族主义和骄傲，因此，辜负了这个使命。

然后，耶稣来到世上，死在十字架上，标志着以色列使命的结束，但也开启了基督教会及其通过救赎宝血宣告救恩的使命。每个人都被邀请接受这个救恩的礼物，成为祂教会的一份子。

与此同时，《圣经》用比喻来描述教会。在以弗所书2:16中，十字架使所有的信徒“归为一体”与 神和好。在哥林多前书12:13，信徒“受洗成为一体”。在歌罗西书1:18中，基督是“教会全体之首”，在以弗所书5:23中，是“教会的头”。这些声明强调教会的统一性和教会成员之间的关系。

此外，哥林多前书3:9提到教会是“上帝所建造的房屋”。同时，以弗所书2:20,21解释说，这殿是“建造在使徒和先知的根基上，有基督耶稣自己为房角石，各房靠他联络得合式，渐渐成为主的圣殿。”

尽管如此，教会被描述为新娘，而耶稣则是新郎。“我必聘你永远归我为妻。以仁义、公平、慈爱、怜悯聘你归我”(何西阿书2:19)。“背道的儿女阿，回来吧。因我作你们的丈夫”(耶利米书3:14)。同样，耶稣“爱教会，为教会舍己”(以弗所书5:25)。

最后，教会是一个把天与地联合的家庭。“因此，我在父面前屈膝，天上地上的各家，都是从他得名的”(以弗所书3:14)。

与此相关，基督复临安息日会的第十二条基本信仰指出:“ 教会是承认耶稣基督为主、为救主的信徒的社团。继旧约时代上帝的子民之后，我们蒙召从世界出来，一同聚集，为要崇拜、交通，学习上帝的圣言，举行圣餐，服务人群，及向普世宣讲福音。教会从成为肉身的道基督，与写下的道圣经获得权柄。教会是上帝的家，祂收纳为儿女，其中的分子活在新约的基础上。教会是基督的身体，是以基督为首的信仰的团体。教会是基督为之舍命使其洁净与成圣的新妇。在祂凯旋时，祂会献给自己一个荣耀的教会，就是自己宝血所买来的历代以来忠心的信徒，没有玷污、皱纹等类的病，是圣洁没有瑕疵的。”

想了解更多关于这个基本信条的信息，请访问www.adventist.org/the-church/。以及www.egwwritings.org, 阅读怀爱伦的著作《使徒行述》，特别是第一章《上帝对祂教会的旨意》。

最后，上帝给了我们成为祂教会一部分的奇妙特权。祂邀请我们与祂联合，向全世界宣讲福音。让我们也邀请其他人成为教会的一份子，并为这份礼物感谢祂。

In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, share what the Bible teaches about the church, specifically what it is, how it began, and what its purpose is today.

In Genesis, God created Adam. But “it is not good for man to be alone,” so he created Eve to be his companion. And together, they worshipped God as their Creator.

“From the earliest times, God-fearing families in the lineage of Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, and Abraham were the guardians of His truth. These households, in which the father functioned as the priest, could be considered the church in miniature. To Abraham, God gave the rich promises through which this household of God gradually became a nation. Israel’s mission was simply an extension of that given to Abraham: To be a blessing to all nations, showing God’s love for the world” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe: An Exposition of the Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, p. 167).

Through Israel, God desired to create the largest church on earth where representatives of all nations would gather to worship, learn of Him, and preach to their own people the message of salvation. Unfortunately, Israel fell into idolatry, nationalism, and pride, hence, failing in its mission.

Then, Jesus came into the world and died on the cross, signifying the end of Israel’s mission but inaugurating the Christian church and its mission to proclaim salvation through His redeeming blood. Everyone was invited to accept this gift of salvation and become a part of His church.

Meanwhile, the Bible uses metaphors to describe the church. In Ephesians 2:16, the cross reconciles all believers “to God in one body.” In 1 Corinthians 12:13, believers are “baptized into one body.” In Colossians 1:18, Christ is the “head of the body,” and in Ephesians 5:23, the “head of the church.” These statements emphasize the unity of the church and the relationship among its members.

In addition, 1 Corinthians 3:9 refers to the church as “God’s building.” Also, Ephesians 2:20, 21 explain that it has been “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Still, the church is described as a bride with Jesus as the bridegroom. “I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy” (Hosea 2:19). “‘Return, O backsliding children,’ says the Lord; ‘for I am married to you’” (Jeremiah 3:14). Also, Jesus “loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

Finally, the church is a family that unites heaven and earth. “For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…” (Ephesians 3:14).

In connection to this, the twelfth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists states: “The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called out from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for instruction in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, for service to humanity, and for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. The church derives its authority from Christ, Who is the incarnate Word revealed in the Scriptures. The church is God’s family; adopted by Him as children, its members live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself is the Head. The church is the bride for whom Christ died that He might sanctify and cleanse her. At His return in triumph, He will present her to Himself a glorious church, the faithful of all the ages, the purchase of His blood, not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish.”

To learn more about this fundamental belief, visit http://www.adventist.org/the-church/. Also read Ellen G. White’s The Acts of the Apostles at http://www.egwwritings.org, particularly the first chapter entitled “God’s Purpose for His Church.”

In closing, God has given us the wonderful privilege of being part of His church. He invites us to unite with Him in proclaiming the gospel into all the world. Let us also invite others to be part of this church and thank Him for this gift.