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                        "THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"

             The Church "Universal" vs. The Church "Local"

INTRODUCTION

1. The nature of "The Church Jesus Built" can be discerned when one...
   a. Considers the meaning of the word "church" itself
      1) From the Greek word ekklesia, it means "an assembly"
      2) Which is used most frequently in the New Testament in two 
         senses:
         a) The church "universal" - that company of souls redeemed by
            the blood of Christ
         b) The church "local" - Christians in a geographical area that
            work and worship together as a congregation of God's people
   b. Considers other terms which enhance our view of the "church"
      1) The "body" of Christ
      2) The "household" of God
      3) The "temple" of God
      4) The "kingdom" of Christ
      5) The "bride" of Christ
      -- These expressions reveal different aspects of the Lord's great
         assembly!

2. Our understanding of the nature of the church can also be enhanced
   by...
   a. Contrasting the church "universal" with the church "local"
   b. Noting how the New Testament carefully delineates between the two

3. Failure to observe the distinction between the church "universal"
   and church "local"...
   a. Leaves one open to erroneous concepts of the church
   b. Makes one susceptible to false views of the church

[In this lesson, therefore, I would like for us to notice ways in which
the church "universal" is different from the church "local".  Let's 
begin by looking at...]

I. THE CHURCH "UNIVERSAL"

   A. COMPOSED OF ALL CHRISTIANS...
      1. This is the church to which Jesus referred in Mt 16:18
      2. As already noted, it is made up all the saved, both living and
         death - cf. He 12:22-24

   B. THERE IS ONLY "ONE" CHURCH...
      1. Remember, the universal church is called the "body" of Christ
         - Ep 1:22-23
      2. There is only one "body" (Ep 4:4); therefore, only one church!

   C. BEGAN ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST...
      1. In Jerusalem, following the death, resurrection and ascension
         of Christ - Ac 2:1-47
      2. As Peter later referred to this day, it was the "beginning" 
         - cf. Ac 11:15

   D. ENTER ONLY BE BEING "ADDED" BY THE LORD...
      1. One cannot "join" the church by their own volition
      2. Rather, they are "added" by the Lord Himself when saved 
         - Ac 2:41,47

   E. THE LORD KEEPS THE BOOKS OF MEMBERSHIP...
      1. There is no agency on earth that keeps the registry of true
         members
      2. Enrollment is in heaven; only the Lord knows those who are 
         truly His - He 12:23; 2 Ti 2:19

   F. CONSISTS OF ALL THE SAVED...
      1. The Lord is presenting to Himself a church holy and without
         blemish - cf. Ep 5:25-27
      2. Those in the church who are sinning and refuse to repent are
         "cut off", "cast out", "spewed out" - cf. Jn 15:2,6; Ro 11:
         19-22; Re 3:16

   G. MUST BE IN THIS CHURCH TO BE SAVED...
      1. For the Lord is the Savior of the "body" (which is His church)
         - Ep 5:23
      2. Since the Lord adds one to His church when they are saved, one
         cannot be saved and not be in the church "universal"!

   H. HAS NO "EARTHLY" ORGANIZATION...
      1. The church "universal" has organization - cf. Ep 2:19-22; 
         1 Pe 2:5
         a. What organization exists is spiritual in nature
         b. E.g., Christ as the cornerstone, together with His apostles
            and prophets as the foundation, and all Christians as 
            "living stones"
      2. There is no earthly headquarters for the church; e.g., no 
         telephone number to call to speak with the "head" of the 
         church (for He is in heaven!)

   I. CANNOT BE DIVIDED...
      1. For there is no earthly organization to divide!
      2. If division appears to exist...
         a. Some unscriptural organization of churches must have been
            created
         b. Such an organization can have division, but the Lord's 
            church "universal" cannot!
      3. Those who would seek to divide the church through doctrine,
         conduct, etc., are simply cut off by the Lord Himself!
      -- There is and always will be, "one body"! - Ep 4:4 (we need to
         make sure we are remaining faithful to be in it!)

   J. DEATH DOESN'T AFFECT MEMBERSHIP...
      1. The church "universal" is made up of the saved, both living 
         and dead - He 12:22-23
      2. When one dies, they are still with Christ! - Ph 1:21-23; 1 Th
         5:10

[These ten things are true of the church "universal"; now let's
contrast that with...]

II. THE CHURCH "LOCAL"

   A. COMPOSED OF CHRISTIANS IN ONE LOCATION...
      1. A local church is made up of Christians in one geographical
         area
      2. E.g., the church at Corinth, the church of the Thessalonians 
         - 1 Co 1:2; 1 Th 1:1
      -- In contrast, the church "universal" is made up of Christians
         everywhere!

   B. THERE ARE "MANY" CHURCHES...
      1. Paul had reference to local churches when he wrote Ro 16:16
      2. And again when he wrote Ga 1:2
      -- When it comes to the church "universal", though, there is just
         ONE!

   C. BEGINS WHENEVER PEOPLE JOIN THEMSELVES TOGETHER...
      1. As the gospel spreads and people respond to it, those in a 
         particular area start a local church when they agree to work
         together as one
      2. Just as the church in Antioch began later than the church in
         Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-26
      -- Whereas the church "universal" began in Jerusalem on 
         Pentecost, "local" churches have begun at different places and
         different times!

   D. ENTER BY "JOINING" THE CHURCH...
      1. When one wishes to become an accepted member of the local 
         church, they must "join themselves" to that church
      2. Such as Paul sought to do when he came to the church in 
         Jerusalem - Ac 9:26-28
      -- Whereas one is "added" by the Lord Himself to the universal 
         church, we can seek to "join" a local congregation (if its 
         members are willing to accept us)

   E. ENROLLED THROUGH HUMAN JUDGMENT...
      1. Whether we are accepted into a local church is a decision made
         by the leaders or members of that church
      2. Sometimes people are rejected when they should be received 
         - 3 Jn 5-9
      -- Evil men may succeed in kicking one out of a local church, but
         only the Lord determines who stays in the universal church!

   F. CONSISTS OF BOTH SAVED AND LOST...
      1. Since enrollment occurs through human judgment, fallible
         decisions can be made
      2. A local church may therefore have some who are nominal 
         Christians - cf. Re 3:1-4
      -- Hypocrites may become members of a local church; but they 
         don't sneak by the Lord to become members of the universal 
         church!

   G. DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN THIS CHURCH TO BE SAVED...
      1. One can be saved, and not belong to any local church
      2. Such was the case of the Eunuch immediately following his 
         conversion, and of Paul when he was in transit between Antioch
         and Jerusalem - cf. Ac 8:39; 9:26
      -- Of course, this should be temporary; in the universal church,
         it is impossible!

   H. HAS "EARTHLY" ORGANIZATION...
      1. A local church when scripturally organized will have bishops 
         and deacons - Ph 1:1
      2. These bishops were also called "elders" and "pastors", whose
         role was to oversee and feed the local congregation - Ac 14:
         23; 20:17,28
      -- The only role or position ever given men over the universal
         church on earth was the apostles, and they were not replaced
         when they died - e.g., James in Ac 12:2

   I. CAN BE DIVIDED...
      1. Local churches can easily be divided over doctrine or 
         personalities
      2. Such was the case with the church at Corinth - 1 Co 1:10-13;
         3:3,4
      -- While we can't divide the universal church, we can be 
         responsible for dividing local churches!

   J. DEATH AFFECTS MEMBERSHIP...
      1. When we die, our membership in a local congregation ends
      2. Just as when Stephen died, he was no longer a member of the
         Jerusalem church - Ac 8:1-2
      -- But our membership in the church universal continues on after
         death!

CONCLUSION

1. To illustrate the differences between the church universal and 
   local, consider this table...

       The Church "Universal"              The Church "Local"

   Composed of all Christians          Composed of Christians in one
                                          location
   There is just "one"                 There are "many"
   Began on the "Day of Pentecost"     Begins when people join together
   Enter only by being added by the    Enter by "joining ourselves"
      Lord
   The Lord keeps the books of         Enrolled by human judgment
      membership
   Consists of all the saved           Consists of both saved and lost
   Must be in this to be saved         Do not have to be in this to be
                                           saved
   Has no "earthly" organization       Has "earthly" organization
   Can't be divided                    Can be divided
   Death doesn't affect membership     Death does affect membership

2. Why note the difference between the church "universal" and the 
   church "local"?
   a. To better understand how the word "church" is used in the New 
      Testament
   b. To avoid confusion in our thinking when we use the word "church"
   -- When we are aware of the differences, we are also better able to
      identify the New Testamen church today! (see next lesson)

3. One could say that a key difference between the two is this...
   a. The church "universal" in essence concerns our relationship with
      Christ
   b. The church "local" basically concerns our relationship with one 
      another
   -- Of course, our service in the latter can certainly affect our 
      standing in the former!

Is our relationship with Christ and each other what it should be?
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The "Executable Outlines" Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 1999


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