"THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"
The Nature Of The Church (Local)
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous study, we began to examine more closely the nature of
the Lord's church
2. In doing so, we made the following observations about the church
universal...
a. Composed of all Christians f. Consists of all the saved
b. There is just one g. Must be in this to be saved
c. Began on the Day of Pentecost h. Has no earthly organization
d. Enter only by being added by i. Can't be divided
the Lord j. Death doesn't affect
e. The Lord keeps the books of membership
membership
[Let's now compare that with what is revealed about the church local...]
I. 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
- 1Co 1:2; 1Th 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 - 3Jn 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 - Php 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 - 1Co 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. Noticeably absent in the Scriptures is any denominational concept of the church...
a. "A large group of religious congregations united under a common
faith and name and organized under a single administrative and
legal hierarchy." - The American Heritage Dictionary of the
English Language
b. "A religious organization uniting in a single legal and
administrative body a number of local congregations." - Webster
c. I.e., any group of congregations that are joined together under
some governing body
1) The number of congregations can be as few as two or more
2) But by their tie to a governing body above the local
congregation, by definition they are 'denominated' from all
congregations that do not submit to the same authority
-- Such as found in both Catholic and Protestant churches today
3. Why note these differences 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 Testament church today!
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...?
