What Is The Church Of What Is The Church Of Christ?Christ?

THE BIBLICAL VIEW THE BIBLICAL VIEW

Explanation of this viewExplanation of this view

is necessary to is necessary to understand it.understand it.

What Is The Biblical What Is The Biblical View?View? There is the Church of Christ in There is the Church of Christ in

the "universal" sense.the "universal" sense. There Is the Church Of Christ in There Is the Church Of Christ in

the “Local church” sense.the “Local church” sense. Both are described in the Bible.Both are described in the Bible. Last week we looked at the sense Last week we looked at the sense

of the “Universal Church”.of the “Universal Church”. Today let us look at the sense of Today let us look at the sense of

the “Local Church”.the “Local Church”.

Composed of Composed of Christians in one Christians in one locationlocation A local church is made up of A local church is made up of

Christians in one geographical area Christians in one geographical area E.g., the church at Corinth, the church E.g., the church at Corinth, the church

of the Thessalonians - of the Thessalonians - 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1

In contrast, the church universal In contrast, the church universal is made up of Christians is made up of Christians everywhere and of all time! everywhere and of all time!

There are many There are many churcheschurches Paul had reference to local churches Paul had reference to local churches

when he wrote when he wrote Romans 16:16 “the Romans 16:16 “the churches of Christ salute you”churches of Christ salute you”

And again when he wrote And again when he wrote Galatians Galatians 1:21:2 “to the churches in Galatia (a “to the churches in Galatia (a region).region).

When it comes to the church When it comes to the church universal, though, there is just universal, though, there is just one! one! . .

Begins wherever Begins wherever people join togetherpeople join together As the gospel spreads and people respond to As the gospel spreads and people respond to

it, those in a particular area start a local it, those in a particular area start a local church when they agree to work together as church when they agree to work together as one one

Just as the church in Antioch began later than Just as the church in Antioch began later than the church in Jerusalem - the church in Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-26 Ac 11:19-26

All the churches that Paul established on his All the churches that Paul established on his missionary journeysmissionary journeys

Whereas the church universal began in Whereas the church universal began in Jerusalem on Pentecost, local churches Jerusalem on Pentecost, local churches have begun at different places and have begun at different places and different times! different times!

Enter by joining Enter by joining ourselvesourselves When one wishes to become an accepted When one wishes to become an accepted

member of the local church, they must member of the local church, they must "join themselves" to that church "join themselves" to that church

Such as Paul sought to do when he came Such as Paul sought to do when he came to the church in Jerusalem - to the church in Jerusalem - Acts 9:26-Acts 9:26-2828

Whereas one is "added" by the Lord Whereas one is "added" by the Lord Himself to the universal church, we Himself to the universal church, we can seek to "join" a local can seek to "join" a local congregation (if its members are congregation (if its members are willing to accept us) willing to accept us)

Enrolled by human Enrolled by human judgmentjudgment Whether we are accepted into a local Whether we are accepted into a local

church is a decision made by the church is a decision made by the leaders or members of that church leaders or members of that church

Sometimes people are rejected when Sometimes people are rejected when they should be received - they should be received - 3 John 5-9 3 John 5-9

Sometimes people are accepted when Sometimes people are accepted when they should be rejectedthey should be rejected

Evil men may succeed in kicking Evil men may succeed in kicking one out of a local church, but only one out of a local church, but only the Lord determines who stays in the Lord determines who stays in the universal church! the universal church!

Consists of both saved Consists of both saved and lostand lost Since enrollment occurs through human Since enrollment occurs through human

judgment, fallible decisions can be madejudgment, fallible decisions can be made A local church may therefore have some A local church may therefore have some

who are nominal Christians - cf. who are nominal Christians - cf. Revelation 3:1-4 Revelation 3:1-4

Hypocrites and all sorts of sinners Hypocrites and all sorts of sinners may become members of a local may become members of a local church; but they don't sneak by the church; but they don't sneak by the Lord to become members of the Lord to become members of the universal church! universal church!

Do not have to be in Do not have to be in this to be savedthis to be saved One can be saved, and not belong to any local One can be saved, and not belong to any local

church church Such was the case of the Eunuch immediately Such was the case of the Eunuch immediately

following his conversion, following his conversion, Acts 8:39Acts 8:39 and of Paul when he was in transit between and of Paul when he was in transit between

Antioch and Jerusalem - Antioch and Jerusalem - Acts 9:26 Acts 9:26 Of course, this should be temporary Of course, this should be temporary

because there are duties the individual because there are duties the individual Christian must do in a local churchChristian must do in a local church

Those duties cannot be done in the Those duties cannot be done in the universal church, it is impossible! universal church, it is impossible!

Has earthly Has earthly organizationorganization A local church when scripturally A local church when scripturally

organized will have bishops and organized will have bishops and deacons - deacons - Philippians 1:1 Philippians 1:1

These bishops were also called "elders" These bishops were also called "elders" and "pastors", whose role was to and "pastors", whose role was to oversee and feed the local congregation oversee and feed the local congregation - - Acts 14:23; 20:17,28 Acts 14:23; 20:17,28

The only role or position ever given The only role or position ever given men over the universal church on men over the universal church on earth was the apostles and they earth was the apostles and they were not replaced when they died were not replaced when they died

Can be dividedCan be divided

Local churches can easily be divided Local churches can easily be divided over doctrine or personalities over doctrine or personalities

Such was the case with the church at Such was the case with the church at Corinth - Corinth - 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13; 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13; 3:3,4 3:3,4

While we can't divide the While we can't divide the universal church, we can be universal church, we can be responsible for dividing local responsible for dividing local churches! churches!

Death does affect Death does affect membershipmembership When we die, our membership in When we die, our membership in

a local congregation ends a local congregation ends When Stephen died, he was no When Stephen died, he was no

longer a member of the Jerusalem longer a member of the Jerusalem church - church - Acts 8:1-2 Acts 8:1-2

But our membership in the But our membership in the church universal continues on church universal continues on after death! after death!

May use different May use different scriptural namesscriptural names Showing relationship to God or Christ Showing relationship to God or Christ

- - 1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 16:16 1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 16:16 Identifying the location of the Identifying the location of the

members - members - 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2 Thessalonians 1:2

There is no one official name, but There is no one official name, but we should use scriptural names!we should use scriptural names!

ConclusionConclusion

Last week we studied the universal Last week we studied the universal church.church.

This week we studied the local This week we studied the local church.church.

Hopefully we understand the Hopefully we understand the difference.difference.

Next week we will look at some Next week we will look at some myths about denominationalism, myths about denominationalism, and see the biblical view of such.and see the biblical view of such.