The Nature
Of The Church
(Part Two)
Seeing the distinction between the
individual, collective, and universal as shown
in the Scriptures.
Introduction
• We discussed the use of the word “church” as
being the assembly of all the saints of God.
• That is spoken in the universal sense.
• Today we will look at the universal nature of
the church and see its distinctiveness.
• Then later we will look at the part and
purpose of individual Christians and their
responsibility to the universal and local
church.
The Universal Church
• We learn about the nature of the church
universal in passages like Matthew 16:18,
1 Corinthians 3:14-16, Ephesians 2:20-22, 4:46, 5:23-32, Hebrews 12:1, 22-24, 1 Peter 2:3-9,
among others.
• The church as the Body of Christ (Romans
12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians
5:23-32).
The Universal Church
• Paul frequently speaks of the people of God in
terms of a body: different parts individually
and together.
• When he does so, he speaks of the body as
singular: there's only one of them!
• In that sense all individual Christians are part
of that one body and have their function
within it.
The Universal Church
• Along with 1 Peter 4:10-11 an appreciation of
the distinctiveness of each individual person
and the role they can play in Christ's church!
• Throughout this description Jesus Himself is
seen as the Head of the body.
The Universal Church
• The church is described as the Temple of God (1
Corinthians 3:14-16, Ephesians 2:20-22,
1 Peter 2:3-8).
• Paul and Peter both speak of the church as the
Temple of God: the place in which God maintains
His presence;
• Just as was seen in the Old Testament of the
physical temple in Jerusalem.
• It was always showing the presence of God in
that Temple as the Holy Spirit worked among the
children of Israel.
The Universal Church
• Jesus is portrayed as the cornerstone of the
foundation of the church.
• The Apostles and prophets, providing the
revelation of Christ in binding and loosing
what God had bound and loosed in Heaven, as
foundation (cf. Matthew 18:18).
• Individual Christians are described as the
stones of the Temple of God.
The Universal Church
• God is holy;
• His place must be holy;
• Therefore, God's people as His Temple are to be holy
(1 Peter 1:13-16).
• The church is the Kingdom of God in Christ (Matthew
4:17, 23, 13:1-43, Philippians 3:20-21, Colossians
1:13)
• Throughout the Gospels Jesus spoke of the coming of
His Kingdom; Paul spoke of Christians as being part of
that Kingdom, having been transferred into it by God.
• The Lord added to that kingdom those being saved
(Acts 2:47).
The Universal Church
• Christians as those who participate in God's rule
in Christ, serve Jesus as Lord (Romans 6:14-23,
etc.)
• The church is sometimes called the Israel of God
(Romans 2:25-29, Galatians 6:16, Philippians 3:3,
Hebrews 11:39-12:1, 22-24)
• Paul spends much time in his letter to the
Romans establishing continuity between Israel as
the people of God and Christians as the new
Israel (thus 1 Corinthians 10:1-12).
The Universal Church
• God fulfills the promise given to Abraham,
• Fulfills the Law of Moses in Christ;
• All who share in Abraham's faith in God are the
people of God, Israel, regardless of genealogical
heritage.
• And yes, this is spiritual and not physical.
• The Hebrew author likewise envisions the Patriarchs
and people in Israel's history as the heritage of God's
people and that Christians are the ones now
approaching the heavenly Mount Zion through Christ.
The Universal Church
• Thus Christians are the people of God today;
• Their spiritual heritage is seen throughout the
Old Testament.
• Hebrews 12:1: that spiritual heritage is still
very much alive!
• We have learned many important things
about the church universal in these passages!
The Universal Church
• The church universal is the collective of the
people of God,
• All those are part of the Kingdom of God in
Christ;
• in one sense, all Christians from Pentecost to the
final day;
• in the fullest sense, all those who are the saved
people of God from the beginning until the final
day.
The Universal Church
• The church universal headed by Christ, filled
by the Spirit, founded on the Apostles and
prophets, made up by individual Christians:
• There is no other level of organization or
authority between this and the local church in
the New Testament!
• Its members are expected to serve Christ as
their head, conform to His image, reflect
righteousness and holiness in their lives.
Conclusion (Part Two)
• Understanding the difference in the Universal
church and the local church is very important.
• Some have a problem making the distinction.
• Others make the mistake of thinking the
church is made up of congregations.
• No, the church is made up of individuals who
have obeyed the Lord’s commands.
• Have you?