The Relationship Of The Universal & Local Church (I)

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Outline:

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. Have covered subject of what is a "church" and noted distinctions of:

1. Universal: Christ is head of body (Eph.1:22-23) of which only the saved are members (Eph.5:23).  No organization on earth, no imperfections, no divisions (Eph.4:4), etc.

2. Local: Has organization (Phil.1:1) with assigned duties (Acts 20:28; Phil. 4:15-16; 1 Cor.16:1-2), imperfections in membership (1 Cor.5:1), may be divided (1 Cor.3:3), etc.

B. This lesson to focus on relationship between the two.

1. Conclusions based upon much material previously covered.

II. HOW THE TWO ARE NOT RELATED:

A. Universal church not comprised of DENOMINATIONS (Jo.15:1-8)

1. Denomination: a plurality of churches working collectively.

a. Review collective nouns: "denomination" is a collective noun not found in scripture and there is no other collective noun for "church."

2. History of the denominational concept:

a. N.T. churches worked independently (Acts 14:23; 1 Pet.5:1-4)

b. 2nd century metropolitan churches appointed "bishops."

c. 3rd century regional church council appointed "arch bishops."

d. 325 AD univ. church council of Nicea appointed "cardinals" over univ. collection.

e. 606 AD Boniface III proclaimed "Universal Bishop" = "Pope"

1) Concept of universal church consisting of local churches.

f. European reformation (1530-1611 AD)

g. American restoration (1793-1830 AD)

B. Universal church not comprised of local churches.

1. Remember 13 distinctions noted previously.

a. i.e.: Only saved in universal.; may be unsaved in local.

2. This failure of distinction & centralized organization led to the above divisions.

C. Univ. church comprised of saved individuals (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor.12:12-13,27; Eph.5:23)

1. Yet, may be some in local church not saved (Rev.3:1-4; 1 Cor.5:1-5)

2. There may be saved outside local church (Acts 8:39; 9:26; 3 Jo.9-10)

3. Dead not in local church (1 Thess.4:13-17)

III. HOW THE TWO ARE RELATED:

A. By fellowship with God (1 Jo.1:5-7; 2 Cor.6:1)

1. Two ways to be in fellowship with God:

a. Flawless works.

1) Requires perfect knowledge (Gal.3:10; Jas.2:10)

2) Can be done (Ex.19:5-6; Dt.5:27-28; 30:11-14; Heb.4:15; 1 Jo.2:1)

3) We choose not to (Rom.3:10-12,23)

b. Faith in Christ.

1) God's plan to save (Rom.3:21-26)

2) Here's how (Rom.6:3-7, 16-18)

3) Walk by faith (Jas.2:14-24; 1 Jo.1:7-2:2)

B. By fellowship with other Christians (I Jo.1:3; 2 Cor.6:1)

1. We will discuss this point in detail in the next two lessons.

IV. CONCLUSION:

A. It is imperitive to understand that the universal church is comprised of saved INDIVIDUALS who are in fellowship with God and of which there is no organization on earth.

1. It is not comprised of denominations or local congregations.

2. Local churches are comprised of individuals who are in fellowship with one another.