Various uses of the word “church”

• “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will

build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail

against it” (Matthew 16:18).

• “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head

over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of

Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

• “…to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all

generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:21).

The previous passages all refer to the ONE “universal” church.

Various uses of the word “church”

• “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he

refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a

heathen and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17).

• “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and

prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in

whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23).

• “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve

them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may

relieve those who are really widows” (1 Timothy 5:16).

These passages all refer to a local or organized church, of which

there are MANY.

Must understand other differences

• If we don’t, we will make errors in our thinking, our

terminology, and ultimately in our practice.

• Errors in thinking and terminology eventually lead to errors in

practice.

Universal Church

In heaven and earth (Eph. 3:15)

Lord adds members (Acts 2:47)

Entered by baptism (1 Cor. 12:13)

All saints here (Gal. 3:27)

None but the saved (2 Tim. 2:19)

One shepherd only (Jn. 10:16)

Assembled fig. (Heb. 12:23)

Satan cannot prevail (Mt. 16:18)

Local Church

Earthly, limited (Phil. 1:1)

“Join” ourselves to (Acts 9:26)

Local control (3 Jn 1:10; Ac 18:27)

Certain saints here (1 Cor. 1:2)

Some “not of us” here (1 Jn. 2:19)

Lesser shepherds (1 Pet. 5:2)

Literally assemble (1 Cor. 14:23)

Can, often does prevail (Rev. 2:5)

Conclusions/Applications

• The universal church is a relationship of individuals with

God, that comes FIRST—before you ever join yourself to a

local church; and that relationship exists even if a local church

refuses to receive you (Acts 9:26; 3 John 1:9-10), provided you

continue to walk in the truth.

• The local church is an additional tie, of saints with

saints, working together as a team (collectively), in order to

carry out God’s purposes. And yes, it is God’s will that you join

yourself to one of these teams.

Conclusions/Applications

• The bulk of our work as Christians is NOT this teamwork, not

this collective action, but what we do individually.

• Any action indicated by the universal church is obviously not

collective action; it’s what each one of us does to bring glory

to God.

– Many like to involve the local church and all its resources in

nearly every work under the sun, reasoning that this is the only

way to bring glory to God.

Conclusions/Applications

• It is possible to be considered a faithful member of a local

church, but NOT be a part of the universal church. Your name

may be in a church directory, but not in the Book of Life.

• The church is not the means of salvation; it is the result. You

don’t get into the church to be saved; the church is the saved

(individuals saved by the blood of Christ, who continue

faithful to the Lord).

– The church is not a vehicle you get into and ride all the way to

heaven.

Conclusions/Applications

• The Prattmont Church of Christ is NOT the one true church,

nor is any other local church.

– The universal church does not meet on the first day of the week

to worship, is not organized with elders and deacons, does not

have a treasury, etc.

• If we collected together all the churches of Christ, or even just

those faithful to the N.T. pattern, that collection would still not

constitute the one true universal church.

– The universal church is composed of individuals, not churches.

Conclusions/Applications

• All that we have studied emphasizes the need to show

allegiance to Christ, first and foremost. Local churches can and

often do go astray, but YOU don’t have to.

• The word church is never used to refer to a denomination, a

group of churches joined together under some governing

body (association, convention, conference, etc.). If you are

part of a denomination, you are part of something NOT found

in the Bible.