The Church

Written by: Pastor David Potts

Introduction by Keith D. Wallace

Introduction

When I first heard the term "Universal Church" it was someone making a reference to a church I was planning to join.  The fellow said something to the effect of, "You shouldn't go there because they believe in the Universal Church."  Well I really didn't know what he was talking about but I made an assumption that he was referring to the Body of Christ, of which all saved people are a part.  I had never heard anyone at this new church use this terminology but I knew that I believed in such a thing as the Body of Christ and so I figured that what this church believed must be fine.  I later found out through my own study that when most people think of the Universal Church they are confusing the definition used by Catholics and Protestants with the way Baptists use the term.

Catholics believe that the Catholic Church is the one, true, universal church.  They believe that the pope is in charge of this church and he is literally the successor of Christ on earth.  Protestants believe something similar but not quite as extreme.  They believe in an invisible universal church and tend to put the leader of their denomination at the top of the chain of command.  They put little or no emphasis on the local church (the local church is the actual physical church that people attend for services) and the authority of the pastor of the local church.

The true Universal Church is synonymous for the Body of Christ spoken about in 1 Cor 12:27 and Eph 4:12.  When a person accepts Christ, he is born into the family of God and is now a part of the Body of Christ.  This is the Universal Church or the universal called out assembly that will all be called out together at the Rapture (1 Thess 4:16-17).  Each person who gets saved should also join a local church.  A local church is there for the edification of the saints, to worship the Lord, and to provide a means for serving God in one's own local community and beyond.

Many Baptists refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Universal Church (Body of Christ) because the Catholics and Protestants also use those words.  But just because false religions and cults use the words doesn't mean that we can't when we are describing something pure and true.  Pastor David Potts has put together an excellent study on the references to the church in the New Testament.  I have included it in its entirety below.

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Greek word: ekklesia  (ekklhsia) formed from two words- ek- meaning out ,  and kaleo- meaning to call.  Thus we get the Biblical definition: a called out assembly. 

In the context of Scripture, the there are two distinct yet complimentary aspects of the church of God (Universal & Local), as well as some application to assemblies NOT connected with God’s church.  “Church” occurs 111 times in the New Testament, most often referring to the Local Church and secondly to the Universal Church; and once to a called-out assembly in the Old Testament, and once to a pagan false church. 

To try to teach that all the Biblical references to “church” indicate only the Local Church or only the Universal Church , depending on your jaded point of view, is to court folly.  A few passages may support either interpretation or both, but the vast majority of references indicate by context the correct interpretation; and to force the wrong interpretation onto the passage is to leave one's self open to heresy. 

ã David H. Potts 

Contrasting the Universal Church and the Local Church

New Testament references for “Church”

  Universal Church      Mt:16:18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  Local Church              Mt:18:17: And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

 Universal & Local    Acts:2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

  Local Church Acts:5:11: And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

 Old Testament Assembly      Acts:7:38: This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina , and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

  Local Church Acts:8:1: And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem ; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria , except the apostles.

 Universal & Local    Acts:8:3: As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

  Local Church              Acts:9:31: Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria , and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

  Local Church              Acts:11:22: Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem : and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch .

  Local Church              Acts:11:26: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch . And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch .

  Local Church              Acts:12:1: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

  Local Church              Acts:12:5: Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

 Local Church             Acts:13:1: Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

  Local Church              Acts:14:23: And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

  Local Church              Acts:14:27: And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

  Local Church              Acts:15:3: And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria , declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

  Local Church              Acts:15:4: And when they were come to Jerusalem , they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

  Local Church              Acts:15:22: Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

  Local Church              Acts:15:41: And he went through Syria and Cilicia , confirming the churches.

  Local Church              Acts:16:5: And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

  Local Church              Acts:18:22: And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch .

 False Church Acts:19:37: For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

  Local Church              Acts:20:17: And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus , and called the elders of the church.

  Universal Church      Acts:20:28: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood.

  Local Church              Rom:16:1: I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

  Local Church              Rom:16:4: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

  Local Church              Rom:16:5: Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

  Local Church              Rom:16:16: Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Local Church Rom:16:23: Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

Local Church 1Cor:1:2: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

 Local Church             1Cor:4:17: For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

 Local Church             1Cor:6:4: If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

 Local Church             1Cor:7:17: But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

 Universal Church     1Cor:10:32: Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God :

 Local Church             1Cor:11:16: But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

 Local Church             1Cor:11:18: For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

 Local Church             1Cor:11:22: What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God , and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

 Universal Church     1Cor:12:28: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:4: He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:5: I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:12: Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:19: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:23: If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

 Local Church             1Cor:14:28: But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:33: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:34: Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

 Local Church             1Cor:14:35: And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

 Universal Church     1Cor:15:9: For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God .

 Local Church             1Cor:16:1: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia , even so do ye.

 Local Church             1Cor:16:19: The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

 Local Church             2Cor:1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth , with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

 Local Church             2Cor:8:1: Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia ;

 Local Church             2Cor:8:18: And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

 Local Church             2Cor:8:19: And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

 Local Church             2Cor:8:23: Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

 Local Church             2Cor:8:24: Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

 Local Church             2Cor:11:8: I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

 Local Church             2Cor:11:28: Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

 Local Church             2Cor:12:13: For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

  Local Church              Gal:1:2: And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia :

  Universal Church      Gal:1:13: For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God , and wasted it:

  Local Church              Gal:1:22: And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

  Universal Church      Eph:1:22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

  Universal Church      Eph:3:10: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

  Universal Church      Eph:3:21: Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

  Universal Church      Eph:5:23: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

  Universal Church      Eph:5:24: Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

  Universal Church      Eph:5:25: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

 Universal Church     Eph:5:27: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

  Universal Church      Eph:5:29: For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

  Universal Church      Eph:5:32: This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

  Universal Church      Phil:3:6: Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

  Local Church              Phil:4:15: Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia , no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

  Universal Church      Col :1:18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

  Universal Church      Col :1:24: Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

  Local Church              Col :4:15: Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea , and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

  Local Church              Col :4:16: And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea .

 Local Church             1Thes:1:1: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Local Church             1Thes:2:14: For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

 Local Church             2Thes:1:1: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

 Local Church             2Thes:1:4: So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

 Local Church             1Tm:3:5: (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God ?)

 Universal & Local 1Tm:3:15: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 Local Church             1Tm:5:16: If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

  Local Church              Phlm:1:2: And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

  Universal Church      Heb:2:12: Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

 Universal Church     Heb:12:23: To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

  Local Church              Jms:5:14: Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

 Local Church             1Pt:5:13: The church that is at Babylon , elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

 Local Church             3Jn:1:6: Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

 Local Church             3Jn:1:9: I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

 Local Church             3Jn:1:10: Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

  Local Church              Rv:1:4: John to the seven churches which are in Asia : Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Local Church Rv:1:11: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus , and unto Smyrna , and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis , and unto Philadelphia , and unto Laodicea .

  Local Church              Rv:1:20: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

  Local Church              Rv:2:1: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

  Local Church              Rv:2:7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

  Local Church              Rv:2:8: And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

  Local Church              Rv:2:11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

  Local Church              Rv:2:12: And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

  Local Church              Rv:2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Local Church Rv:2:18: And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

  Local Church              Rv:2:23: And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

  Local Church              Rv:2:29: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

  Local Church              Rv:3:1: And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

  Local Church              Rv:3:6: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 Local Church             Rv:3:7: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

  Local Church              Rv:3:13: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

  Local Church              Rv:3:14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

  Local Church              Rv:3:22: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

  Local Church              Rv:22:16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.