Individual Christians and the Church Universal I. Introduction A. Matthew 16:16, 18 1. When Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus promises to build His ekklesia upon that confession 2. ekklesia most frequently translated "church"; Greek assembly, assemblage, group of persons with shared identity 3. In Septuagint, ekklesia often translates Hebrew qahal when referring to an assemblage of the people of Israel (e.g. 1 Kings 8:14) B. Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 4:4-6, 5:23-32, Hebrews 12:1, 22-24 1. Throughout the New Testament, descriptions of the church as such, the Body of Christ, the people of God, etc., maintains an important vagary 2. Emphasis is often placed on the singularity and unity of the church: Christ has but one Body; its different parts function together 3. Yet Paul is writing to the church in Rome, and then the church in Corinth, and the church in Ephesus: churches in the plural 4. To this end we often make distinctions between the "church universal" and the "local church" a. Church universal: the one Body of Christ spoken of specifically whenever emphasis is placed on the singularity or uniqueness of the collective people of God b. Local church: a collective of Christians in a given specific place and time who frequently assemble with one another, spoken of specifically whenever emphasis is placed on a singular group of Christians meeting in one place (e.g. church in Rome) or multiple such groups in a larger area (e.g. churches of Galatia) 5. While this distinction must be made in many places in order to make sense of what is revealed in Scripture we must remember that the Apostles never explicitly make the distinction: they speak of the ekklesia in both senses without qualification! a. Ideal: a given local church is the reflection of the members of the church universal in that time and place b. In reality, some of the members of a given local church may not actually be part of the universal church; perhaps some members of the universal church living in that area at that time do not meet with that one specific local church C. Discussions of the relationship between individual Christians and the local church are important and, Lord willing, will be had at another time D. Yet an often less discussed and emphasized discussion involves the relationship between the individual Christian and the church universal E. Understanding the nature of this relationship proves even more important in our age of developed communication technology connecting people around the country and the world as never before! F. Therefore, what is the relationship between the individual Christian and the church universal? 1. What is the constitution and nature of the church universal? 2. What sort of relationship exists among the members of the church universal? 3. What are the responsibilities of an individual Christian to the church universal? 4. How do we manage our responsibilities as an individual Christian to both the church universal and to the local church? II. The Church Universal A. We learn about the nature of the church universal in passages like Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 3:14-16, Ephesians 2:20-22, 4:4-6, 5:23-32, Hebrews 12:1, 22-24, 1 Peter 2:3-9, among others B. The church as the Body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 5:23-32) 1. Paul frequently speaks of the people of God in terms of a body: different parts individually and together 2. When he does so he speaks of the body as singular: there's only one of them! 3. In that sense all individual Christians are part of that one body and have their function within it 4. 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! 5. Throughout this description Jesus Himself is seen as the Head of the body C. The church as the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:14-16, Ephesians 2:20-22, 1 Peter 2:3-8) 1. Paul and Peter both speak of the church as the Temple of God: the place in which God maintains His presence 2. The presence of God in that Temple as the Holy Spirit 3. Jesus as the cornerstone of the foundation of the church 4. 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) 5. Individual Christians as the stones of the Temple 6. God is holy; His place must be holy; therefore, God's people as His Temple are to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-16) D. The church as the Kingdom of God in Christ (Matthew 4:17, 23, 13:1-43, Philippians 3:20-21, Colossians 1:13) 1. 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 2. Christians as those who participate in God's rule in Christ, serve Jesus as Lord (Romans 6:14-23, etc.) E. The church as the Israel of God (Romans 2:25-29, Galatians 6:16, Philippians 3:3, Hebrews 11:39-12:1, 22-24) 1. 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) 2. 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 3. 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 4. Thus Christians are the people of God today; their spiritual heritage is seen throughout the Old Testament 5. Hebrews 12:1: that spiritual heritage is still very much alive! F. We have learned many important things about the church universal in these passages! 1. The church universal is the collective of the people of God, all those 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 2. The church universal headed by Christ, filled by the Spirit, founded on the Apostles and prophets, constituted by individual Christians: no other level of organization or authority between this and the local church in the New Testament! 3. Its constituent members are expected to serve Christ as their head, conform to His image, reflect righteousness and holiness III. Functions, Relationships, and Responsibilities Within the Church Universal A. We have seen that individual Christians comprise the church universal 1. Individuals are added by God upon profession of faith in belief, confession, repentance, and baptism (Acts 2:47; Acts 2:42, Romans 10:9) 2. Its members are only truly known to God and will only be fully manifest on the day of judgment (Romans 2:5-11, 14:10-12) 3. Nevertheless, we ought to have association with those in whom we have confidence that they are in Christ and share in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life (1 John 1:7) B. The church universal as a collective functions mostly in the abstract at this time 1. The church universal presently exists 2. God is still adding to it! 3. Throughout the New Testament the work of assembling and functioning as a church is seen primarily in terms of the local churches 4. On the final day the church universal will assemble in the glory of the resurrection and from then on stand in the presence of God and Christ to do their will (Revelation 21:1-22:6) C. While it may not have specific collective functions at this time, God certainly expects relationships to exist among the members of the church universal! 1. Acts 11:28-30, Romans 15:22-29, 1 Corinthians 16:1, Philippians 4:15, Colossians 4:16, etc. describe the relationships that existed between Christians and churches in the first century 2. Whereas each individual local church was not subject to any other local church, they nevertheless would encourage one another and provide benevolence when necessary 3. 1 Thessalonians 1:7: Christians knew of Christians in other local churches, their stand for the faith 4. Churches and Christians would provide assistance to those preaching the Gospel in other places 5. Therefore we see that Christians do have relationships with other Christians outside of their local congregation; local churches are aware of the example and functioning of other churches even if they are autonomous toward each other D. Therefore, Christians do have responsibilities to other Christians in the church universal 1. In this light we do well to consider the many "one another" passages in the New Testament 2. Love one another (John 13:34, 15:12, 17, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:11, 23, 4:7, 11, 12, 2 John 1:5) 3. Serve one another (John 13:14, 1 Peter 5:5) 4. In honor prefer one another (Romans 12:10) 5. Edify/build up one another (Romans 14:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:11) 6. Receive one another (Romans 15:7) 7. Teach and admonish one another (Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16) 8. Salute one another (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Peter 5:14) 9. Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) 10. Forbear/forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13) 11. Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18) 12. Exhort one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, 10:25) 13. Consider how to provoke one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) 14. To this we could add pray for one another (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, 1 Peter 5:8-9) 15. Likewise, to do good to one another, provide assistance in times of need (Galatians 6:10) E. Yet what about the responsibilities of the Christian to his or her local church? 1. We do well to again recognize that passages regarding the church and our relationships with "one another" are not explicitly delineated between "local church" and "church universal" 2. Indeed, passages like 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 sound as if Paul speaks primarily of the church universal although it is functionally accomplished most often in the local church! F. We do well to think of our responsibilities in terms of priority and proximity! 1. A Christian should first look to the local church to fulfill their responsibilities to their fellow Christians, to love, serve, forgive, exhort, comfort one another, etc. 2. One's fellow members of a local congregation should take first priority since they are the ones closest to you and with whom you functionally work together more often and in more concrete, evident ways 3. From there we ought to consider those who are not fellow members of a local church but who are fellow members of the church universal in terms of proximity, either spatial (members of churches in nearby communities) or in relationship (family members, friends, Christians with whom you used to assemble, etc.) 4. Yet, as we have opportunity, we should consider how to accomplish our responsibilities to one another as fellow members of the church universal a. Through the Internet, particularly through social media, we are able to maintain strong communication with Christians around the country and the world b. That association should not take the place of the local church, nor should we prioritize our digital association over our face-to-face association in the local church c. Nevertheless, the opportunity to encourage and edify, as well as be encouraged and edified by, brethren around the country and the world is great, and something worth considering! 5. We do well to remember that as we seek to accomplish our responsibilities to "one another," as others do the same, we will be loved, served, encouraged, edified, forgiven, etc., as we love, serve, encourage, and edify! IV. Conclusion A. We have considered individual Christians and the church universal B. The church universal is headed by Christ, built on the Apostles and prophets, and comprised of individual Christians from Pentecost until the final day C. Its constituent members are to strive to love, serve, encourage, and edify one another as they have knowledge and opportunity! D. Let us serve the Lord Jesus to the honor and glory of God as individual Christians and toward one another as members of the church universal E. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Jesus promised to build His ekklesia, His church, upon the confession of Peter. There is only one such church as Christ has but one body. Let us be part of Christ's church and serve Him! 2: Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof (1 Corinthians 12:27). While we each may be Christians, serving the Lord Jesus, we also are connected to each other as fellow members of Christ's body. As Christ has but one body, so we all, as the church universal, are part of Him and one another. So it is that each person has their role to play in the great Body of Christ. Let us each serve God and one another in Christ's body! 3: And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:9). The church universal has yet to assemble; God still is adding to it. Yet the day will come in the resurrection when the church in glory will come down from heaven and dwell in the midst of God and Christ forever. Let us earnestly pray for that day to come and strive to be a part of it! 4: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). God provides many exhortations of how Christians should relate toward one another. Such should displayed most prominently within a local congregation. Yet, as we have opportunity, we should love, encourage, and edify our fellow members of the church universal as well. Let us seek greater connection with God's fellow people, both locally, throughout the country and the world, and even with those who have gone on before us!