Shayla: "What is the difference between the universal church and local church?"

Meforshim:

To understand the difference between the local church and the universal church, one must get a basic definition of each. The local church is a group of believers in Jesus Christ who meet in some particular location on a regular basis. It is more than a home Bible study group in that it has “set right what was left undone,” appointing “elders”.

· Titus 1:5 HCSB The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town:

Apparently, the Apostle Paul did not consider it a church until it had the God-ordained leadership and structure in place.

· Ephesians 4:11 HCSB And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

The universal church is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ worldwide. The term “church” comes from at least 2 words. One of the words has to do with the meeting together or “assembly”.

· 1 Thessalonians 2:14 HCSB 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews.

· 2 Thessalonians 1:1 HCSB 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This word is one that pertains to the work of God in saving and sanctifying believers as “called out ones.” When the word church is found in the English Bible, the word used is this one.

The second word is one that speaks of ownership and literally means, “belonging to the Lord.” This is the word that is transliterated into the actual word, “church.” This Greek word is only used twice in the New Testament and is never used directly naming the church

· 1 Corinthians 11:20 HCSB 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not really to eat the Lord's Supper.

· Revelation 1:10 HCSB I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

A local church is normally defined as a local assembly of all who profess faith and allegiance to Christ. Most often the Greek word “ekklesia” is used in reference to the local assembly.

· 1 Thessalonians 1:1 HCSB 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.

· 1 Corinthians 4:17 HCSB 17 This is why I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

· 2 Corinthians 11:8 HCSB 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.

There is not just one specified local church in any one area necessarily. There are many local churches in larger cities.

The universal church is the name given to the church worldwide. In this case, the idea of the church is not so much in the assembly itself but rather in those constituting it. The church is the church even when it is not holding an official meeting. In Acts 8:3, one can see that the church is the church even when they at home.

When examining the actual text of Acts 9:31, one can observe that the term is rendered singular even though the geographical area described was quite large. Therefore, the term describes the universal church - not just the local churches.

In their attempt to distinguish between the universal and local church, some may try to describe the universal church as the invisible church but be careful not to do this. For one thing, the Scriptures never describe Christ’s Body as “invisible.” For another, surely it was not meant to be invisible.

· Matthew 5:16 HCSB In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Here are more verses that talk about the universal church:

· 1 Corinthians 12:28 HCSB 28 And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages.

· 1 Corinthians 15:9 HCSB 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

· Matthew 16:18 HCSB And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.

· Ephesians 1:22-23 HCSB And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.

· Colossians 1:18 HCSB He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.