The Church

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The Church

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JUST AS CHRIST HAS ONLY ONE BODY, THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH

THIS "UNIVERSAL" CHURCH IS MADE UP OF ALL BELIEVERS

Romans 12:4 Romans 7:4 Romans 12:5 1Corinthians 10:16 1Corinthians 12:27 Ephesians 4:12 

The word "catholic" means "universal"

 

 

The Universal Church

EXAMPLES

Matthew 16:18 Acts 5:11 Acts 8:3 Acts 9:31 Acts 20:28 1Corinthians 5:12 1Corinthians 10:32 1Corinthians 11:22 1Corinthians 12:28 1Corinthians 14:4 1Corinthians 14:5 1Corinthians 14:12 1Corinthians 14:19 1Corinthians 14:23 1Corinthians 14:26 1Corinthians 14:28 1Corinthians 14:35

1Corinthians 15:9 Galatians 1:13 Ephesians 1:22 Ephesians 3:10 Ephesians 3:21 Ephesians 5:23 Ephesians 5:24 Ephesians 5:25 Ephesians 5:27 Ephesians 5:29 Ephesians 5:32 Philippians 3:6 Colossians 1:18 Colossians 1:24

1Timothy 3:5  1Timothy 3:15 Hebrews 12:23  3John 1:10

 

 

The Local Church

EXAMPLES OF LOCAL CHURCHES

Matthew 18:17 Acts 8:1 Acts 11:22 Acts 11:26 Acts 13:1 Acts 14:23 Acts 14:27 Acts 15:3 Acts 15:4 Acts 15:22 Acts 15:30 Acts 18:22 Acts 20:17 Romans 16:1 Romans 16:5 Romans 16:23 1Corinthians 1:2

 1Corinthians 4:17 1Corinthians 6:4 1Corinthians 11:18 1Corinthians 16:19 2Corinthians 1:1 Philippians 4:15 Colossians 4:15 Colossians 4:16 1Thessalonians 1:1 2Thessalonians 1:1 1Timothy 5:16 1Timothy 5:17 Philemon 1:2 James 5:14 3John 1:6 3John 1:9

Revelation 2:1 Revelation 2:8 Revelation 2:12 Revelation 2:18 Revelation 3:1 Revelation 3:7 Revelation 3:14 

The Local Church is the practical expression of the body of Christ.  In the early Church, there were no denominations.  There was only one Church in each Locality.  In other words: one city, one Church.

The basis for coming together in the early Church was locality.  Christians tended to meet with other Christians in the same locality.

As we see from the seven Churches in Revelation, each church was different.  Each church had it's own Spirit.  The Spirit of a church is an expression of the Spirit of God.  There were seven Churches and so there were seven Spirits of God which were sent out into all the earth.  

Today, locality is not the only basis by which Christians come together.  Christians with similar beliefs and even racial origins tend to congregate together and form denominations.  Nevertheless, each of these congregations are a manifestation of God and have a unique Spirit.

The Bible says that there is no longer Jew nor Greek, male nor female for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Christians need to meet together in order to expand their view of God.  If we only meet with people who are like minded, we may not grow as much.  We come to know the depth and breadth, height and width of God's love by fellowshipping with all the saints.

 
LOCAL CHURCHES CAN DIFFER FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER

NOW DAYS, ONE PLACE MAY HAVE SEVERAL DENOMINATIONS

YET THEY ARE ALL PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

EACH ONE HAS A DIFFERENT FUNCTION

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN IDENTITY AND THEIR OWN SPIRIT

EACH CHURCH IS A UNIQUE EXPRESSION OF GOD ON THE EARTH

THE SPIRIT OF A CHURCH IS AN EXPRESSION OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD

TRUTH AND DOCTRINE SHOULD NOT DIFFER FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH

BUT CHURCHES CAN DIFFER IN THEIR CALLING, EMPHASIS, STYLE OF WORSHIP, TYPES OF SERVICE, FORMALITY

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SINGLE CHURCH TO MANIFEST EVERY ASPECT OF GOD FULLY AS GOD IS TOO BIG

JUST AS THERE ARE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD AND SEVEN CHURCHES

THERE ARE MANY SPIRITS OF GOD THAT HAVE BEEN SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME

1Corinthians 11:17-19

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

THE SEVEN CHURCHES

Revelation 1:4  Revelation 1:11 Revelation 1:20

 

 

THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD

Revelation 3:1  Revelation 4:5  Revelation 5:6
 

The seven spirits of God are the seven churches

These seven churches are parts of the body of Christ yet they are unique

They may exemplify the fingers and eyes of God Spreading out into the Earth but they also help us to understand where "denominations" fit in to God's plan

Just as there will be Overcomers in each of the Seven Churches, there will be Overcomers in each denomination

No denomination can claim that they exclusively are 'The Body of Christ'

Each Church or Denomination is a part of the Body of Christ and the world will know it by the way that that part treats the other parts.
 

 

THE SPIRIT OF GOD
 
Genesis 1:2  Genesis 41:38  Exodus 31:3  Exodus 35:31 Numbers 24:2  1Samuel 10:10  1Samuel 11:6 1Samuel 19:20  1Samuel 19:23  2Chronicles 15:1  2Chronicles 24:20 Job 33:4  

Psa 106:33  Ezek 11:24 Matthew 3:16 Matthew 12:28  Romans 8:9 Romans 8:14 1Corinthians 2:11  1Corinthians 2:14  1Corinthians 7:40 1Corinthians 12:3  Ephesians 4:30  Philippians 3:3  1 John 4:2 

 

 

Put a link on your site Change language or version Terminology - Overview - Summary Make a Donation Become a Christian Messages - Index Unity in Christ What happens at Conversion Bible Studies - Index About this Site Keys of the Kingdom: Doctrine Articles - Index Help with this site Contents Home Page