What is the Christian’s relationship with the local and universal church?

Question:

My friend says he doesn’t need to identify with the local church because he is a part of the universal church. What does the Bible say about the universal and the local church, and what is the connection between them? What do I have to tell my friend? Does the Christian have to identify with the local church before he can be part of the universal church? 

What is the Christian’s relationship with the local and universal church? 

The church is at the center of Christianity. What you think about the church is extremely important for understanding the Bible as a whole. The word of God defines what the church is and what is its purpose. We find written in the Holy Scriptures, that the word “church” is used to describe the universal and local church. 

Universal church

The universal church includes all the newborn believers of the local churches who are written in heaven by God. 

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”(Hebrews 12:22-23 NASB)

So the universal church is the totality of people saved by faith in Jesus Christ from the event of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:12-18).

Jesus spoke of the universal church when he said to Peter:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18 NASB)

The purpose of the universal Church is to make known to the world the Word of God and the unspeakable wisdom of God. 

“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:8-11 NASB)

The universal church cannot exist without the local church. These two groups are related to each other. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 2:20-21, speaks of both the universal church and the local church: 

“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you (the church from Ephesus) also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-21 NASB)

The best way to understand the relationship between the universal and the local church is to look at the local church as a manifestation of the universal church. 

The local church

The local church is made up of newborn Christian believers who have identified themselves with an established group that worships God in a geographical location. Thus, we find it in the New Testament written: the church in Chencrea, the church in Rome, the church in Ephesus, the church in Corinth, the church in Philip, etc.; these are local churches. The members of the local church constitutes the church, even when they are not assembled together. In the book of Acts 14:27, the apostle Paul gathered the church and…

“When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all the things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27 NASB) 

All newborn believers are members of the universal church of Jesus Christ. However, all believers must identify with a local church for worship, fellowship, and the study of the Holy Scriptures.

“and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,  not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NASB)

The author of the book of Hebrews urges Christians not to give up joint meetings to pray, to have fellowship, to break bread, and to study the Word of God. Separation from the local church has always been seen as a dangerous issue. The same is said by Jesus Christ: 

 “nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” (Matthew 5:15 NASB)

Christians cannot be true Christians by isolating themselves from the local Christian group with which they must identify, because they are not only believers, but they are disciples who are brothers and members of an organism. Isolation from the church is not allowed for the Christian. The Christian is called to unity; and unity, is exemplified in the common life of believers with the brotherhood, jointly, preserving the teaching of the apostles, the breaking of the bread, and prayer: 

“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need.  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:41-47 NASB)

In addition, the Christian must identify with a group of local Christians; for, the member cannot exist alone in the body of Christ, but rather, needs other members to be encouraged, taught, rebuked, etc. Thus, the member independently, cannot be complete with the body.

Translated by Nicoleta Filat