In Acts 2, we see the long-awaited arrival of the Lord’s church.  Isaiah prophesized about it hundreds of years before (Isaiah 2:2-4).  Jesus had promised to build it during His ministry on earth (Matthew 16:18).  Now it is here.

As we go forward in this study, we will see the church in both of its manifestations—universal and local.  There are clear distinctions between the universal church and local churches, but, for a very brief time in history, they are the same.  Why?  Because in the beginning, there was only one local church—the church in Jerusalem.  From a local standpoint, this will soon change, and we will begin reading of local churches established throughout the Roman Empire, and, of course, eventually throughout the world.

The universal church would never change numerically.  There will always be just one.  Jesus never promised to build a multitude of churches because one would be enough.  Remember, the universal church is made up of all the saved.  Why would there be a need for more than one?  All the saved are found in the same place—the Lord’s church.  If Jesus had another church, who would be in it?

Does the Bible say that there is only one church?  The answer is yes, very clearly.  First, we need to realize that the church is sometimes referred to as the body (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18).  The question becomes, then, how many bodies does Christ have?  The Bible tells us.

1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)
¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4 (ESV)
⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

Ephesians 2:14–16 (ESV)
¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Since there is only one church (body), we must know what it consists of.  Some mistakenly conclude that all the denominations of the world make up the universal church.  That cannot be true because when the universal church began, no denomination existed.  The Roman Catholic Church, the first denominational church, was established in 606 A.D.  That’s almost six hundred years too late.

Others believe the universal church is composed of all the local churches in the world.  That is not true either.  First, entrance into the church is obtained by baptism.  We shall discuss this in detail in a future blog.  For a local church to be a part of the universal church, it would have to be baptized, which we all know is ridiculous.  Furthermore, if the universal church was made up of local churches, what would happen to the Christian who found himself without a local church?  This might happen, for example, when a person moves from one place to another.  For a brief period, he may not be a member of any local church.  Does that mean he ceased to be a part of the universal church?  No, because the universal church is not made up of local churches.

The universal church is made of people who have obeyed the gospel.  Paul said, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).  People are baptized into Christ, not denominations or local churches.  As we have seen, the moment a person is saved, he is added to the church (Acts 2:47).  He is now “in Christ.” where all spiritual blessings are realized (Ephesians 1:3).  If you have not yet been added to the church by the Lord, obey the gospel and become a part of the body of Christ.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.