JUST AS CHRIST HAS ONLY ONE BODY, THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH
THIS "UNIVERSAL" CHURCH IS MADE UP OF ALL BELIEVERS
Rom 12:4 Rom 7:4 Rom 12:5 1Cor 10:16 1 Cor 12:27 Eph 4:12
The word "catholic" means "universal"
EXAMPLES
Mat 16:18 Acts 5:11 Acts 8:3 Acts 9:31 Acts 20:28 1Cor 5:12 1Cor 10:32 1Cor 11:22 1Cor 12:28 1Cor 14:4 1Cor 14:5 1Cor 14:12 1Cor 14:19 1Cor 14:23 1Cor 14:26 1Cor 14:28 1Cor 14:35 1Cor 15:9 Gal 1:13
Eph 1:22 Eph 3:10 Eph 3:21 Eph 5:23 Eph 5:24 Eph 5:25 Eph 5:27 Eph 5:29 Eph 5:32 Phil 3:6 Col 1:18 Col 1:24 1Tim 3:5 1Tim 3:15 Heb 12:23 3John 1:10
The Local Church EXAMPLES OF LOCAL CHURCHES
Mat 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 Rom 16:1 Rom 16:5 Rom 16:23 1Cor 1:2 1Cor 4:17 1Cor 6:4
1Cor 11:18 1Cor 16:19 2Cor 1:1 Phil 4:15 Col 4:15 Col 4:16 1Th 1:1 2Th 1:1 1Tim 5:16 1Tim 5:17 Philemon 1:2 James 5:14 3John 1:6 3John 1:9 Rev 2:1 Rev 2:8 Rev 2:12 Rev 2:18 Rev 3:1 Rev 3:7 Rev 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
EVERY CHURCH IS UNIQUE
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN IDENTITY AND THEIR OWN SPIRIT
EACH CHURCH IS AN 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
1Cor 11:17-19
THE SEVEN CHURCHES
Rev 1:4 Rev 1:11 Rev 1:20
THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD
Rev 3:1 Rev 4:5 Rev 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
Gen 1:2 Gen 41:38 Exo 31:3 Exo 35:31 Num 24:2
1Sam 10:10 1Sam 11:6 1Sam 19:20 1Sam 19:23 2Chr 15:1
2Chr 24:20 Job 33:4
Psa 106:33 Ezek 11:24 Mat 3:16 Mat 12:28 Rom 8:9 Rom 8:14 1Cor 2:11 1Cor 2:14 1Cor 7:40 1Cor 12:3 Eph 4:30 Phil 3:3 1 John 4:2