The Ecclesia (Universal Church vs Local Churches)

This morning we're going to be looking at What the Bible says about the Ecclesia. What's that? Well, we're talking about the church. Have you ever noticed when going through the Bible? The scripture talks about the church Singular, but it also talks about churches plural.

The Church as One Body and Many Local Assemblies

So this is from the Morris Corner Church Statement of Faith. This is article 3 section L on the church says we believe that the church Which is the body and espoused bride of Christ is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age and then the second part says we believe that the establishment of and Continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures, so let's look up the references.

Let's first turn to Ephesians chapter 1. So go ahead and turn their Ephesians chapter 1 but did you notice in that that first statement it mentioned the church singular and then the second statement churches plural in Matthew chapter 16 when Jesus said I will build my church.

What was he talking about? The universal Church, yeah, he was talking about the church Singular, but then there's many places that talk about the local church and we know that there are many many countless Local churches, so we have to kind of explain What's going on there?

But in Ephesians chapter 5 when the Apostle Paul wrote husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church. What's he talking about there? Local churches or the one Universal church, well, sometimes it's not always clear.

Jim mentioned the term the universal Church. Who's familiar with this term the universal Church? Who knows what the word there's another synonym for universal? What is it? Right. The word Catholic means what Catholic means universal.

So I believe in the universal Church. You believe in the Catholic Church people like well, yeah, I'm not so sure. Well Catholic means universal. So there's all these terms out there and what we're concerned about is what does the Bible say?

What is the scripture teach so in one sense just to make it clear in one sense. There is only one church and The word church means assembly, but we're not going to all be assembled together until until heaven.

In the meantime, there are local churches. So there's Morris Corner Church. There's North Leverett Baptist down the road. There are many Bible believing churches around so Let's take a look at this this passage in Ephesians 1.

Look at Ephesians 1 22 and 23. It says and he put all things under his feet and gave him that is Christ to behead over all things To the church, which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all so the first part of this statement is that the church is the body of of Christ.

So I want to kind of dig a little deeper because you think in any local church you have people Assembled right here this morning in churches some of them. There's Thousands of people sitting in that, you know church building.

Is every person sitting in a church? Born again. No, okay, we know that that's not really the case, right? We can't always know the heart but God does so within every local Assembly, and I pray that that's the case and I I feel good that.

Just about everybody or the majority of people who attend Morris Corner Church. I know are born-again believers. But there are other churches where maybe it's it's half and half. Point is we don't really know but with any local assembly you have all all the people.

They're part of the local church. But how many are part of that one true universal church that will be in heaven? So you don't actually know until you get to heaven. So there's the universal body of Christ where everybody's saved.

Everybody's a true believer. Then you have local churches where. You know, that's just not necessarily the case any Comments or questions so far. Okay. This is all pretty standard, right? Okay. Now here at Morris Corner we believe in what is called regenerate church membership.

Okay, regenerate church membership. So when somebody becomes a member of Morris Corner Church, they don't just walk through the door and say hey. You know, I I like this place I want to be a member. Okay, you're in that's it doesn't really work like that.

What does that mean regenerate church membership? Again. Right. We want to make sure that everybody who's on the membership list everybody who's an actual member of Morris Corner Actually knows Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior not all churches practice regenerate church membership.

Some are just concerned about numbers and they will literally take Anybody now at the same time anybody is welcome to come through the front door. I Don't care if they're the most lost Person in the world.

They're welcome and we want them to come in and join us and we want them to hear the gospel but as far as church membership We believe in regenerate church membership. Right because the church is what the body the body of Christ.

It's the espoused bride of Christ. So to be the bride of Christ and the body of Christ you must be in Christ and unfortunately the majority of people in in this society are not In the body of Christ, so let me just read this statement.

One more time. Oh, what is it? What do you call a church that doesn't practice regenerate church membership where the where the members are not actually born again? Yeah, well it's apostate but you know, we would call those social clubs.

And I don't say that with any, you know, I'm not trying to be mean but if they're not They're not actually born again. They're not truly part of the body of of Jesus Christ.

Marcus maybe you'll get to it later, but the issue of baptism. Many churches I would think that practices Membership being of regenerate folks, right also want for the person to be willing to publicly display that Event that's happened in their life publicly.

Those are Baptist churches, right? And is it a policy of this church also? that someone needs or thought or is required to Be baptized by immersion publicly before membership, right?

There's a few requirements to be a member of Morris Corner Church, and this is generally true for all Bible-believing churches. You have to be saved and you have to be baptized and Then there are certain Expectations that go along with membership like you're you're going to attend and in give and serve And pray and be in submission and all all of the rest.

But yes, and at the same time is it's important to stress to any individual that Baptism or full immersion baptism is not a requirement for Regeneration that you can be part of God's universal Church.

Without that, so that's true.

That's true. But you are baptized into Christ. You're baptized into his body. So The thing is if somebody says I want to be a member of your church, but they're refusing to be baptized I mean, that's a glaring issue.

So yeah, so people who have not been or don't want to be baptized, you know, we love them. We we pray for them we hope that they do get baptized, but you know, there really can't be any just glaring issue where.

Yeah, Jesus says to do this and I refuse. That's not the way you want to start, you know church membership, obviously. Okay, so Reading again. We believe that the church is the body and the espoused bride of Christ.

And it is a spiritual organism, I'm gonna define that a Spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age in Ephesians 1 22 and 23 again, and he put all things under his feet and gave him to behead over all things to the church, which is His body that's the point that the Bible says the church is his body the body of Christ.

What is living organism that's look at that that's kind of a strange thing to say What does that mean that the church is a living organism? Well the word regenerate Can be defined as a living organism, right?

We're alive. The the church is alive. We are alive towards God. He has given us New spiritual life as opposed to those who don't know Christ who are spiritually what? Right spiritually dead. So through faith in the gospel a God the Holy Spirit has given believers new life now flip over to chapter 2 verse 1 Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1 speaks to this.

He says and you speaking to church members. He you he made alive who were dead trespasses and sins so People were once dead Spiritually, and now the Lord has made them made us Alive, so this is all very basic if you've been taught Someone who's never been you know spent any time in a local church and taught Doctrine and taught from the scriptures this you can't assume that people know and understand this so Hopefully this is familiar to most of you and if it's not I mean this is why this is why we need to go over this.

Why is it yes Jim, that's okay. Go ahead. No, I want you to go.

Thank you. Also in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 14, I think that's calling. It's actually identifying the Living organism by the journey of the Jews and the Gentiles. And what versus this 14 20 why don't you read it through 18?

For he is our peace who have made both one and have broken down the middle wall of partition between us Having abolished in his flesh the empathy even the law of Commandments contained in ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new man as making peace and.

Then he might reconcile God in one body by the cross having slain empty thereby. And came and preached peace to you which were far off and is them that were. Not but through him. We both have access to one spirit onto the body.

Okay, I think that kind of defines what what the. What the organism is, okay.

Yeah, and again we're talking about something that is alive now flip over to Ephesians chapter 5. You've heard of dead churches, right? How do you define a dead church. I think when some people talk about that it's very subjective and they they kind of show up and they get a feeling.

Well, their feeling might be right or off base. I mean that a feeling doesn't necessarily prove anything. Some people might define dead as you know, everyone's just sitting there you know a church that's alive people are you know shouting and waving their arms and they're getting up and Running up and down the aisles and that's how some churches define alive versus dead.

We're talking about spiritually though. You can tell when someone has no interest in the things of God you can tell when someone really has no Interest and understanding of of what the gospel is being alive.

Means you you know the gospel you you care about the Lord and the scriptures and you want to live for him and you want To serve him. So that's how that's what we're talking about a dead church versus a living church.

A living church is active, right? Okay Ephesians 5 Verses 25 through 27. I know this sounds like it's addressing, you know families and husbands and wives which it is. But there's a bigger point that Paul is trying to make.

He says husbands love your wives justice. Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her and I believe it's talking about the Universal church or the one true church, but it still applies to local churches.

Just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of Water by the word that he might present her to himself a glorious church. Not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

But that he should be holy or she should be holy in without Blemish, so the church is not only referred to as the body of Christ. It is also Spoken of as. It's the body and also the bride right the bride of Christ so Christ is the head of the church.

The body of Christ may be your gift. The illustration be if your gift is helps. You're like the hands of Jesus, right? I'm I. I preach and teach so maybe like I'm his mouth. If you're a missionary and you're going out with the gospel you're like his feet so the body of Christ.

Metaphor is pretty clear. We all have different gifts where to exercise them and for us to be effective. All the body parts need to be working together, right? So that that's kind of the illustration with the body.

But what's the illustration with the bride? Well, the bride of Christ analogy speaks of our relationship. With him just as a husband is the head of the home. Christ is the head of the church. I know we live in the 21st century.

Oh, you know, I don't like that and some people throw that out the window the husband being head of the home. Well, just don't be surprised if you throw that out the window. People who do that often throw Christ as the head of the church out the window.

Too so we are the analogy here is we are to obey Christ we are to be faithful to Christ in marriage an Absolute necessity in marriage for it to work. Is that the two people be faithful to one another, right?

And this is what we're talking about in Christianity in our relationship with the Lord. We know he's faithful to us. There's no question about that. So really the issue becomes are we Faithful to him.

So that's what is is talking about what he's talking about here in the book of James. James refers to unfaithful Believers as what is it in James chapter 4? Adulterers and adulteresses. So that's what he's calling unfaithful believers.

Why does he say that because people who are unfaithful to the Lord have committed a spiritual adultery basically there are many churches and and Christians who will willfully neglect and even deny some of the just the basic things of God so they can Fit in better with the world.

Compromised with the world they're really in bed with the world. So whatever the world does whatever is popular. They do whatever they have to do to kind of get along in the world and in the process they're being unfaithful to Christ.

Can anyone come up with an example of How that's happening in 2022 America. Marcus. Yeah, right, I mean that is one of the most obvious examples of being a spiritual adulterer or an adulteress. There's no question What the Bible teaches on that issue?

There is no question whatsoever but you know, we've had one or two people leave this church because we refuse to break The commandments of God basically like you passed. I had somebody tell me. You need to change on this issue if you want your church to grow now.

I Don't care that kind of went in one ear and out the other. But that's what a lot of people are doing what they see they see how this is all going. They see where this country is going. They see where the majority of people are and what's popular and what?

Unfaithful shepherds are doing and I could give you examples. Some of you know of local examples where this played out in plain view. They slowly try to bring their church into a compromised position to fit in with the world.

When they're clearly going against what the Bible says. What is that that's spiritual adultery?

Yes Marcus. And important to point out I think that God loves LG. Yeah. God loves them just like he loves us. We are all sinners and I've had you know an argument with people that say no, I'm not a sinner anymore.

I'm a saint. Mm-hmm. I'll say it. Well, uh, do you hike? Yeah. Well, you're a hiker. Do you bike? Yeah. Well, then you're a biker. Do you walk? Yeah, you're a walker. Do you sin? Home alone say Well, we're all we're all fallen and God the good news is that God loves sinners, right?

Yeah, the Bible says 1st Timothy 1 15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and that's you and it's me. And it's everybody else. So there's no one sin. You know, we don't bring that example up to single this group out as you know, they're especially bad.

That's not the point but that's just it's the kind of the big issue of our day of where Churches and pastors and Christians are compromised but yeah, everyone is a. Everyone has sinned.

Jim well, I was gonna say Romans chapter 1 brings that to very Succinct Point but also I you asked the question I think people that claim to be believers and Will show up at church. Maybe not every Sunday maybe periodically however long that is.

They are Putting them in a position of adultery because they're coming to church claiming to be believers, but yet they're not. Doing what scripture has us would have us do as believers.

Yeah, okay, let's turn to 1st Corinthians 12. And we do need to be careful about developing a judgmental attitude. Where. Okay. I. I've grown to this point in my Christian life. Therefore that gives me the right to judge everybody who hasn't reached my status, you know, we don't want to do that.

Because guess what there's you're here there's somebody who's up here and they can just as easily judge you. Because until you've come to a state of perfection, which will never happen in this life. You know, we point is we don't want to develop that kind of judgmental attitude.

That's why we say anybody is welcome to come in. I don't care what you know sin they're involved in who you are no matter what you've done. Unless you're a fugitive from justice or something, you know.

And this an escaped serial killer, you know, we want you to come in and sit through a sit through a service.

I didn't mean that to be judgmental. I'm just bringing up a point.

No, I know but that's that's how it's perceived and I'm not saying you in your comment, but you know, that's how Unbelievers or people can perceive believers right as being judgmental. So we just have to be, you know careful about that so from the pulpit or Sunday school.

We're teaching what the Word of God says. When we have personal interactions, we're gonna handle it a little differently we're gonna still bring forth what the Word of God says, but you're gonna be kind and compassionate to people you Come into contact with right?

Right. 1st Corinthians 12 verses 12 through 14. She's talking about spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age says for as the body. Verse 12 for as the body is one and as many members.

But all the members of that one body being many are one body. So also is Christ for by one spirit. We were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into one spirit for in fact, the body is not one member but many and then 2nd Corinthians 11 verse 2 He says for I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.

For I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ. So once again, we see this analogy and there is there is a call to what purity. Right. There's a call to faithfulness and a call to purity.

What puts someone into the true spiritual body of Christ or what puts someone into the Universal Church as as it's called. We just read it in 1st Corinthians 12 Verse 13 for by one spirit. We were all what?

Baptized into one body. So the thing that puts you into the true Church of Christ Is not your water baptism. That's not what he's talking about. He's talking about spirit baptism. So you are not a member of the true Universal body of Christ unless you have been baptized by the Spirit.

In other words, the Holy Spirit has to be within a person, right? And then you get baptized by water. To symbolize what happened in the Spirit. Does everybody understand that? Okay. All right. Now, let's move on to the second to the second part.

And again when talking about the Universal Church We need to be a little careful how many of you have heard of the Apostles Creed. Maybe you attended a church where the Apostles Creed was read or repeated every Sunday.

It says we believe in the Holy Catholic Church. By the way, the Apostles Creed wasn't written by the Apostles just just to say that. Well, do I believe in the one true Universal Church, yes. Do I believe in the Holy Catholic Church?

Well, the church is holy it is set apart. Do I believe do I recognize there is a universal body where we will all be gathered together in heaven? Yes, I Kind of cringe out the word Catholic though. I have to be maybe that's the Baptist within me that cringes at that word.

But again, we just have to be careful because when people hear Catholic. They think Roman Catholic that's the bottom line people hear that. So as long as we have these terms understood I Can affirm that statement?

Just with a clarification. Catholic means universal. We're not talking about Roman. Okay. Yeah, I got saw a hand.

These controversial issues we of course we have to go on and. And fallibility of the scriptures and Isaiah 5 20 says woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Who put darkness for light and light for darkness, etc. Etc.

Keeps going. Yeah, the real issue is well it is The authority of the Bible and what the Bible describes right as sin. I mean, there's plenty of sin in there that That I'm guilty of right but to say that it's all right.

To get drunk or something. This is a not drunk with wine. Oh. So somebody says well, how about whiskey? There's a lot. There's lots of things that right and that sexuality is Is is evil.

Well, and Since you made one last comment, let me let me make one last comment anyone who's ever Come and attended Morse Corner Church, whether once or twice or whether for weeks months or years. Anyone who's ever attended here knows that we do not have a judgmental spirit towards sinners.

People can come and they're they're treated respectfully. They're treated, you know kindly. Again we want people to come and hear the gospel. So we do not have that spirit here, but at the same time we're just not going to compromise what the Word of God says.

Here's what it says. This is what we believe and and we're gonna preach it and what you do with it is between you and God. Ultimately that has to be our approach but talking to individuals, especially those who are lost.

I mean, they're lost. What do you what do you what do you expect? So, you know, we do not have that judgmental spirit here. All right, let's move on to the second part the second statement says we believe that the Establishment of and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures, so let's turn now to 1st Timothy chapter 3.

We've talked about the church singular the Universal Church now, we're going to talk about local churches. And as you're turning there, let me just read one verse from Acts 14. Acts 14 27 you can just listen to it and I'll ask you a question.

Acts 14 27 says now when they had come and gathered the church together. They reported all that God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So that's the verse listed at 14 27.

Is that a reference to the Universal Church or is that a reference to a local church? Local right, how do we know because they gathered the church together and that was a local assembly of 40 people 140 who knows but it wasn't all believers from from all ages.

Obviously, so now we're talking about local churches. So what is Morse corner? We're a local church, right? And don't take the bait when somebody asks you which church is the one true church don't take the bait.

What are they asking? Well, because some people say the Eastern Orthodox Church is the one true church or the or the Baptist. They're the one true. There is no such thing as the one true church here on earth as far as an institution.

Don't take the bait. The whole premise of the question is wrong. There are born-again believers in all denominations or most most all denominations. When we get to heaven, there's gonna be all sorts of people up there.

Then some of them you probably didn't expect to see perhaps.

We will be surprised.

Right, right. Before we read from first Timothy three during the Protestant Reformation The Reformers came up with three marks of a true church or we could say three marks of a true local church. What does it take for it for you to have a church?

I mean obviously need an assembly of people. But three and I agree with this this I can't show you chapter and verse. From the Bible. So if you want to disagree with this, I guess you're free to do it.

But the Reformers said there are three marks of a true church. Number one. The gospel is preached. We all agree with that. I mean that that absolutely is is necessary. Number two. The ordinances must be administered.

So there's going to be baptism in the Lord's Supper. And the third one I think is the point that some people would disagree on. Church discipline must be practiced. Why. Because the church is the body of Christ made up of born-again baptized believers.

If you don't practice church discipline, or you don't have a regenerate church membership over time. The the sheep, you know the sheep the flock starts to turn into a goat farm. If you won't Put anyone out if there's no standards, right?

So verse one first Timothy three now, we're talking about a letter that was written to Timothy who is a pastor of a Local church. We're getting into some of the details now. Paul writes this is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop he desires a good work.

Who knows? What the term bishop is in in Greek? Does anyone know. Yep, that's what it means. That's the definition but the Greek term for bishop Episcopal, I'm probably mispronouncing it. Where does that sound familiar.

Episcopal? Well, that's where you get the word Episcopal and you've heard of Episcopalians, so the Episcopal Church is a church that is run by bishops. Okay, so they say the church should be run by. Run by bishops.

Is that true? Well their understanding of what a bishop is is they think a bishop should be One man or of course they ordain women bishops, but that's a whole other story. They believe a bishop should be a regional director basically in charge of potentially hundreds of churches.

Who's Paul writing to. Is he writing to the church universal? No, he's writing to Timothy who is ministering in a local church. Timothy is what a he's a bishop and Timothy was the pastor of one church the Church of Ephesus.

So look at first Timothy 3. Starting verse 1 again. This is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop He desires a good work a bishop then must be blameless the husband of one wife temperate sober minded a good behavior.

Hospitable able to teach. Not given to wine not violent not greedy for money, but gentle not quarrelsome. Not covetous one who rules his own house. Well having his children in submission with all reverence.

For if a man does not know how to rule his own house. How will they take care of the Church of God? Not a novice less being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil moreover.

He must have a good testimony among those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the snare of The devil. So this is the these are the guidelines for a a. We call them pastors, but the biblical term would be a bishop.

Which means as you heard it means? Overseer here's one thing about this. These are the qualifications for a bishop. Okay, every Christian man And Christians in general should be trying to live up to this standard.

Mm-hmm. Not everyone is going to be apt to teach. Not everyone is going to have the desire to be a bishop. But we should try to live up to this standard. Should we should Christians be greedy for money?

I? Don't I don't think so, right? Should we Hold to the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. All my pastors need to do that. No, I mean these are things that generally we should all try to live up to.

Okay. Now let's turn to another passage Titus chapter 1 and then he goes on in chapter 3 to talk about Deacons and the list for deacons their requirements for deacons are very similar. There's one main difference between a pastor in a deacon one main difference.

Does anyone know what it is? Teaching right a deacon you can be a deacon without being apt to teach. But to be a pastor bishop or as we're gonna see an elder. You need to be apt apt to teach. Alright, so Titus chapter 1 Speaks of elders now.

We're kind of getting into the the role of church government. I Find this topic really interesting. I know that some of you probably don't but What are some of the ways churches are run And operate we already talked about the Episcopal right the Episcopalians they believe In bishops that rule the whole region.

So it's like one person Controls all of New England or something, you know something like that. They have a diocese. We we don't believe that's biblical. What are some of the other ways churches are run?

Okay by denominations so you have a body off somewhere. Making your decisions for you. You know, I'm not looking to fight denominations. But I don't see denominations of the Bible, I mean, I don't know am I wrong here are denominations in the Bible.

We believe in the autonomy of the local church. So there are local churches that are pastor led. There are some churches that are Deacon led right where the Board of Deacons they call all the shots and then there are What we're in Titus one.

What's the other category elder? Led so these are the two you're likely to come across a pastor led church and an elder led church. What's the difference between an elder and a bishop. Well, let's look at Titus one look at verse 5 Paul says to Titus for this reason I left you in Crete that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I Commanded you now the Greek word translated elder is Presbyteros, so we have the Episcopal.

The Episcopalians now we have Presbyteros. What word does that make you think of? Presbyterian so the Presbyterians believe in guess guess what they believe in what type of church government. Elders, right?

They believe the church should be elder. Led or ruled by a board of elders now this gets into the whole debate of church government. As you don't have really time to get too much into that. Do you think Paul was telling Titus one thing in Timothy the exact opposite two different words elder and bishop.

Two different denominations have come from these words. That's what they named their old denomination after. Do we really believe Paul is saying contradictory things? I Don't think so. So, how do we understand this?

Let's keep reading says for this reason I left you in Crete that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I Commanded you if a man is blameless and here's the requirements again the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of dissipation or Insubordination for a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God not self-willed not quick tempered.

Not given to wine not violent not greedy for money, but hospitable lover of what is good sober-minded just holy and self-controlled holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convict.

Those who contradict so you can see the qualifications are very very similar. So in a local church, here's what I have concluded that a local church is to be led by bishops. Now, what about what's an elder though?

Is that a different office? No elders are Bishops it's the same thing a bishop is an overseer. The pastor is a bishop. The pastor is also an elder. Now what does the word elder mean. Well, it means someone who's older right.

It could talk about a spiritual maturity. But the word itself the plain meaning is someone who's a little older. Here's actually what I think was happening and I'm in a small minority on this. I believe that in Crete Paul wanted Titus to appoint men who were Elders they were more mature.

These are men that people looked up to until they could maybe finally get a Bishop installed permanently. I can't prove that but generally speaking elder bishop Overseer pastor it's all the office. So We're running out of time.

We believe in pastor led churches and there's two offices in a local church. What are they? Pastor and deacon if you go back to first Timothy three, that's exactly what you see pastor and deacon and then You have the church the church membership and the church members again.

We believe in regenerate church membership. I believe going forward. This will be one of the most important Things churches need to pay attention to to make sure they have a regenerate church membership because ultimately whatever happens Here at Morris Corner Church, whatever happens it depends on the members.

Because the members vote and the direction of this ministry to a large degree will depend on the church church members if you have a church where 80 of the members are Are not regenerate. If I preach a sermon that is biblical.

But I decide not to compromise maybe on that issue that you mentioned or some other issue guess what the church members can do they can vote the faithful shepherd out and that's what's happening in a lot of Assemblies all over all over the u .s.