A Universal Church
The Italian artist Raphael painted the scene of the Transfiguration described in Matthew 17. It shows the Lord on a high mountain. His
face is shining like the sun, and his clothes are dazzling white. Moses is on one side of Jesus and Elijah on the other. Three disciples are kneeling nearby in worship.
Raphael’s painting shows a young epileptic boy at the bottom of the mountain against a dark background. A small crowd has gathered around the boy. His parents are there wanting the other disciples to heal their son. The disciples stand there helplessly while their enemies mock them.
This is the picture that many have of the church. Christ is far away on some mountaintop. He is surrounded by a few special people who have escaped from the valleys of life. At the foot of the mountain is a world sick and in great need of healing, with no one to help it.
God’s Instrument
First we will find out what the church is. We need to understand that the church is God’s creation and His unique possession through Christ. Then we want to see what the church is supposed to do. Because of what the church is, it has a special purpose in the world. We will see what that purpose or mission is.
The Meaning of the Word Church
The word used in the New Testament for church is the word ekklesia, which means “to call out from” or “the called-out ones.” It can also mean “called unto.”
In the simplest terms the church is God’s people. It is the believers who have been called out of the world by means of the gospel of Christ. These believers maintain a personal relationship with Christ by faith and are united to the body of believers by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
The church is the “gathering of God’s first-born sons, whose names are written in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). This means that experiencing the new birth is the first condition for becoming a part of the church. The second is the joining of one believer with others into one body by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). These are the first steps in becoming a part of the church.
The Bible speaks of the church in two ways. First, it speaks of a universal church. Christ said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). He did not say “churches.” He was speaking of one church—those who have been born of the Spirit of God and who have by the same Spirit been baptized into the body of Christ (1 Peter 1:3, 22-25). The universal church represents believers and members of the body of Christ in all places and all ages. Some call this the church invisible, but actually the church has never been invisible, because it is people, real live people.
The Bible also speaks of a local church. In the local sense the word church is used of a group of believers in any one locality or place. The local church is the local expression of the universal church. Thus we read of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1, 11:22), the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Corinthians 1:1), or the church of the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1). The local churches together ought to be a good example of the true church, the universal church.
The church at its very beginning sprang up in a most simple way. At first there was no organization, but merely a simple bond of love, fellowship, and cooperation. This quickly changed. It became more organized by the believers who felt a need to join efforts with others in making known the gospel of Christ to unbelievers.
At first there was but one local church in Jerusalem. The membership grew to 3000 and then 5000 as the Lord added to the church daily (Acts 2:47). More local churches became necessary elsewhere to meet the needs of other new members in the body of Christ. New churches were established wherever the gospel was preached, such as in Judea and Samaria (Acts 8).
From these early days of the church to the present, believers have seen that it is good to join fellowship with other members of the body of Christ. This has resulted in the local church. But it must not be forgotten that the universal church reveals itself in the visible, or local, church. The church is in existence wherever two or three are gathered together in the name of Christ (Matthew 18:20).
Divine in Origin
The church is a divine creation. It is unique because it is a special people called out by God. God has called everyone to repentance. The sinner who responds to God’s call becomes a new creature in Christ. The born-again believer becomes part of a new family—the family of God, or the church. The church is born of God, and not by the work of any man. The church is not organized—it is born. It is not the product of man’s efforts, but it is the product of man’s birth into the kingdom of God.
The church is a divine possession. The church is “God’s own people” (1 Peter 2:9). It belongs to God. He was the one who paid the price to purchase it through Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The church belongs to God to be used by Him for His eternal purposes. This does not mean that it is a lifeless object or tool in God’s hand. The church has value to God because it is through the church that the “angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world . . . learn of his wisdom in all its different forms” (Ephesians 3:10). The church, in other words, is the living example to the world that God is able to redeem from sin. God, the Creator and Savior of the world, restores His people to fellowship with Him, and He enjoys a special relationship with them.
Christ’s Purpose
We have talked about the meaning and origin of the church. It was God’s will and design that brought the church into existence. In the plan of God, Christ was to redeem the world through His sacrifice. But Christ was not to accomplish the entire plan of redemption alone (Matthew 28:18-20). The plan calls for the members of His church to be the agents or messengers to accomplish Christ’s eternal purpose.
The plan of God may be stated simply in the following manner:
1. God the Father planned the redemption of mankind.
2. Jesus the Son of God revealed God’s plan and paid the price.
3. The Holy Spirit formed the church to accomplish the divine purposes of the Father and the Son.
4. The church fulfills the purpose of the Father and the Son by the ministry of its members, through the Holy Spirit, to the world.
Two things are brought up at this point. One is the special relationship between Christ and His church, that is, the unity or “oneness” of Christ and the church. The other is the means by which this unity takes place. The Holy Spirit provides the grace for the believers to be united in Christ, and He also makes effective the ministry of each member of the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-8). Here are some examples of these two ideas:
1. The church is the body of Christ. This means that Christ and the church are one, as the head and the body are one. There is a necessary and living relationship between Christ and His church. The apostle Paul uses the example of the body and says, “No one ever hates his own body. Instead, he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ does the church; for we are members of his body” (Ephesians 5:29-30).
The church, as a body, is the visible manifestation of Christ. This means the church shows to the world what Christ is like. The body of Christ is a fellowship of people who are united in a common faith, a common worship, and a common love. This faith, worship, and love are centered around the head of the church, which is Christ. The people who make up the church are bound together because of the work of Christ (Ephesians 2:21- 22; 5:30; 1 Corinthians 12:27).
2. The church is the bride of Christ. The church has been compared to a bride awaiting her bridegroom. The church is waiting for the return of Christ, the Bridegroom (Mark 2:19-20, 2 Corinthians 11:2). Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25). Christ is preparing the church during these days. He is to present it spotless at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:5-10).
3. The church is the community of the Holy Spirit. The church was created on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit gave birth to the church in order to fulfill Christ’s mission. The church has become the temple of the Holy Spirit that God might dwell on the earth. The Holy Spirit has acted and continues to act creatively. He was present at the creation of Adam, and He is present in the church, which is a new creation of God.
The creation of the fellowship for worship and service was the work of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit brought all believers together. There was communion (Acts 2:43-47). There was unity and fellowship in the church as there is between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit The presence of the Holy Spirit brought a deep spiritual community in Christ among believers.
The Holy Spirit is actively adding members to the body of Christ. Through the church, He is reaching out to bring others into the community of believers. It was Christ’s wish that none should be destroyed (2 Peter 3:9).
While the church is still in the world, the Holy Spirit will be actively baptizing believers into the body of Christ and He will be baptizing the members of the church for service. It is through the church that the Spirit carries out the eternal purpose of God.
4. The church members are living stones. It was mentioned before that the church is called the temple of the Holy Spirit. The living Spirit of God dwells in the total building. But the building itself is a spiritual building made up of living stones (1 Peter 2:5). We are those living stones!
The Holy Spirit gives life to the church and sustains or keeps it. The church is a living organism. The Holy Spirit is the living power of the church. The church is not made up of “dead stones” but live ones. There is community, unity, and the sharing of needs and blessings. The church is very much alive and moving when it is doing God’s will through the Holy Spirit.
The Church’s Ministry
Ministry is the natural result of the character of the church. The ministry of the church is encouraged by the Holy Spirit. But more than that, the ministry of the church flows from within the character and nature of the church. Just as eating is natural to people, ministry is natural to the church.
One of the first things a newborn believer wants to do is to serve God. Because of the joy of salvation and our appreciation to the Lord for our salvation, we want to do something in return. This is very normal and natural, just as eating is natural to a baby. But the baby needs some training as to what to eat and how to eat it. So do believers need to know what is involved in ministry.
What Is Ministry?
The most common word used to define ministry is the word service. To minister is to serve. To do a service for someone is to minister to that person. This is ministry in the most general sense of the word. In a more specific way, the word minister includes several aspects which will help us to understand what the church is to do.
In the Old Testament, the word minister meant a domestic (household) servant (1 Kings 10:5). It could also refer to one who served in the temple. The idea is of someone who assists another person. Joshua was a minister to Moses (Exodus 24:13, 33:11).Elisha assisted Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). The priests and Levites were ministers of God in the temple (Exodus 28:35; 1 Kings 8:11).
In the New Testament, the original Greek word used is diakonos. This word also has the meaning of “servant.” The minister of the synagogue in Nazareth was an attendant (Luke 4:20). John Mark was a minister to Paul and Barnabas, that is, their assistant. Jesus used the word when He said, “Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am” (John 12:26). As the church grew, its ministry was performed by various types of workers having several functions, but all were ministering servants of God (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). The term includes the idea of performing a spiritual service.
The church is called to the ministry of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The minister is one called by God to a place of responsibility. Whose responsibility is it to minister?
Two Scripture passages will help us to find the answer. The first is 1 Peter 5:1-3:
I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock.
This Scripture refers to the leaders of the body, who have been called of God to give all of their time and effort to this ministry. They are sometimes called the clergy.
Now let us look at 1 Peter 2:9-10.
But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. At one time you were not God’s people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now you have received his mercy.
This Scripture refers to all believers. It includes those members of the body who earn their living in many types of occupations outside of the church. They are sometimes called the laity, or laypersons. Most of us make up this part of the body of Christ. But as part of God’s church, we are all responsible to be involved in the ministries of the church. We are all “the King’s priests . . . chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God.”
How Do We Minister?
The Christian who ministers must devote himself to following the pattern of Christ. Christ came not to receive service but to give it (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45). Christ Himself said, “I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you” (John 13:15). That is what Paul was talking about when he wrote to the church, “God in his mercy has given us this work [ministry] to do, and so we do not become discouraged” (2 Corinthians 4:1).
The minister of Christ, following the example of his Master, gives a humble but loving service to help other people who are in need. In His first sermon at His home synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus said:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people (Luke 4:18-19).
Jesus announced publicly that He was taking the role of a servant. He never denied His services to needy people. In the streets He found the despised and the downcast and gave back to them their dignity as human beings in the sight of God. People brought their sick to Him, and He healed them in body and spirit. A publican needing to recover his self-respect—a beggar needing to recover his sight—a rich man worried about his soul—a fisherman worried about his luck—a leper crying “Unclean!”—or a woman who had sinned—whoever needed Jesus was not turned away. Many times His body was tired, as He spent Himself in service for others. But He kept giving of Himself all the way to the cross!
Jesus passed on His servant-ministry to His disciples. He showed them the road to greatness in the kingdom of God when He said, “Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Again He said, “If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest” (Mark 10:43). Just hours before dying on the cross, Christ pointed out, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). To show what He meant, He washed everybody’s feet. He did this to show the role of a servant.
Here are four things which can be said about a servant:
1. He is someone who works in somebody else’s house.
2. He ministers to somebody else’s needs.
3. He works at somebody else’s convenience.
4. He does not expect to be thanked for what he has done.
So “it is the same with you; when you have done all you have been told to do, say, ‘We are ordinary servants; we have only done our duty’” (Luke 17:10). Christ was our example in His own ministry. We have been given the wonderful privilege of ministering as He ministered!
Jesus came to earth as a humble, obedient servant. But what did God think of Jesus? The apostle Paul gives the answer in Philippians 2:9-10:
For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
To His obedient Son, God gave a glory greater than the world can ever give—the adoring worship of the whole universe. This could be a figure of what God has in store for an obedient, servant church.
What Is Our Ministry?
In general, the ministry of the church is divided into three parts: 1) it is called to serve God and worship Him; 2) it has a ministry to its own
members; 3) it has a ministry to the world of unbelievers. These three ministries of the church will be considered in more detail in later lessons. I will just give a brief explanation of each in this lesson.
1. The church ministers to the Lord. The term translated “While they were serving the Lord . . .” in Acts 13:2 means “worshiping the Lord.” True ministry to the Lord is true worship. This is the primary purpose of the church and its members (Romans 15:6, 9; Ephesians 1:5, 6, 12, 14; 3:21). God’s eternal purpose is to draw man closer to Him. In worship the redeemed man (in Christ) draws closer to God (Ephesians 2:13). When we worship we give God honor and reverence as the father of the universe. The words “Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power” and other such expressions show us the central meaning of worship (Revelation 4:11).
2. The church ministers to its own members. The church has the responsibility and privilege to minister to itself. “It was He who gave gifts to mankind . . . He did this to prepare all God’s people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). The church’s service is inward to herself in edification, purification, education, and discipline. This means the church has the responsibility to build up (edify) its members, to keep itself pure, to train, and to discipline the members of the body. The goal of God for the church is expressed in Ephesians 4:13: “And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature” (KJV).
3. The church ministers to the world. The church must move outward to the world in evangelization. The world is the earth and all its people. From the very beginning, since man fell into sin, it has been God’s plan to make salvation available to all mankind. The Great Commission, as spoken by the Lord in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15, directs the church to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. The church is to evangelize all the world—beginning with its own community, and reaching out to include every person of every tribe and nation.
So we see that the universal church is God at work in people through the Holy Spirit. The church is the called-out ones whose lives are given in service for the glory of Jesus Christ. The church is alive and moving with a purpose to minister to the Lord, to the membership of the body, and to the world. The church acts for God in worship, in service, and in witness.