Beth-El Baptist Church

09/23/2012

Greg Tomlinson


What is the “Universal Church”?


The idea of the “Universal Church” and thus its meaning will depend on what you mean by “Universal Church” in the context of the associated conversation. On one hand the “Universal Church” is a type of “church” denomination that claims to not only be non-denominational but also ecumenical in the widest sense. Its website describes “Spirituality is what we make of it. There is no right or wrong answer to the afterlife, the meaning of life, or how life began”. In other words, this “Universal Church” believes everything and as such believes in nothing.

The Biblical idea of the “Universal Church” is that which will be described and sought to be understood at this time. The word for Universal comes from the Greek “katholikos”, meaning universal from which the Roman Catholic Church gets its name. It also comes from the writings of the First Council of Constantinople which recognizes that there is but “one holy catholic and apostolic Church”.


  1. What are the goals of the “Universal Church”?

Unity – John 17:22-23; Psalm 133:1-3; Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-14

Holy – Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7-8, 26; 1 Peter 1:14-19

Universal – Isaiah 66:18; Revelation 5:8-10; 7:9-10; Ephesians 2:13-18

Apostolic – Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 2:41-42


The Christian “Universal Church” is a world wide collection of peoples who seek unity that is limited or bounded by Holiness unto the LORD. It is universal in that it is to encompass people from every nation and tongue throughout the whole world. There is no one in the world who is excluded from being part of the “Universal Church” because of their ancestry. The teachings of the “Universal Church” are bound by having come from the Apostolic fathers. This means either from the 11 who walked with Jesus, plus Paul, and the direct disciples of these twelve men. The results of this is that the Apocryphal books are excluded since every one of them were written more than 100 years after the death of the Apostles.


  1. Where does the real “Universal Church” reside?

Luke 17:20-21 1 Peter 2:5-10

Matthew 7:21-23 Revelation 2:9-10; 3:9-12

Romans 4:12-16 Galatians 3:7-9


The “Universal Church” is NOT located at any one place, except for within the hearts of men. It is a world wide collection of those who believe and believe in the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. At any physical gathering of people that professes to be a Christian church, there will be some in the assembly of people those who are NOT actually a child of God and thus they are not a part of the “Universal Church”. It is also likely that there will be some assemblies of people who claim to be part of the “Universal Church”, but they are not. It is only God, in Christ, that knows the validity of any person professing to be a believer in Christ and thus a part of His family.




  1. If the church is “one”, indicating unity, how come there is so much fragmentation?

Ephesians 4:11-14 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Matthew 6:24 2 Timothy 4:1-4

1 Timothy 3:14-16 Jude 1:4-5

2 Peter 2:1-2


The reality is that believers throughout the world are at different stages in understanding what it means to be a Child of God, a Believer in Jesus Christ. In the end, all will be united but for now the flesh is till a big part of living on earth. Furthermore, Satan's desire is to try to destroy the church. One of the ways he does that is to have some of his seed, unbelievers, enter into the Church of God, claim to be a believer and then change the teaching of the church. There are many churches out there that will not preach the Word of God as Christ commands us but teaches a pursuit of the things of this world which will not edify and transform but will solidify enslavement to Satan. Since there are some who claim to be Christian who also deny the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is clear that every believer must be careful who he listens to and what he believes.


  1. How can I become a member of the “Universal Church”?

Acts 16:30-31 Romans 10:8-11


God's true “Universal Church” is entered into only by faith. It is a faith that believes that which would seem foolish – someone dying on behalf of those who hate Him and then giving each one the great riches He possesses (His righteousness). The belief and confession of Christ is not a belief of the mind and a confession of the lips but a belief in the heart and a confession of his life. Many men will be deceived by their own minds and by the words of others, but Christ will never be deceived regarding the salvation of any person or persons.