In the New Testament, the English word “church” is translated from the Greek word ekklesia. This is a compound word: ek “out of,” and klesis “a calling.” The word is not inherently religious in nature. It referred to a group of people who assembled for any number of reasons. For instance, in Acts 19, the word is used three times to refer to the assembly of citizens who rushed into the theater at Ephesus. “Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly (ekklesia) was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together” (Acts 19:32, see also vv. 39, 41). However, ekklesia is also used to refer to an assembly of Christians.

W.E. Vine makes the following comment regarding this use of ekklesia: “It has two applications to companies of Christians, (a) to the whole company of the redeemed throughout the present era, the company of which Christ said, ‘I will build My Church,’ Matt 16:18, and which is further described as ‘the Church which is His Body,’ Eph 1:22; 5:23, (b) in the singular number (e. g., Matt 18:17, RV marg., ‘congregation’), to a company consisting of professed believers, e. g., Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 1:2; Gal 1:13; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1; 1 Tim 3:5, and in the plural, with reference to churches in a district.”

The church is the body of believers who have been called out of the world. All people are called to salvation through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). Those who respond in faith and obedience are saved and added to the church (Acts 2:47). These individuals are thus delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom (Col. 1:13). They are called to come out and be separate from the sinful world around them (2 Cor. 6:17).

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pet. 2:4-5, 9-10).

The church is God’s called out body of saved believers. We are not to blend in with the world. We are to stand out from the world, shining as a beacon of hope to lost souls looking to escape the darkness.

As Vine’s definition indicates, the word church is used two ways in the New Testament.

The Universal Church. In this sense, the word church refers to all the saved from both the past and the present. Jesus responded to Peter’s great confession with, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). He was not promising to construct a church building on that physical location. He was promising to build His body of saved people on the truth that was confessed by Peter. Jesus is the head of the church, which is His body of saved believers (Eph. 1:22-23).  

The universal church has no earthly organization. Christ is the head, and all the members are equal parts of His body (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:12-13). The Lord’s church has no earthly headquarters. The head of the church (Jesus) is in heaven. The universal church has no work to perform together. The only time the universal body of saved believers will be assembled together is when the Lord returns. “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you” (2 Thess. 2:1).

The Local Church. The word church often refers to a group of Christians who have identified with one another in a specific location. The New Testament speaks of the “church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2), “the church in Cenchrea” (Rom. 16:1), “the churches of Galatia” (Gal. 1:2), “the church of the Thessalonians” (1 Thess. 1:1), and “the seven churches which are in Asia” (Rev. 1:4).

The Lord has ordained an organization for the local church. When a plurality of men meet the qualifications, each church is to have elders and deacons (Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13). The members of the local church are to assemble together to worship and carry out the work of evangelism (saving the lost), edification (building up the saved), and benevolence (helping members who are in need).

Some of our religious friends and neighbors are confused about the distinction between the Universal and Local church. Let’s make sure we understand this aspect of the Lord’s church and are prepared to help others know and follow the truth.