TEXT: HEBREW 12: 22 – 25
MEMORY VERSE: John 10: 16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and the shall be one fold and one shepherd”
INTRODUCTION
When we come to a place or building where we worship and perform all the Christian rites of worship we are talking about a local Church or local assembly, but when the local Churches of different tribes, race, nation and groups now come together before Christ in Heaven we talk about universal Church – the general assemble or the bride of Christ.
FOUNDATION OF THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY
- Must have communion with Christ (Colossians 1: 15 – 22, Ephesians 1: 19 – 23)
- Must be sound in biblical doctrines (2Timothy 2: 15 – 18, 2Timothy 3: 15 – 17, Titus 1: 10 – 16)
- Must walk in holiness (1Peter 1: 15 – 17, 1Thesssalonians 4: 3 – 7)
- She must identify the Devil as her spiritual enemy (1Peter 5: 8)
- Must faithful unto death (Hebrew 11: 6)
- Must be hopeful in the coming of Christ. {1Jn 3,3 Col 1,27}
The universal Church: The universal Church is not all the different Church denomination coming together but it is the comings together of all the saints who believes in Christ and carry out his commission on earth without fear or favour. It is not ecumenism. (Hebrew 12: 22 – 23, Revelation 19: 1 – 3, Revelation 7: 9)
CONCLUSION
The Church of Christ will rapture to be with the Lord and there shall we ever be with Him. This is the universal Church; those who are finally called to glory.
