Series: We The Church

Title: The Global Church Is One Church

One of the first instances we see the word church is in the sixteenth chapter of Matthew’s gospel. Here we find Jesus conversing with His disciples. He asked them the question:

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

This is really the question we should all ask ourselves because the answer to this question reveals whether we are truly saved and whether heaven will be our home.

This question puts all other religions in check.

For some will say that Jesus is a good person, a good teacher, maybe even go as far to say that He was a prophet sent from God. But do you believe that He is the Son of God the third person of the trinity. Do you believe that He is the Messiah the one who came to deliver the people of God.

How did Peter respond?

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Only a person who knows the Lord could proclaim Jesus as the Christ.

What was Jesus’ response to Peter?

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

But let’s break this verse down a little more to fully grasp what is being said.

First Simon, a disciple of Jesus gets a name change for declaring Jesus to be the Christ.

"Kaipha" - Aramaic equivalent for "rock"; whence the Latin "Petrus," from "petra" = "rock.”

In accordance with the custom of the time, Jesus gives Simon his second name Peter. That’s why Jesus refers to Simon as Simon Peter.

Furthermore, it was Jesus who was going to build His church. He is the owner of the church it belongs to Him being that He paid for it with His precious blood.

It is also said of this church that hell itself won’t prevail against it though it will certainly try.

Jesus tells Peter “on this rock I will build my church” meaning upon Peter’s revelation that Jesus was the Christ. This revelation would become foundational in the building of Jesus’ Church.

Jesus is foundational to our salvation. If we don’t believe in Jesus, then we do not have salvation.
Jesus prayed for all those who will believe that they would be one just as He and the Father are one.

John 17:20-21

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus says that there are more people who will come to faith in Him, and the goal for all believers, past present and future is that we would be one. It may feel like we are quite distant from other members of the body who live in other parts of the world. However, there are a few ways we can obtain oneness.

The Global Church is One Through Faith in Jesus

If we have Jesus living in our heart, then we are part of the family of God also known as the church.

Church - ekklēsia the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; collectively, all who worship and honor God and Christ in whatever place they may be.

So, when we talk about the church, we are talking about an establishment that Jesus has founded, and even bought with His own blood. The church is made up of many members who are scattered throughout the earth who worship and honor God wherever they may be. Furthermore, the church will prevail to the end of time.

In the book of Revelation there are letters written to the seven churches, who are believed to be actual churches living and active in the end times. Therefore, the church of the Living God will prevail to the end and Jesus will make sure it is so. In addition to prevailing, Jesus is preparing His church as a bride adorned for her wedding.

Ephesians 5:25-27

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

One day Jesus is coming back for His church who has been made ready. To ensure that the church would prevail to the end Jesus gives specific instructions to his disciples right before ascending to the Father.

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Global Church is One through Missions

Wherever you may find yourself, the mission of the church remains the same.

Making disciples was the key element to preserving His church. Making disciples should be done until the end of the age. Obviously, we have not yet experienced the end of the age. Therefore, if the church is to continue to thrive then we need to be about making disciples.

At the end of vs 20 it says and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

How would Jesus be with them if He was leaving to go to His Father? By sending the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to empower the church to be witnesses throughout the world.

There are many ways that the Church can achieve oneness through missions.
• There are so many disaster relief programs who demonstrate the love of Christ through acts of service for those affected by natural disasters. Because when the natural need is met people are more receptive to respond to God’s love being poured out on their lives.
• Acts of service
• Building projects in other countries
• Water wells in impoverished countries
• Providing relief to war torn countries
• Adoption
• Evangelistic outreaches, where the gospel is preached.
• Financially support missionaries. (Samaritan’s Purse)
• Prayer

Pentecost was the beginning of what we now call the global church. As you traverse through the book of Acts you will learn that the apostles were serious when it came to fulfilling the great commission. The Gospel began to spread throughout the world.

Acts 9:31

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

The thing about it is that we are all called to make a difference. When we engage in missions then we are being one with the global church.

The Global Church is One but Diverse

Acts 2:5-10
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

It was by divine appointment to have devout men from every nation gathered in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit was poured out. It was so that they could hear the message of the good news in their language and then go back to their hometowns and spread the good news.

No one people group is excluded from coming to the kingdom of God.
But salvation is available to all who believe in Jesus.

God is no respecter of persons. There were Arabs, Romans, Egyptians, Libyans, Jews etc.. all gathered in Jerusalem by God’s design to witness the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

We must get used to the idea that the Church of God is made up of various people groups for such will be the kingdom of God in heaven.

Revelation 7:9-10

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Though the body of Christ is made up of many different people groups, we all have this one common bond:

Galatians 3:27-28

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The key to achieving oneness though we are very diverse is by being in Christ. Walking in the love that Christ has for us. This requires putting others before ourselves.

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
The Global Church is One through Suffering

When we suffer persecution for the cause of Christ, we are one with our many brothers and sisters around the world who also suffer for His cause.

2 Timothy 3:12

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN: (The Voice of the Martyrs)

Israel –
In Muslim regions, Christian converts from Islam face severe persecution from their families, society, Palestinian government authorities and Hamas. In Jewish communities, Jews who follow Christ risk rejection, social pressure and occasional violence from ultra-Orthodox Jews and organized anti-missionary groups.

Jewish anti-missionary groups sometimes protest outside churches, cursing Christians and vandalizing their buildings. The anti-missionary activities have at times included violence against Christians.

Iraq –
Christian converts from Islam are abused and rejected by their families. In addition, they may be killed or persecuted by clan or tribe members, government authorities or extremist groups. Northern Iraq is still home to many Christians who have a degree of freedom to worship even though they are under Islamist threat. Christians in other parts of the nation, especially those who are converts from Islam, are under continual threat of violence, including abduction and murder.

China –
in recent years restrictive religious regulations and persecution have increased significantly. Hundreds of churches have been forced to close, pastors and church members have been arrested or detained and the online sale of Bibles has been prohibited. The government has installed hundreds of millions of facial recognition cameras, many in or near churches, to identify those who attend worship services.

It is illegal to disciple anyone younger than 18. Christians are often charged with participating in cults or with other spurious accusations, such as “bad business practices” or “intent to undermine the state.”

Libya –
Extremist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS), operate throughout the country. Friends and family also severely persecute converts.
Life is difficult in Libya, and the difficulties are compounded for Christians and especially Christian converts from Islam. There are few believers in Libya, and it is extremely difficult for them to practice their faith openly. Christians are rejected by their Muslim families and friends. They are beaten, lose families and jobs, and are sometimes killed. It is unknown whether any Christians are imprisoned in Libya, but it is considered likely.

North Korea –
The North Korean government allows for no religious freedom, requiring all North Koreans to follow the Juche religion. If discovered, Christians face harsh persecution from the government and from members of the community, who are required to serve as government informants. Even those who are aware of Christian activity but do not report it to the government are punished as enemies of the regime.
Christians are sent to prison and labor camps, where they are starved, overworked and tortured. The government’s requirement that all North Koreans act as informants applies even to families, as children are taught to spy on their parents from a young age. Therefore, North Korean Christians must be extremely careful in what they say, what they do and even how they pray. When a Christian is discovered, the government punishes the entire family in order to encourage reporting on family members. Despite the threat of persecution and heavy social pressure, Christians in North Korea hold firmly to their faith. Christian and secular analysts estimate that about 30,000 Christians are currently suffering in prison and labor camps.

Romans 5:3-5

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

When we suffer for Christ we are unified with the global church who is also suffering.

1 Corinthians 12:26

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

The Global Church is One Through Faith in Jesus
The Global Church is One through Missions
The Global Church is One but Diverse
The Global Church is One through Suffering