The universal church is made up of all true believers of whom Jesus Christ is Savior (Eph. 5:23) and Lord (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:24). These believers are those who by God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9) have been reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:22) and given new and eternal life (2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:3, 16). They were called out of the domain of darkness and brought into Christ’s kingdom (Col. 1:13) and baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13). The church has been commissioned by Christ to bring the gospel to the entire world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; 2 Cor. 5:19-21).

The local church is a community of believers in close proximity who have committed to each other to be the visible expression of all that the universal church is and is to do (1 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:2). Every member of the universal church should be a member of a local church as Christians have a duty and responsibility toward one another (Acts 2:42-47; Phil. 2:2-3; Gal. 6:1-5; 1 Cor. 14:12).