Introduction. The term “autonomy” (self-ruled) is not used in the Bible. Although it is a succinct and clear way to describe how Jesus rules and directs His churches, it is among the most complex and misunderstood topics in Scripture. Many have never heard of it and very few fully understand it, but it is fundamental to the church.
Universal Perspective. The church is viewed from two perspectives in Scripture. Looked at by Jesus from heaven and eternity, He views all disciples as one church. Jesus is “head over all things to the church which is His body,” and “I will build my church” are both singular, because in eternity, where a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as day, there is only one church, ever growing, until the end of this age. Those living today are in the same church as Paul and Peter. Time and distance mean nothing to our eternal and omnipresent Savior.
The Church Begins. It is evident that when Jesus said, “I will build” the event was still in the future. The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost to inspire Peter to preach the sermon to open the door. The results were that “those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added.” Jesus’ church began and it is into this church they were added. (Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; Mt. 16:16-19; Acts 2).
Local Perspective. Those living in time can only see churches separated by time and distance. It was one of these churches that Saul persecuted. It was only “against the church which was at Jerusalem.” He scattered the church in Jerusalem “throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.” What happened next forms our understanding of God’s intent for the churches on earth. When “those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word,” new churches came into being. They were all part of Jesus eternal universal church, but God also saw each city that had disciples as a local church in time. After Saul became a Christian and an apostle, not only was there a church in Jerusalem, but also “churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.” (Acts 8-9).
Universal Perspective. The church is viewed from two perspectives in Scripture. Looked at by Jesus from heaven and eternity, He views all disciples as one church. Jesus is “head over all things to the church which is His body,” and “I will build my church” are both singular, because in eternity, where a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as day, there is only one church, ever growing, until the end of this age. Those living today are in the same church as Paul and Peter. Time and distance mean nothing to our eternal and omnipresent Savior.
The Church Begins. It is evident that when Jesus said, “I will build” the event was still in the future. The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost to inspire Peter to preach the sermon to open the door. The results were that “those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added.” Jesus’ church began and it is into this church they were added. (Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; Mt. 16:16-19; Acts 2).
Local Perspective. Those living in time can only see churches separated by time and distance. It was one of these churches that Saul persecuted. It was only “against the church which was at Jerusalem.” He scattered the church in Jerusalem “throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.” What happened next forms our understanding of God’s intent for the churches on earth. When “those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word,” new churches came into being. They were all part of Jesus eternal universal church, but God also saw each city that had disciples as a local church in time. After Saul became a Christian and an apostle, not only was there a church in Jerusalem, but also “churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.” (Acts 8-9).