The concept of the church in the Bible extends to the universal church, comprising all believers throughout history who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. These believers are united by their shared faith and relationship with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 speaks of believers being baptized into one body—the body of Christ—by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the unity of all believers in Christ. Christ’s promise in Matthew 16:18, “Upon this rock I will build my church,” refers to this universal church. Paul’s persecution of the church, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:9 and Galatians 1:13, was directed at the church in general, indicating his recognition of a larger entity.

The Bible uses metaphors to describe the universal church. One prominent metaphor is the “body of Christ.” Ephesians 5:23 emphasizes the organic unity of believers and their dependence on Christ as the head. Another metaphor is Christ as the cornerstone, as highlighted in Ephesians 2:20. Christ’s sacrificial love for the church is emphasized in Ephesians 5:25-32, portraying the intimate relationship between Christ and the church.

The biblical theology of the universal church underscores the unity of believers in Christ, the centrality of Christ, and Christ’s sacrificial love for His church. It also highlights the church’s identity as the body of Christ, through which Christ works in the world.