The Professing “Earthly Church” Versus the Body of Christ “Heavenly Church”

When we examine the differences between the heavenly church, the body of Christ, and the professing earthly church, we easily see huge differences.

The key differences stem from a longstanding biblical and theological distinction between the visible/professing church on earth and the invisible/true church—the spiritual “body of Christ.”

The Bible does not use the exact modern terms “visible” or “invisible” church, but the concepts arise directly from Scripture’s teaching on the mixed nature of outward Christianity versus the pure reality known only to God. While we can easily see the professing “visible” earthly church, we realize that only God can see the “invisible” church “the body of Christ,” as only God knows every current and future member of this church.

1. Membership and Composition

Professing earthly church (visible): Includes all who outwardly profess faith in Christ, attend gatherings, participate in ordinances/sacraments, or belong to organized groups/denominations. It is a mixed multitude—true believers alongside false professors, hypocrites, nominal Christians, and “tares” (unbelievers who look like believers). In almost all instances membership is obtained through submission to water baptism.
Heavenly body of Christ (invisible/true church): Consists only of genuine, new-creation believers—the elect, regenerate people truly united to Christ by the Holy Spirit through their belief in the finished cross work of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). Members are spiritually baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, (I Corinthians 12:13). It is pure in God’s sight; no mixture exists. Only God knows who belongs. The Lord knows those who are His (II Timothy 2:19).

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

II Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

2. Visibility and Discernment

Earthly/professing: Visible and identifiable by humans—church buildings, organizations, leaders, attendees, programs, and public professions. Humans can observe and participate in it.
Heavenly/body of Christ: Invisible to human eyes. Its true membership cannot be discerned by people; only by God. Believers are “seated with Christ in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 2:6), giving it a spiritual, heavenly character even while saved members are still on the earth.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

3. Purity and Holiness

Earthly/professing: Imperfect and often flawed—marked by division, error, sin, scandals, false teaching, and worldliness.
Heavenly/body of Christ: Holy and destined for perfection. Christ gave Himself for the church “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27). It is already positionally perfect in Christ.

Ephesians 5:25-27

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

4. Unity and Structure

Earthly/professing: Often divided into thousands of denominations, traditions, and local expressions with human structures, hierarchies (in some cases), and varying practices.
Heavenly/body of Christ: Perfectly one — “one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:4-6). It is a spiritual body with Christ as the sole Head (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23), not a human institution.

Ephesians 4:4-6

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.

Ephesians 1:22-23

22 And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.

5. Nature and Calling

Earthly/professing: Institutional and organizational, focused on outward forms, gatherings, and activities in this world. It functions as a visible witness but can become entangled with culture or nominalism.
Heavenly/body of Christ: A living, spiritual organism and “the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:23). Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), as members of the body of Christ, we are to be ambassadors for Christ and share the Ministry of Reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18-21).

Ephesians 1:23 Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 5:18-21

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

6. Destiny and Security

Earthly/professing institutions: Can fail, divide, or face judgment (as with the “great house” containing vessels of honor and dishonor in 2 Timothy 2:20-21). Outward forms are temporary.
Heavenly/body of Christ: Eternally secure. It will ultimately be glorified, presented perfect to Christ, and united with Him forever. True members are kept by God’s power (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Ephesians 1:13-14

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.

Summary:

Because Paul is the Apostle God chose to reveal to the world the church that is the body of Christ, and the dispensation of grace, earthly professing churches should prioritize preaching the gospel of the grace of God (I Corinthians 15:1-4), building the body of Christ doctrinally and practically, and living as a unified witness of God’s wisdom.

Their focus should be spiritual—making disciples who understand their position in Christ, walk by faith, and proclaim ONLY the gospel of the grace of God, which is God’s plan of salvation for us today. However, with few exceptions, when we examine the earthly professing churches, we do not see this biblical pattern followed.

All Scripture is profitable, but only Paul’s epistles provide the specific blueprint for what the Church is and how it should function until the Lord returns. Churches that take Paul seriously as “our Apostle” will be gospel-centered, doctrinally sound, and spiritually focused on edifying the body of Christ and reaching the lost with God’s message of grace. This is the mission Scripture assigns in light of Paul’s unique calling.