The Church
We believe that the church, as set forth in the New Testament, has a twofold aspect: universal and local. We believe that the church, the body of Christ (Eph. 1:19-23 [show]Ephesians 1:19-23
[19]and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20]that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21]far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [22]And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, [23]which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (ESV)
; Col. 1:18 [show]Colossians 1:18
[18]And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (ESV)), is composed of all elect in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-29 [show]Galatians 3:26-29
[26]for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [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. [29]And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (ESV)), and that it is essentially an organism rather than an organization (Eph. 2:11-22 [show]Ephesians 2:11-22
[11]Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- [12]remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13]But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14]For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15]by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16]and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17]And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18]For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19]So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20]built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21]in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22]In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (ESV)). We believe a local church to be an organized body of immersed believers (Acts 2:41, 47 [show]Acts 2:41
[41]So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV)
Acts 2:47
[47]praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)) who meet regularly for the purposes of worship (John 4:23-24 [show]John 4:23-24
[23]But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. [24]God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (ESV); Phil. 3:3 [show]Philippians 3:3
[3]For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh-- (ESV)), fellowship (Acts 2:42 [show]Acts 2:42
[42]And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (ESV)), observance of the ordinances (Acts 2:41 [show]Acts 2:41
[41]So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV)), proclamation of the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20 [show]Matthew 28:19-20
[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." (ESV); Luke 24:46-47 [show]Luke 24:46-47
[46]and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, [47]and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (ESV)), and the edification of the saints (Eph. 4:11-12 [show]Ephesians 4:11-12
[11]And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (ESV)); that each local church is to be autonomous (I Cor. 5:1-6 [show]1 Corinthians 5:1-6
[5:1]It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. [2]And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
[3]For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. [4]When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, [5]you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
[6]Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (ESV)), although churches may voluntarily cooperate with each other (Acts 15:2, 4-5, 23-25 [show]Acts 15:2
[2]And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. (ESV)
Acts 15:4-5
[4]When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. [5]But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses." (ESV)
Acts 15:23-25
[23]with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. [24]Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, [25]it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (ESV)); that a local church has as its Biblical officers, at minimum elders (Acts 20:17, 28 [show]Acts 20:17
[17]Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. (ESV)
Acts 20:28
[28]Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (ESV); Tit. 1:5-7 [show]Titus 1:5-7
[5]This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you-- [6]if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. [7]For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, (ESV); I Tim. 3:1-7 [show]1 Timothy 3:1-7
[3:1]The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. [2]Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, [3]not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. [4]He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, [5]for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? [6]He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. [7]Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (ESV)), and deacons (Phil. 1:1 [show]Philippians 1:1
[1:1]Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (ESV); I Tim. 3:8-13 [show]1 Timothy 3:8-13
[8]Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. [9]They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. [10]And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. [11]Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. [12]Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. [13]For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (ESV)); that other officers may be added as needed by the Elders of the church provided such officers are not contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture; and that the ordinances of the church are Baptism (Matt. 28:19 [show]Matthew 28:19
[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, (ESV); Acts 2:41, 10 [show]Acts 2:41
[41]So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV)
Acts 2:10
[10]Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, (ESV):46-48) and the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 10:16-22, 11 [show]1 Corinthians 10:16-22
[16]The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? [17]Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. [18]Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? [19]What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? [20]No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. [21]You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. [22]Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (ESV)
1 Corinthians 10:11
[11]Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (ESV):17-34).