The Church
- We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons. (1 Cor:12:12-14 [12] For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also [is] Christ. [13] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. [14] For in fact the body is not one member but many. ; 2 Cor:11:2For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.; Eph:1:22-23 [22] And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church, [23] which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. ; Eph:5:25-27 [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, [26] that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, [27] that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. )
- We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts:14:27Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.; Acts:20:17From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.; Acts:20:28-32 [28] "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. [29] "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. [31] "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. [32] "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ; 1 Tim:3:1-13; Titus:1:5-11 [5] For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you -- [6] if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. [7] For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, [8] but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, [9] holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. [10] For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, [11] whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. )
- We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts:13:1-4 [1] Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3] Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent [them] away. [4] So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ; Acts:15:19-31 [19] "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, [20] "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, [from] sexual immorality, [from] things strangled, and [from] blood. [21] "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." [22] Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, [namely,] Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. [23] They wrote this [letter] by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. [24] Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "[You must] be circumcised and keep the law" -- to whom we gave no [such] commandment -- [25] it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, [26] men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [27] We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. [28] For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: [29] that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. [30] So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. [31] When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. ; Acts:20:28"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.; Rom:16:1I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,; Rom:16:4who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.; 1 Cor:3:9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, [you are] God's building.; 1 Cor:3:16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you?; 1 Cor:5:4-7 [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5] deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [6] Your glorying [is] not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? [7] Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. ; 1 Cor:5:13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."; 1 Pet:5:1-4 [1] The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: [2] Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; [3] nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; [4] and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. )
- We recognize water baptism and the Lord's Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Matt:28:19-20 [19] "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen. ; Acts:2:41-42 [41] Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added [to them.] [42] And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ; Acts:18:18So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila [were] with him. He had [his] hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.; 1 Cor:11:23-26 [23] For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the [same] night in which He was betrayed took bread; [24] and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." [25] In the same manner [He] also [took] the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink [it,] in remembrance of Me." [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. )
