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THE CHURCH
A New Testament church of the Lord
Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by
covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances
of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and
privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the
ends of the earth. This church is an autonomous body,
operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In
such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are
pastors and deacons. The New Testament speaks also of the
church as the body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages.
Matthew 16:15-19; Matthew 18:15-20;
Acts 2:41-42, 47; Acts 5:11-14; Acts 6:3-6; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:23, 27; Acts
15:1-30; Acts 16:5; Acts 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor.
5:4-5; 1 Cor. 7:17; 1 Cor. 9:13-14; 1 Cor. 12; Ephes. 1:22-23; Ephes. 2:19-22;
Ephes. 3:8-11, 21; Ephes. 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 1 Tim.
4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; Rev. 21:2-3 |