THE CHURCH

The Church:

A New Testament church is an assembly of baptized, born-again, believers[1]. It is the divinely established vehicle God chose through which the world may know Jesus[2]. The word, “church”, “Ecclesia”, means, “called out assembly.” It refers to a local assembly of baptized believers, under the discipline of the Word of God[3], which has been called out for a specific purpose, to continue the ministry of Jesus throughout the world[4]. The phrase “The Church” represents the whole of Christendom[5], all believers in Christ at all times and places. It is both an organism and an organization. It is an organism in that it is made up of many members that God has divinely placed in the body of Christ to work together[6]. It is moving forward through history; ever changing it’s methods[7] to share the unchangeable message of the Gospel[8]. It is an organization in that Christ is its only head[9]. It’s scriptural officers are Pastor and Deacon whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles of Timothy and Titus. Each member is equal and has the same authority as another[10]. It has two ordinances, Baptism[11] and the Lord’s Supper[12]. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer[13], into the name of The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Ghost[14]. It is the picture of our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to a new life[15]. It is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relationship[16] in that it places the believer into the local church thus symbolizing the placement of the believer into the Body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit, at the point of regeneration[17]. The second ordinance is the Lord’s Supper[18]. It is through this ordinance that we commemorate the atoning death of Christ[19]. The two symbols of this ordinance are the bread, representing the broken body of Christ, and the cup representing His blood[20]. Each element symbolizes the dying love of Christ. Each Christian should use this ordinance to examine his or her life in order to become closer to Christ[21].
[1] Acts 2:37-41
[2] Matthew 16:16-18
[3] Acts 2:41-47 ; Matthew 28:19
[4] Matthew 28:16-20
[5] Matthew 16:18 ; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:4, 5:23 ; Revelation 7:9-17
[6] 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
[7] 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
[8] Galatians 1:8
[9] Ephesians 5:23
[10] Romans 12 ; 1 Corinthians 12
[11] Matthew 28:19 ;
[12] Luke 22:19-20
[13] John 3:23 ; Mark 1:10 ; Acts 8:36-39 ; Romans 6:3-5
[14] Matthew 28:19
[15] Romans 6:3-5 ; Colossians 2:12
[16] Acts 2:41-47 ; Matthew 28:19-20
[17] 1 Corinthians 12:13
[18] Luke 22:19-20
[19] 1 Corinthians 11:23-30
[20] Luke 22:19-20
[21] 1 Corinthians 11:28