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What
We Believe About the Church
1.
The Church is the Body and Bride of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27; 2 Corinthians
11:2).
2.
The Church is only composed of born again believers in this present dispensation.
3.
The beginning of the Church Age was on the day of Pentecost as recorded
in Acts chapter two. And the completion of the Church Age will be
at the time of the rapture.
4.
The Church is distinct from Israel (Romans chapter 11).
5.
Christians are to identify themselves with a local assembly of believers
(Hebrews 10:25).
6.
The local church should be autonomous.
7.
The Church is the recipient of spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit
for the work of the ministry and the edification of the saints. Certain
sign gifts were given at the founding of the Church (prophesy, healings,
miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues). The purpose of these
gifts as well as the positions of apostle and prophet were to authenticate
the Gospel message and compensate until the canon of Scripture was closed.
These have all ceased and are no longer necessary to the function and ministry
of the Church.
8.
The local church is to be a place of instruction, fellowship, and worship
(Acts 2:42).
9.
The local church is to be a place of ministry. All ministry should
be based in a local church.
10.
The local church is to be a place of ordinances. An ordinance is a rite
appointed by Christ to be administered in the church as a visible symbol
or sign of some Biblical truth. There are two ordinances:
a)
Baptism, which is to be a symbol of the believer's identification with
Christ in His burial and resurrection. Baptism should follow salvation
and is to be properly administered by immersion (Colossians 2:12; Acts
8:35-39).
b)
The Lord's Supper or Communion is a memorial feast instituted by Christ
symbolizing His sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 11:23,26).
11.
The local church is to be a place of organization. "Let all things
be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).
12.
God has ordained leadership in the local church to be as follows:
a)
Pastor, Elder, and Bishop are all synonymous terms used to denote the same
office. The Pastor is to be a man, called of God and blameless, who
is to lead the church and feed it spiritually through the preaching and
teaching of the Word of God. God has given the Pastor the position
of overseer concerning the church (1 Peter 5:2,3).
b)
Deacons are to be men, called of God and blameless, who are to oversee
the physical ministry of the local church under the leadership of the Pastor
(Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).
Specific
qualifications are detailed in the Scriptures for the positions of Pastor
and Deacon (1 Timothy 3:2-13; Titus 1:6-9).
13.
The local church is to perform church discipline (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians
5:1-13). This is to be done in accordance with Scripture and with the intent
of maintaining purity within the church as well as bringing restitution
to the church member.
14.
The local church is to be composed of saved and baptized individuals who
meet regularly for worship. The local church is to have definite
doctrinal standards (Acts 2:42).
15.
The local church, as well as every born-again believer, has the responsibility
to separate from doctrinal impurity, as well as, the worlds ungodly practices
(2 Corinthians 6:17). Compromise in any form regarding Biblical truth or
practice is not acceptable. Concerning the Biblical principal of separation
from doctrinal error and its importance the Scriptures set forth the following:
a)
Peter was publicly rebuked for wrong teachings (Galatians 2:11).
b)
Hymenaeus and Alexander were disfelowshiped for doctrinal deviation (1
Timothy 1:20).
c)
Hymenaeus and Philetus erred concerning the truth and are condemned (2
Timothy 2:18).
d)
Contending for truth preserves the purity of the Gospel (Galatians 2:5;
Jude 3).
e)
Ministry is to have the focus of preserving and passing on truth (2 Timothy
2:2).
f)
We are commanded to take a stand concerning Bible truth (1 Timothy 4:16;
6:20; 2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Timothy 1:13).
g)
Pastors are specifically commanded to stand for truth (Titus 1:13).
h)
Pastors are to be good examples to those under their ministry, which would
include not being associated with doctrinal error (1 Peter 5:3).
i)
Pastors and Evangelists have been given to the Church for the purpose of
the perfecting (or maturing) of believers. This "perfecting" results
in unity and purity (in doctrine) (Ephesians 4:11-14).
j)
We are considered a good minister if we pass on true doctrine (1 Timothy
4:6).
k)
We are to give doctrine prominence (1 Timothy 4:13).
l)
We are to correct those who teach incorrectly (1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy
3:16; Titus 1 9,11,13).
m)
We are commanded to reject those, who teaching errant doctrine, refuse
to repent (Titus 3:10).
n)
We are to reject those who teach false doctrine and not aid them in their
work (2 John 10,11).
o)
We are to be pure in our doctrine (Titus 2:7).
p)
Walking after the commands of the Bible is the true test of one's love
for Christ (2 John 6; John 14:15).
q)
Adhering to false doctrine "shipwrecks" one's faith (1 Timothy 1:19).
r)
False doctrine overthrows the faith of individuals (2 Timothy 2:18).
s)
All doctrine is important and should be taught. (Acts 20:27).
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