VI. The Church
A New
Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local
congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the
faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances
of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights,
and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to
extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation
operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic
processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and
accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are
pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for
service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as
qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ
which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers
from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20;
Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5;
20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14;
12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1;
Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40;
1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.
