Doctrine, Part 7; The Church

The Church is the physical representation of Christ on earth (Ephesians 1:22-23); through the power and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). It is comprised of all the Christians on earth (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22) and gave Himself up for it to make it holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:25-27).  

The Church is God’s plan for saving and restoring the broken world until He returns (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Church is composed of smaller-local bodies (Acts 14:27; Acts 18:22; Acts 20:17; Romans 16:4; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 4:17; Titus 1:5; etc…) and is to be lead by Godly Christian leaders (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 5:2; etc…).

It is God’s will for every Christian to be a part of a local church community to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25) and to use their individual gifts to build up the Church (1 Corinthians 12).

According to Acts Chapter 2; an ideal- and Biblical- representation of the local church would be actively engaged in discipleship (verse 42), fellowship (verses 42; 44; and 46), ministry (verses 43; and 45), worship (verses 43; 46; and 47); and evangelism (verse 47).

The sacraments of Baptism and Communion are to be practiced in the Church as Scriptural means for testimony of what Christ has done (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).