The Church

We believe that the church of Jesus Christ is a living spiritual body of which Christ Himself is the head and of which all regenerated people are members. The church began on the Day of Pentecost and will be consummated when the Lord returns in the air for His own. Matt. 16:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13; 2:41-47; 15:14; I Cor. 12:12-28; Eph. 1:22, 23; 3:21; 4:23-33; I Thess. 4:13-18 We believe that a local church is a congregation of believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures. We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-governing free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and in the furthering of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41, 42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:11; Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:17; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23, 24; Acts 15:13-18

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