Friday, January 3, 2014

What I believe about the Church:

Ecclesiology: (The Study of the Church) 

I believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all believers are members. I believe in the local church, consisting of believers, baptized after a profession of faith in Christ. God has entrusted the task of evangelism to the local church, and it is the primary responsibility of the church to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.


I believe that the one supreme authority for the church is Christ and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor teachers; and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications.

I believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. I believe that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Each local church, however, through its elders and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. The elders should determine all other matters of membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government as well (Acts 15:19-31; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4).

 (Ephesians 2:19-22; 5:19-21; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Acts 15:19-31; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7,13; 1 Peter 5:1-4). 


Church Ordinances: 

I believe that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism by immersion is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ.
I believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be always preceded by solemn self-examination. I believe that, whereas the elements of Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, participation in the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ, who indwells every believer, and so is present, fellowshipping with His people.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 2:38-42; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-11; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32; 1 Corinthians 10:16). 

Help from several churches including:
Grace Community Church
Bethlehem Baptist Church
Kings Way Church
Thomas Road Baptist Church

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