Doctrine of the Church
(Ecclesiology)
We teach that Christ is the Head of His Church. The Church is His body and His bride. (First Corinthians 12:12-27; Second Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:15-20; Revelation 19:1-9)
We teach that Christ died for His Church. He redeemed His people through His perfect, all-sufficient, substitutionary sacrifice. (Matthew 1:21; John 10:11-18; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:11-18)
We teach that Christ’s true, invisible, eternal Church is comprised of those who have been chosen by God the Father, redeemed by God the Son, and regenerated by God the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:3-14; Romans 8:28-30; First Thessalonians 1:1-5; Second Timothy 2:19)
We teach that all of God’s elect are brought to Christ for salvation, none are (nor will be) lost. Those who are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the one true spiritual body of the Christ. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Ephesians 1:13-14; First Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 8:9)
We teach that Christ rules His Church by His authoritative Holy Word. The redeemed of Christ hear the voice of Christ through the inspired, all-sufficient Word of Christ. (John 10:2-5; John 10:27-30; First Corinthians 2:16)
‘’The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25, #1).
We teach that the proper preaching of the Word of God is a mark of the true Church. (First Corinthians 1:18-25; First Corinthians 2:1-16; Second Timothy 3:14-16; Second Timothy 2:15; Second Timothy 4:1-5)
We teach that the proper administration of the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) is a mark of the true Church. (Matthew 26:26-29; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36-47; First Corinthians 11:17-34)
We teach that the proper administration of Church Discipline is a mark of the true Church. (Matthew 18:15-20; First Corinthians 5:1-5; Second Thessalonians 3:6-15; First Timothy 1:20)
We teach that the Lord’s people are expected to gather and worship together on the Lord’s Day in local church assemblies. (Acts 2:42-47; First Corinthians 16:1-4; Hebrews 10:23-25)
“Saints by profession are bound to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus” (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25, #2).
We teach that the planting and establishing of local churches, led by a plurality of qualified male elders, is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:21-23; Acts 20:28-31; Romans 15:14-21; First Corinthians 1:1-3 Galatians 1:1-2; Ephesians 1:1-2; Philippians 1:1-2; Colossians 1:1-2; First Thessalonians 1:1; First Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:4-9; First Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3)
We teach that elders must meet God’s clear qualifications as set forth in the Scriptures. Elders are spiritual under-shepherds under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are responsible to feed and lead the flock of God, and they will give an account to God. Deacons serve the flock of God under the leadership of the elders. They also must meet the clear qualifications as set forth in the Scriptures. (First Timothy 3:1-13; First Timothy 5:17-22; Titus 1;4-9; First Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28-31; Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17)
We teach that all believers have been given spiritual gifts to build up and bless the body of Christ. Although the miraculous gifts ceased with the close of the apostolic era, the ministry gifts are still in operation and are to be used by all believers to build up the body of Christ and to bring honor and glory to Christ. (First Corinthians 12:4-7, First Corinthians 12:11; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; First Peter 4:10-11; Second Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4)
We teach that the main purpose of the Church is to glorify God. The manifest wisdom and glory of God is made known through the Church as believers are built up through the word of God, as we strive together towards holy living in reverence to God, and as we reach out to the lost world with the saving gospel of God. (Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 4:11-16; First John 3:1-3; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20)
“The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth, to worship God according to His will” (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25, #5).
We teach that Christ died for His Church. He redeemed His people through His perfect, all-sufficient, substitutionary sacrifice. (Matthew 1:21; John 10:11-18; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:11-18)
We teach that Christ’s true, invisible, eternal Church is comprised of those who have been chosen by God the Father, redeemed by God the Son, and regenerated by God the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:3-14; Romans 8:28-30; First Thessalonians 1:1-5; Second Timothy 2:19)
We teach that all of God’s elect are brought to Christ for salvation, none are (nor will be) lost. Those who are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the one true spiritual body of the Christ. (John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Ephesians 1:13-14; First Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 8:9)
We teach that Christ rules His Church by His authoritative Holy Word. The redeemed of Christ hear the voice of Christ through the inspired, all-sufficient Word of Christ. (John 10:2-5; John 10:27-30; First Corinthians 2:16)
‘’The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25, #1).
We teach that the proper preaching of the Word of God is a mark of the true Church. (First Corinthians 1:18-25; First Corinthians 2:1-16; Second Timothy 3:14-16; Second Timothy 2:15; Second Timothy 4:1-5)
We teach that the proper administration of the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) is a mark of the true Church. (Matthew 26:26-29; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36-47; First Corinthians 11:17-34)
We teach that the proper administration of Church Discipline is a mark of the true Church. (Matthew 18:15-20; First Corinthians 5:1-5; Second Thessalonians 3:6-15; First Timothy 1:20)
We teach that the Lord’s people are expected to gather and worship together on the Lord’s Day in local church assemblies. (Acts 2:42-47; First Corinthians 16:1-4; Hebrews 10:23-25)
“Saints by profession are bound to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus” (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25, #2).
We teach that the planting and establishing of local churches, led by a plurality of qualified male elders, is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. (Acts 14:21-23; Acts 20:28-31; Romans 15:14-21; First Corinthians 1:1-3 Galatians 1:1-2; Ephesians 1:1-2; Philippians 1:1-2; Colossians 1:1-2; First Thessalonians 1:1; First Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:4-9; First Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3)
We teach that elders must meet God’s clear qualifications as set forth in the Scriptures. Elders are spiritual under-shepherds under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are responsible to feed and lead the flock of God, and they will give an account to God. Deacons serve the flock of God under the leadership of the elders. They also must meet the clear qualifications as set forth in the Scriptures. (First Timothy 3:1-13; First Timothy 5:17-22; Titus 1;4-9; First Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28-31; Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17)
We teach that all believers have been given spiritual gifts to build up and bless the body of Christ. Although the miraculous gifts ceased with the close of the apostolic era, the ministry gifts are still in operation and are to be used by all believers to build up the body of Christ and to bring honor and glory to Christ. (First Corinthians 12:4-7, First Corinthians 12:11; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; First Peter 4:10-11; Second Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4)
We teach that the main purpose of the Church is to glorify God. The manifest wisdom and glory of God is made known through the Church as believers are built up through the word of God, as we strive together towards holy living in reverence to God, and as we reach out to the lost world with the saving gospel of God. (Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 4:11-16; First John 3:1-3; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20)
“The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth, to worship God according to His will” (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 25, #5).