Church_Theological term
12/26/2013
Church
I believe that the church is the one (1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 2:18, 4:3-4), holy (Heb. 2:11; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; John 17:17-19) universal (Mark 16:15; Gal 3:28; Matt. 28:20), and apostolic (Act. 2:42; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:6)community of all true believers for all time. (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25) I believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the head and the establisher.(Rom. 12:4-5;1Cor. 12:12-30; Heb. 2:12; Phil. 2:2; John 10:16, 17:23). And I believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church (Act. 2:42-47). I believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.(Matt. 16:19; Eph. 3:10-11) The Church is the covenant people of God, the sign of the eschatological kingdom of God, and the loving community through Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3; Eph. 4:3).
• The Church is invisible (2Tim. 2:19; Heb. 12:23) yet visible (1 Cor. 1:2, 12:13, 7:14; Rom. 15:9-12, 9:1, 6) : the visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion, and of their children; the invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head.
• The Church is local (Rom. 16:5; 1Cor. 16:19; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; 1Thess. 1:1; Acts 9:31) and universal (Eph. 5:25; 1 Cor. 12:28).
• The true churches, there are right preaching of the Word (Matt. 7:15-16) and right administration of the sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
• The purpose of the Church: glorifying God through worship (Col. 3:16; Eph. 1:5-6, 12, 5:16-19; Heb. 2:12), nurturing and edification (Col. 1:28; Eph. 4:12-13; Col. 1:28; Rom. 12:13-16), evangelism and proclamation (Matt. 24:14; Mark. 16:15; Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:4; 1 John 3:17; Rom. 10:14) and mercy (Luke 6:35-36).
• The Church is at the very center of God's cosmic purpose and is his appointed means of spreading the gospel. But a church which preaches the cross must itself be marked by the cross: a living faith in God; a genuine love for people; and scrupulous honesty.
I believe that the church is the one (1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 2:18, 4:3-4), holy (Heb. 2:11; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; John 17:17-19) universal (Mark 16:15; Gal 3:28; Matt. 28:20), and apostolic (Act. 2:42; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:6)community of all true believers for all time. (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25) I believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the head and the establisher.(Rom. 12:4-5;1Cor. 12:12-30; Heb. 2:12; Phil. 2:2; John 10:16, 17:23). And I believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church (Act. 2:42-47). I believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.(Matt. 16:19; Eph. 3:10-11) The Church is the covenant people of God, the sign of the eschatological kingdom of God, and the loving community through Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3; Eph. 4:3).
• The Church is invisible (2Tim. 2:19; Heb. 12:23) yet visible (1 Cor. 1:2, 12:13, 7:14; Rom. 15:9-12, 9:1, 6) : the visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion, and of their children; the invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head.
• The Church is local (Rom. 16:5; 1Cor. 16:19; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; 1Thess. 1:1; Acts 9:31) and universal (Eph. 5:25; 1 Cor. 12:28).
• The true churches, there are right preaching of the Word (Matt. 7:15-16) and right administration of the sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
• The purpose of the Church: glorifying God through worship (Col. 3:16; Eph. 1:5-6, 12, 5:16-19; Heb. 2:12), nurturing and edification (Col. 1:28; Eph. 4:12-13; Col. 1:28; Rom. 12:13-16), evangelism and proclamation (Matt. 24:14; Mark. 16:15; Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:4; 1 John 3:17; Rom. 10:14) and mercy (Luke 6:35-36).
• The Church is at the very center of God's cosmic purpose and is his appointed means of spreading the gospel. But a church which preaches the cross must itself be marked by the cross: a living faith in God; a genuine love for people; and scrupulous honesty.
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