Foundations Series: The Church
THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, is composed of believers who have been placed into the Body of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation. The Church was ordained by Christ, beginning with the descent of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 and it anticipates the immanent appearance of Christ as its blessed hope. The local visible church is an organized congregation of immersed believers united together by a common faith and fellowship in the gospel, governed by the Word of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, with Christ as its Head. The local church has two offices, that of pastor (synonyms being elder, bishop (overseer), shepherd) and deacon (servant, minister).
1 Corinthians 12:13, 27; Colossians 1:18; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:4; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Acts 2:41-42; Colossians 1:3-6; Philippians 1:5-6; 1 Timothy 3:14-16, Acts 9:31; Colossians 2:19; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9