XI.
The Church
We believe in the Church, the community that confesses Jesus
Christ as Lord, the covenant people of God made new in Christ,
the Body of Christ called together by the Holy Spirit through
the Word. God calls the Church to express its life in the
unity and fellowship of the Spirit; in worship through the
preaching of the Word, observance of the sacraments, and
ministry in His name; by obedience to Christ and mutual
accountability. The mission of the Church in the world is to
continue the redemptive work of Christ in the power of the
Spirit through holy living, evangelism, discipleship, and
service. The Church is a historical reality, which organizes
itself in culturally conditioned forms; exists both as local
congregations and as a universal body; sets apart persons
called of God for specific ministries. God calls the Church to
live under His rule in anticipation of the consummation at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah 31:33; Matthew 8:11; 10:7;
16:13-19, 24; 18:15-20; 28:19-20; John 17:14-26; 20:21-23;
Acts 1:7-8; 2:32-47; 6:1-2; 13:1; 14:23; Romans 2:28-29; 4:16;
10:9-15; 11:13-32; 12:1-8; 15:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 7:17;
11:1, 17-33; 12:3, 12-31; 14:26-40; 2 Corinthians 5:11—6:1;
Galatians 5:6, 13-14; 6:1-5, 15; Ephesians 4:1-17; 5:25-27;
Philippians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:13;
Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 13; 2:4-12, 21; 4:1-2, 10-11;
1 John 4:17; Jude 24; Revelation 5:9-10)
|
