Ecclesiology (The Doctrine of the Church)

By Glen Peterson, 1983 [what might have changed?]

I believe that the church consists of all who are joined to Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The church is a universal invisible body that consists of all believers from all time (Ephesians 4:3) which is made up of local visible assemblies (Acts2: 41-47; Galatians 1:2). The church consists of God’s people by virtue of Christ’s death whereby he purchased us (Acts 20:28), delivered us from evil actions and enabled us to truly perform the work of God (Titus 2:14). The church was begun through divine initiative (Ephesians 4:4; Acts 2:37-41, 47) and continues with Christ as the head (Ephesians 5:23-24), in order that it might bring glory to God. (Ephesians 3:21).

I believe Christians are to gather together in local churches (1 Corinthians 11:20; Acts 2:41-47; 4:32) that visibly honor (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) represent (2 Corinthians 5:20) and serve Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Local churches are called to be living organisms (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) made up of believers participating in the two-fold journey, one inward and one outward.

The inward refers to those activities that promote the spiritual growth of individuals in Christlikeness (Romans 8:29), brings edification to the group as a whole (1 Corinthians 1`4:26), and enhances the fellowship and purposeful unity of the local church (Ephesians 4:3, 13). In order to accomplish these goals, local churches have been called to administer the ordinances of believer’s baptism by immersion which symbolizes the believer’s death to sin and newness of live in Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41 Romans 6:3-11; Colossians 2:12) and the Lord’s supper (Acts 2:42, 46) Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20).

The journey outward refers to those things done as a result or expression of the inward journey of the assembled believers. This outward response of ministry varies with God’s leading in particular churches but several tasks are normative. The church is to be a visible expression of the Kingdom of God in its witness to the world by modeling corporate Christlikeness (1 Peter 1:14-15) John 13:35; Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 3:13-14), provide for the holistic needs of people (Galatians 6:2, 9-10; James 1:27; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4; 1 John 3:16-18), proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to those geographically and culturally near and far ((Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20), and calling for repentance from sin individually (Acts 3:19; 26:20) and corporately (Hosea 12:6; Isaiah 1:16-17).

I believe that the church is centrally important in God’s work and believers ought to participate in membership and service (1 Corinthians 12:20-28). Members of local churches are equal in their priesthood before God (1 Peter 2:9), equal in value before each other (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13), and complementary in function and ministry (1 Corinthians 12:12:4-12; Ephesians 4:16).

In order to facilitate ministry the local churches are to call overseers, elders, pastors, or bishops (Acts 12:28; 1 Timothy 3:1) and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-12; Acts 6; Romans 16:1) as recognized leaders and servants to the membership. Members are responsible for and accountable to the larger assembly of believers (Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 5:21), yet each individual is ultimately accountable to God (Romans 14:10, 13; James 4:12; Colossians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 2:15) and therefore remains free to follow hi or her own conscience.