We believe the church is the Body of Christ (Col 1:18, 24) and consists of all believers from Pentecost (Acts 1:5) to the Rapture (1 Thess 4:13-18) with Christ as the Head (Eph 1:22,23). The church is given the position of preeminence in God’s program (Heb 12:23). She will reign with Christ as co-regent during the Millennium (Rev 3:21; 19:7).
The church is distinct from Israel (1 Cor 10:32). Members of the church are organically related to Christ (Col 1:27), the head of the church (Col 1:18), through the baptism of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). There is no ethnic discrimination within the church (Eph 2:14-15). The church enjoys a unique relationship with Christ that is called a mystery, something unknown and unrealized in the Old Testament (Eph 3:3-6). Members are related to each other in Christ (1 Cor 12:27). It is a new creation (Gal 6:15; 1 Cor 5:17). The church age believer is identified with Christ in His death burial and resurrection and is consequently not under the jurisdiction of the Mosaic Law (Rom 6:14; 7:4-6; 2 Cor 3:6-9).
All believers from Pentecost to the Rapture constitute the universal Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13). Members of a local church constitute the Body of Christ in a specific location (Gal 1:1).
The purpose of the church in the present dispensation is to manifest the glory of God (Eph 3:21). This is accomplished as believers are equipped to the work of the ministry and through mutual edification (Eph 4:11-16). The church is characterized by sound doctrine (1 Tim 3:15); purity and holiness (2 Cor 6:14-7:1; 1 Pet 1:16); internal unity (Eph 4:3); evangelism (2 Cor 5:20; 2 Tim 4:5); mutual love (1 John 2:10; 4:7-21); righteous living (1 John 3:7), discipline ( 1 Cor 5:4-5; 2 Thess 3:6); mutual support (1 Cor 16:1-4) and orderliness (1 Cor 14:40). The church age believer is being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29).
There are two offices in the church: the office of elder (Acts 20:17,28; 1 Tim 3:1) and the office of deacon (Acts 6:1 - 6; 1 Tim 3:8). Both offices demand men of proven godly character (1 Tim 3: 1 - 13; Titus 1:5 - 9). The Elder is responsible for the pastoral care of the local church (1 Pet 5:2-4). He is to be able to teach (1 Tim 3:2; 4:16), to pray (Acts 6:4), to rule (1 Tim 5:17; Heb 13:7), to protect (Acts 20:28 - 30), and to give his life for those entrusted to his care (John 10:11). The pastor is the head elder (Rev 1:20) whose primary responsibility is in the teaching of the Word (John 21:15 - 17; Eph 4:11; 1 Tim 3:2; 4:16). Where possible, there should be a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil 1:1; James 5:14). The office of deacon is primarily one of temporal service to the church (Acts 6:2).
The ordinances of the local church are baptism by immersion (Acts 2:41; 1 Cor 1:16) and the Lords supper (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 11:23-29). These ordinances are symbolic in nature.