The Truth Concerning the Church  


   -  The church is the body of Christ, built up as living stones into a spiritual house. The church has
       only one head, Jesus Christ.  The church is not a building, as God does not dwell in temples
       made with hands (Act 7:48).  The church is not a denomination, but a remnant of genuine
       wholehearted believers scattered abroad just as there was a remnant of overcomers in the seven
       churches in Revelation 2 and 3.  It is a remnant as likened in the scriptures to the seven thousand
       who did not bow the knee to Baal in Elijah’s day (Rom 11:4). 


   -  The leadership of the local church should be in the hands of elders as taught in the New
       Testament (Tit. 1:5, Acts 14:23)  ‘Elders’, being plural, implies that there must be at least two in
       every church.  Elders must meet the qualifications defined in the scriptures (1 Tim 3, Tit 1:5-9)


   -  Women are permitted to pray and prophesy with their heads covered in the meetings.  They are
       not permitted to exercise authority or teach men (1Cor 11:5; 1 Tim. 2:12).


   -  God has appointed various gifts in the church for the equipping of the saints for the work of
       ministry, and for the edification of the body (Eph 4:11-12; 1Cor 12:4-10, 28; 14:12).  These are to
       be administered with order in the assembly as described in the scriptures (1Cor 14).  The church
       is encouraged to desire spiritual gifts, and to earnestly desire the best gifts, especially prophesy.
       Even so, there is yet a more excellent way, love (1Cor 12:31; 1Cor 13;  1Cor 14:1).


   -  The greatest evidence of the disciples of Jesus is the love that they have for one another
       (Jn 13:35)
                                                                                                                                             ( page 3 of 3)

1)      Based from the article “The Truth That We Believe” by Zac Poonen (www.cfcindia.com)