We believe that the body of Christ[1] is made up of everyone who has received the free gift of salvation[2]. This affiliation transcends racial, social, gender, denominational, ethnic, and cultural affiliations[3]; even as it is enhanced by that diversity[4].
The church is distinguished by its proclamation of the gospel message[5], participation in sacred ordinances, and by love[6] for God, for one another[7], and for the world[8].
The church serves as a sign and a foretaste of the kingdom of God[9], neither conforming[10] to the world around it, nor abandoning its witness to it[11], but living as ambassadors[12] of the Kingdom of God[13]. Every Christian has been uniquely equipped[14] for the work[15] of the gospel by the Holy Spirit and commissioned by Jesus to participate in the ministry of reconciliation[16].
Scripture References
[1] 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
– Ephesians 1:22-23: “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
[2] Romans 10:12-13: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
[3] Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
[4] Romans 12:4-5: “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
[5] 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
[6] 1 John 4:8: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
[7] John 13:35: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians12:25-26: “25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
[8] Luke 6:27: “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”
[9] John 3:5: “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
[10] Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
[11] Matthew 5:13-20: “13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
[12] 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
– Act 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
[13] Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
[14] 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
[15] Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
[16] 2 Corinthians 5:18-19: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”