The Church

The Church is the community of all believers of the New Covenant whose names are written in heaven ^[322]. The believers are a chosen people, a people belonging to God, a holy nation ^[323]. They are called out of the world by God, to devote themselves to Him, to be a royal priesthood ^[324].

People become members of the Church through the Holy Spirit giving renewal as fruit from the union with Christ in a death like His and in a resurrection like His ^[325]. The fellowship of the members of the Church is with the Father and with His son Jesus Christ ^[326].

The Church is the body of Christ; the Lord is head over everything for the Church and believers are its members, who are united and are given life by the Lord ^[327]. The Church is the bride, the one He loves, He will be united to it when He comes back ^[328]. It is a holy temple in the Lord, Christ being its chief corner-stone and the children of God being its living stones built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets ^[329].

The union of believers is to be achieved according to the union of the Father to the Son “So that they may be one as we are one” ^[330]. This union is the work of God the Father ^[331]. This union is the fruit of Christ’s presence, through the Holy Spirit in each of its members ^[332]. It cannot be a compromise or an institution resulting from human efforts ^[333]. The part of man in it is to purify his heart by walking in the light and by obeying the truth; to have sincere love for one another ^[334]. Man must endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace ^[335]; he watches out for those who cause divisions and keeps away from them ^[336].

Being the pillar and foundation of truth ^[337], the Church proclaims the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms ^[338]. The Church preaches the Gospel for the salvation of the world until the second coming of Christ.

The Church is said to be universal since its members belong to every nation, tribe, people and language ^[339]. It is composed of the redeemed people of every generation from the day of Pentecost to the second coming of the Lord ^[340]. The Church is invisible to its members already gathered to the Lord ^[341] and to those who haven’t come to repentance yet ^[342]. It is nevertheless visible inasmuch as it is incarnate on earth through its living members who serve God ^[343]. However, only God knows who are His ^[344]. The Church is also local, since God has asked his children to meet in particular places of meeting ^[345], also called churches ^[346], to offer worship, to praise by song and prayer, to proclaim the Word of God and to strengthen one another ^[347].

Jesus promises His presence ^[348] and is revealed in the Church, granting each believer the anointing and the teaching from the Spirit ^[349].