The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord
and Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called out
from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for instruction in the Word, for
the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, for service to all mankind, and for the worldwide
proclamation of the gospel. The church derives its authority from Christ, who is the incarnate
Word, and from the Scriptures, which are the written Word. The church is God’s family; adopted
by Him as children, its members live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is the body
of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself is the Head. The church is the bride for
whom Christ died that He might sanctify and cleanse her. At His return in triumph, He will
present her to Himself a glorious church, the faithful of all the ages, the purchase of His blood,
not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish. (Gen. 12:3; Acts 7:38; Eph. 4:11-15;
3:8-1 1; Matt. 28:19, 20; 16:13-20; 18:18; Eph. 2:19-22; 1:22, 23; 5:23-27; Col. 1: 17, 18.)