Doctrine of the church

The local church is the vehicle through which God has chosen to make known His salvation through Jesus Christ to the entire world (Acts 1:8, Matt 28:18-20).  The body of Christ (Universal Church) refers to all believers who through salvation are related to Christ; whereas the local church is the best biblical expression of this body (Heb 10:23-25).  The local church then, is a local body of believers, where Christ is the head; whose aim is to make disciples in the image of Christ, through the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18-20; Eph 4:11-16; 5:23).

To make this aim a reality, Christ through the Holy Spirit has chosen elders, who will equip the members for the work of ministry, so that all will grow up into the fullness of Christ (Acts 13:1-3, Eph 4:11-13). The leadership is to be a group of equally ordained and qualified men (Titus 1:5-9, 1 Tim 3:1-7), who mirror the Trinity in their unity and submission to one another.  Also, the local church will choose for them deacons, based on the recommendation of the elders (Acts 6:1-7). 

These men and women (Rom 16:16-17) will be qualified and proven servants, who will serve the leadership and the Church in any necessary capacity (1 Tim 3:8-13, Phil 1:1).  As part of the disciple making process, the leadership and membership will adhere to the biblical principle of church discipline (Matt 18:15-20).  This principle is not for the aim of excommunication, but reconciliation and the conforming of all members to the image of Christ.  Therefore, church discipline is to be a process of multiple steps which provides opportunities for repentance, but if repentance is denied, it can end in excommunication for the betterment of the Church body and the individual (1 Cor 5:7-13; Matt 18:15-20).

In the aim to make disciples in His image, Jesus expects that every believer be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18-20). The prerequisite for baptism is salvation (Acts 2:37-41; 19:1-5); and therefore one can conclude that baptism has no salvific implications.  Since, one cannot be saved from baptism; this makes the practice of infant baptism invalid and unnecessary, if its aim is salvific in nature.  As baptism identifies the believer with Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection, so does it identify them with the local church in membership (Acts 2:37-41).

The Lord’s Supper is another commandment from Christ to the local church.   This ordinance is to be practiced by His people, in the context of the local Church (1 Cor 11:17-33).  It is to be for the remembrance of His death, until He comes, as often as the Church deems necessary (Luke 22:14-23).  Each element of this service represents His death on the cross; the unleavened bread, his body which was broken and the wine his blood, which was shed for the remission of sins (1 Cor. 11:24-25).  These elements do not supernaturally become Christ’s literal body and blood nor do they provide a special manifestation of His presence; they are merely symbols of His work on the cross (Luke 22:19).  Not only is this a service of remembrance, but it is also a time for every believer to examine his own heart, if necessary repent to all sinned against, and it is a time to worship for what Christ has done on their behalf (1 Cor 11:28).  Believers who are in good standing with God and with others are able to take of the elements in the Lord’s Supper; therefore the service is one that is open to all who are true believers in Christ (1 Cor 11:27-32).  At Gospel Life Church, this is a part of every worship service, so we in our worship to point people to Christ, every week.