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The Doctrine Of The Church

Satisfactory Essays

The doctrine of the church is of utmost importance today. When people define “church” there is almost no consensus of what that means. Mark Dever provides a succinct definition of “church” when he writes, “The church is the body of people called by God’s grace through fain in Christ to glorify him together by serving him in his world.” The church is composed of both the visible and invisible church. The invisible church are those who have truly been redeemed by Christ. Paul says, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). Here, “the church” refers to everyone that Christ has died for and redeemed which includes all the saints including believers in the Old Testament age. God’s plan for the church is that Christ is the head of the church and is the most exalted for the sake of His church (cf. Eph. 1:22-23). Jesus Christ founded the church. He said, “I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). Christ also builds the church. This is not done by human effort alone. Luke tells us that, “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42). Nothing can stop or prevent the church from growing because it is by God’s design and plan. That is why Jesus told Peter that nothing can stop the church from being built. God has all sovereignty to do as He wills with His church that He founded and built. There are certain marks of the local church that should be carried out. Only few

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