12. The Church
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; 3:8-11; Matt. 28:19, 20; 16:13-20; 18:18; Eph. 2:19-22; 1:22, 23; 5:23-27; Col. 1:17, 18.)
13. The Remnant & Its Mission
The universal church is composed of all who truly believe
in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has
been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This
remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through
Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent. This proclamation is
symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of
judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth.
Every believer is called to have a personal part in this worldwide witness. (Rev. 12:17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:10; Jude 3, 14; 1 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Rev. 21:1-14.)
14. Unity In The Body Of Christ
The church is one body with many members, called from
every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ we are a new creation;
distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences
between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive
among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one
fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without
partiality or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the
Scriptures we share the same faith and hope, and reach out in one witness to
all. This unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, who has
adopted us as His children. (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt. 28:19, 20; Ps. 133:1; 2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Acts 17:26, 27; Gal. 3:27, 29; Col. 3:10-15; Eph. 4:14-16; 4:1-6; John 17:20-23.)
15. Baptism
By baptism we confess our faith in the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our
purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and
Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism
is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our
reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on
an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows
instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings. (Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12, 13; Acts 16:30-33; 22:16; 2:38; Matt. 28:19, 20.)
16. The Lord's Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a participation in the emblems of the
body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him, our Lord and Saviour.
In this experience of communion Christ is present to meet and strengthen His
people. As we partake, we joyfully proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes
again. Preparation for the Supper includes self-examination, repentance, and
confession. The Master ordained the service of foot washing to signify renewed
cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one another in Christlike
humility, and to unite our hearts in love. The communion service is open to all
believing Christians. (1 Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23-30; Matt. 26:17-30; Rev. 3:20; John 6:48-63; 13:1-17.)
17. Spiritual Gifts & Ministries
God bestows upon all members of His church in every age
spiritual gifts which each member is to employ in loving ministry for the
common good of the church and of humanity. Given by the agency of the Holy
Spirit, who apportions to each member as He wills, the gifts provide all
abilities and ministries needed by the church to fulfill its divinely ordained
functions. According to the Scriptures, these gifts include such ministries as
faith, healing, prophecy, proclamation, teaching, administration,
reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing service and charity for the
help and encouragement of people. Some members are called of God and endowed by
the Spirit for functions recognized by the church in pastoral, evangelistic,
apostolic, and teaching ministries particularly needed to equip the members for
service, to build up the church to spiritual maturity, and to foster unity of
the faith and knowledge of God. When members employ these spiritual gifts as
faithful stewards of God’s varied grace, the church is protected from the
destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth that is from God,
and is built up in faith and love. (Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:9-11, 27, 28; Eph. 4:8, 11-16; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Peter 4:10, 11.)
18. The Gift Of Prophecy
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift
is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry
of Ellen. G. White . As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuing and
authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance,
instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the
standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)