|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
The term “local church” indicates a group of blood-washed, regenerated Christians meeting according to the principle of the oneness of the Body of Christ on the ground of locality. In the universe there is only one Body of Christ. According to the pattern of the New Testament this one unique Body of Christ is manifested practically according to the limitations of time and space as the church in a particular locality—for example, the church in Ephesus, the church in Corinth, the church in Philadelphia, etc. Such a local expression of the one Body of Christ encompasses all of the believers in that locality. The church throughout its history has departed from this pattern. The result has been the division of the Body of Christ into many denominations. The Christians meeting as the local churches believe it is God’s desire to recover the practical expression of the oneness of the church.
We must emphasize that such a practice is not exclusivistic. We recognize that there are millions of the Lord’s children who do not have the same understanding of God’s intention and respect every believer’s choice to live before the Lord according to their own realization and conscience. We still receive them as our brothers and sisters in the Lord, as Christ has received us, and seek fellowship and building up with them in our mutual faith. The basis of our fellowship is Christ alone and it is He to whom we must answer for our receiving one another.
But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Romans 14:10
Therefore receive one another, as Christ also received you to the glory of God. Romans 15:7
For more information on the local churches, visit: