The Baptist Faith and Message
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention May 9, 1963
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VI. The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a
local body of baptized believers who are associated by
covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel,
observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His
teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges
invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the
gospel to the ends of the earth.
This church is an autonomous body, operating through
democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In
such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its
Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body
of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the
ages.
Matt. 16:15-19;
18:15-20; Acts
2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14;
6:3-6; 13:1-3;
14:23, 27;
15:1-30; 16:5;
20:28; Rom.
1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2;
3:16; 5:4-5;
7:17; 9:13-14;
12; Eph.
1:22-23; 2:19-22;
3:8-11, 21;
5:22-32; Phil.
1:1; Col. 1:18; 1
Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14;
1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev.
2-3; 21:2-3.
