We believe that the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of all ages (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2). We believe in the universal Church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons of the world are members. We also believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 18:22; 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11). We believe in the autonomy of the local church—that each local church is free of any external authority and control (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). We recognize Christian baptism and the Lord's Supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water, which is a public testimony of the believer’s new life in Christ. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for remembrance of His death. The elements of communion are symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. These two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why this is important:
Oasis Christian Fellowship is a small expression of the historical, universal, and local church of God. We seek to be unified in a God-glorifying part of His eternal community. We are free to do as God leads us in accordance with the Scriptures and we seek to assist the local and global church as we live out biblical community. The church is God's idea and His work, and we are to be faithful stewards of the beauty and character of His body.
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