The Nature of the Church
The nature of the church as being the corporate body of Christ on earth (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:23) as well as God's appointed means for corporate worship (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Tim. 3:15) - ecclesiology - is certainly a worthy topic to be known and understood.
In summary, I believe the universal church is comprised only of true, regenerate believers (Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Cor. 5:12-13), who are in Christ by grace through faith in Him because of the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:26-31; Eph. 2:1-10; Titus 3:4-7).
And I believe every true believer has the privilege and duty of belonging to a local fellowship of believers (Rom. 12:3-8ff; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; 2 Cor. 9:10-15; Gal. 6:1-2; Phil. 1:29-30; 1 Thess. 5:13-14; Heb. 10:23-25, 13:17-18).
The local fellowship is comprised of all professing believers (although only God knows our hearts - 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Jn. 2:19). And while there may be unregenerate mixed in with the regenerate (because we do not have the ability to know the hearts of others - cf. Mt. 13:24-26; Acts 20:29-30), every member of a local congregation is to be under the authority of its local elders (plural elders - Acts 14:23, 20:17) as the spiritual overseers of their souls (Heb. 13:17-18; cf. 1 Pet. 5:1-3). Furthermore, every member of a local congregation is to be accountable to the entire fellowship for participation in the body (Gal. 6:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:9-12; Heb. 12:14-15).
It is with the local fellowships that believers receive the blessing of participation in the Lord's Supper (communion - 1 Cor. 11:23-34) and under the authority of local fellowships that newer believers (or with some denominations, also children of believers) are baptized (Acts 2:41).
However, as important as ecclesiology is, the purpose of this ministry is not aimed to set forth the Biblical view of ecclesiology proper. At this point in my studies, beyond giving you my summary above, I can only refer you to the below resources with which I find myself to be in general agreement:
The Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapters 25-31
The London (Baptist) Confession of Faith (1689)
Chapters 26-30
In summary, I believe the universal church is comprised only of true, regenerate believers (Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Cor. 5:12-13), who are in Christ by grace through faith in Him because of the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:26-31; Eph. 2:1-10; Titus 3:4-7).
And I believe every true believer has the privilege and duty of belonging to a local fellowship of believers (Rom. 12:3-8ff; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; 2 Cor. 9:10-15; Gal. 6:1-2; Phil. 1:29-30; 1 Thess. 5:13-14; Heb. 10:23-25, 13:17-18).
The local fellowship is comprised of all professing believers (although only God knows our hearts - 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Jn. 2:19). And while there may be unregenerate mixed in with the regenerate (because we do not have the ability to know the hearts of others - cf. Mt. 13:24-26; Acts 20:29-30), every member of a local congregation is to be under the authority of its local elders (plural elders - Acts 14:23, 20:17) as the spiritual overseers of their souls (Heb. 13:17-18; cf. 1 Pet. 5:1-3). Furthermore, every member of a local congregation is to be accountable to the entire fellowship for participation in the body (Gal. 6:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:9-12; Heb. 12:14-15).
It is with the local fellowships that believers receive the blessing of participation in the Lord's Supper (communion - 1 Cor. 11:23-34) and under the authority of local fellowships that newer believers (or with some denominations, also children of believers) are baptized (Acts 2:41).
However, as important as ecclesiology is, the purpose of this ministry is not aimed to set forth the Biblical view of ecclesiology proper. At this point in my studies, beyond giving you my summary above, I can only refer you to the below resources with which I find myself to be in general agreement:
The Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapters 25-31
The London (Baptist) Confession of Faith (1689)
Chapters 26-30