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Christian Assembly:

This page on Christian Assembly is in two parts:

1.  New Testament Church order

and

2.  The Pattern of Christian Assembly.

1.  New Testament Church order

How then shall one able to recognise a church of the New Testament order?

The following will help:

(1) It is composed of believers only.  (Acts 2.47; and Acts 5:13).

(2) They gather in the Lord's name, not in any other.  (Ps. 50:5. Matt. 18:20).

(3) The Holy Scriptures their only creed and appeal, in all matters.  (Isa. 8:20; John 17:14)

(4) They own there is but "one body " which is the Church (the Ekklesia),
and that the various religious sects are dividing and limiting the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 1.13 and 12:12).

(5) They own the Lordship of Christ, and that alone. (Heb. 3:6).

(6) They own the leading of the Holy Spirit in ministry,
"dividing to every man severally as He will." (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

(7) They own the priesthood of all believers, refusing such an idea as to clergy and laity. (1 Pet. 2:5-9).

(8) They recognise God-appointed (not man-ordained) gifts, elders, etc. (Eph. 4:11; and Phil. 1.1).

(9) They have gone forth to the Lord "without the camp, bearing His reproach." (Heb.13:13; and 2 Tim. 2:19).

(10) They recognise they are fellow-members with all who compose the "body of Christ,"
endeavouring to keep "the unity of the Spirit," ready to welcome into full fellowship,
all whom the Word of God may not disqualify for fellowship
(for the breaking of bread, prayer and similar).

(1 Cor. 12:21-27; Rom.15.5; Eph. 4:3. 1 Cor. 5:6-7).

2. The Pattern of Assembly.

Only when a Christian Assembly is fashioned after this pattern can it truthfully say,

"We are His witnesses".

The Christian Assembly witnessed:

1st. By preaching the Gospel.

2nd. By Baptism (water immersion).

3rd. By adding the Baptised believers to the Assembly.

4th. By continuing steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine

5th. And in fellowship.

6th. And in the breaking of bread.

7th. And in prayers.

In these seven things, the Assembly at Jerusalem (Acts 2), fresh from the hand of God,
the model for the Church, could say, "We are His witnesses."

A more comprehensive witnessing there cannot be;
and there ought not to be less, by any who claim to be an Assembly of God.

There is room in such an Assembly, for the whole Word of God.

Leave out, or corrupt any one of these, and you have not room for the whole Word.

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