THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

42. What is the Church of God?

The Church of God is composed of all spiritually regenerate persons, whose names are written in heaven (Manual, page 31 [16]). "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven" (Heb. 12:23). "... The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Eph. 3:14,15).

43. What is the nature of the Church of God?

The Church of God is a spiritual organism into which all believers are incorporated by the Spirit; it is a holy temple in the Lord, an habitation of God through the Spirit. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (I Con 12:13). "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (I Cor. 12:27). "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19-22).

44. What is the relation of the Church to Christ?

The Church belongs to Christ; it is purchased by His blood, it is the spiritual body of which He is the head; it is also called the Bride of Christ. "... the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood' (Acts 20:28). "... and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body" (Eph. 1:22, 23). "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (II Con 11:2).

45. What is the mission of the Church?

The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth, the salt of the earth, and the light of the world; the medium through which the gospel of Christ is proclaimed to the world. "... the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3:15). "Ye are the salt of the earth ... Ye are the light of the world Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:13, 14, 16). "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

46. What are the churches severally?

The churches severally are to be composed of such regenerate persons as by providential permission, and by the leadings of the Holy Spirit, become associated together for holy fellowship and ministries. (Manual, page 32 [17]). "... unto the church of God which is at Corinth" (II Con 1:1) "... to the church in thy house" (Philemon 2) "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write" (Rev. 2:1).

47. What is the Church of the Nazarene?

The Church of the Nazarene is composed of those persons who have voluntarily associated themselves together according to the doctrines and polity of said church, and who seek holy Christian fellowship, the conversion of sinners, the entire sanctification of believers, their upbuilding in holiness, and the simplicity and spiritual power manifested in the primitive New Testament Church, together with the preaching of the gospel to every creature (Manual, page 32 [18]).

48. What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.

49. What are the sacraments of the Church?

The sacraments of the Church are the ordinances of Baptism and The Lord's Supper.

50. What is Baptism?

Christian baptism is a sacrament signifying acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ, to be administered to believers, as declarative of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and full purpose of obedience in holiness and righteousness (Manual, page 130 [13]). "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2: 38). "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47). "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36, 37).

51. How may baptism be administered?

Baptism is administered by water; by sprinkling, pouring or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant; in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost (Manual, adapted, page 31). "... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19).

52. What is The Lord's Supper?

The Memorial and Communion Supper instituted by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is essentially a New Testament sacrament, declarative of His sacrificial death, through the merits of which believers have life and salvation, and promise of all spiritual blessings in Christ (Manual, page 31 [14]). "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (I Con 10:16, 17).

53. What are the emblems of this sacrament?

The broken bread and unfermented wine are the sacramental emblems of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. "... Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26. 26-28).

54. Who are to partake of The Lord's Supper?

It is distinctly for those who are prepared for reverent appreciation of its significance, and by it they show forth the Lord's death till He come again. Being the communion feast, only those who have faith in Christ and love for the saints should be called to participate therein. (Manual, page 31 [14]). "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (I Con 11:26-29).

55. What are other institutions of Christianity?

The Christian Sabbath and Marriage are other institutions of Christianity.

56. What is the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is the seventh day, a sacred day of rest, following six days of secular employment. The Sabbath principle was revealed by God at the time of creation and is confirmed in the Ten Commandments. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made" (Gen. 2:3). "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God" (Exod. 20:8-10).

57. What was the Jewish Sabbath?

The Jewish Sabbath was the sabbath principle adapted by God as a weekly memorial of God's perpetual covenant with Israel and of their deliverance from Egypt As such it was a shadow of things to come which Christ took out of the way in His death. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever" (Exod. 31:16,17). "Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee ... And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day" (Deut. 5:12, 15). "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Col. 2:1417).

58. What is the Christian Sabbath?

It is the sabbath principle adapted by the Christian Church to the first day of the week as a weekly memorial of the resurrection of our Lord and of the advent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week ... came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you ... After eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you" (John 20:19, 26). And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them" (Acts 20:7) "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (I Con 16:2)

59. How are we to keep the Sabbath day holy?

We keep the Sabbath day holy by devoting the day chiefly to the worship and service of God, and by refraining from all secular occupations and recreations, except works of mercy and necessity.

60. Is marriage a divine institution?

The institution of marriage was ordained of God in the time of man's innocency, and is, according to apostolic authority, "honorable in all"; it is the mutual union of one man and one woman for fellowship, helpfulness and the propagation of the race (Manual, page 44 [36, sec. 1]). "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh" (Matt. 19:4-6). "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled" (Heb. 13:4).

61. Is the marriage covenant binding?

The marriage covenant is morally binding as long as both shall live, and, therefore, may not be dissolved at will (Manual, page 45 [36, sec. 1]). "What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" (Mark 10:9). "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband" (Rom. 7:2).

62. Is divorce and remarriage ever allowable?

There may exist such causes and conditions as justify divorce under civil law, yet only adultery will supply such ground as may justify the innocent party in remarrying. (Manual, page 45 [36, sec. 2]). "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:9).

63. What is. the church's teaching on divine healing?

We believe in the Bible doctrine of divine healing and urge our people to seek to offer the prayer of faith for the healing of the sick. Providential means and agencies when deemed necessary should not be refused (Manual, page 31 [15]). "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let him pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" (James 5:14, 15).