It is a Church in which all are born again of the Spirit: they all possess "repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." They are all led by One Spirit submit to One Head, build upon One foundation and all conform their theology to One single book - the Bible. This is the only Church of which no one member can perish. They are safe for all eternity and can neverbe cast away. The election of God the Father, the continual intercession of God the Son, the sealing power of God the Holy Spirit protect all who have been divinely chosen. Not one lamb of Christ's flock shall ever be plucked out of His or the Father's hand. Its members are a little flock, and few in number but they are faithful laborers in the fields white for harvest. They proclaim the voice of the Good Shepherd so His sheep will hear and follow Him. They are not citizens of this world but are only passing through on their way home to heaven.
It is a Church which has only One Shepherd and that is Jesus Christ. He alone, by His Spirit, draws members into this Church. Until He opens the door, no man can enter. When a man repents and believes the Gospel, at that moment he becomes a member of this Church and is baptized in obedience to Christ. It is a church which partakes of the Lord's Supper as the members remember the once for all sacrifice of Jesus, who offered Himself once for all sin for all time. They rejoice because the Savior cried out in victory, "It is finished!" The work of redemption has been accomplished.
The Church is the Body and the Bride of Christ, the flock of the Good Shepherd, the household of faith and the family of God and the saints whose names are written in heaven. They are members of the royal priesthood who have been purchased and purified by the blood of Jesus. They are the light of the world, the salt and the wheat of the earth. Their inheritance is kept in heaven by the power and promises of God. This is that Church to which the Lord Jesus promises "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Proclaiming the Gospel