The Bible teaches that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Since
the Bible is divinely inspired, infallible, and all-sufficient, it is our sole authority for all
that we do.  We believe we cannot add to or take away from the Scriptures (Revelation
22:18-19), nor can we preach another gospel than that contained in the New Testament
(Galatians 1:8-9).  We understand that we are under divine law today, not the Old Law
contained in the Old Testament, which was nailed to the cross and taken out of the way
when Jesus died (Colossians 2:14), but the law of Christ found in the New Testament
(Romans 8:2, Galatians 6:2).  We believe that the writings of the Old Testament were
"written for our learning" (Romans 15:4); however, we understand that we must "rightly
divide the Word" (2 Timothy2:15), realizing that the Old Law was given to the Jewish
people and served as a schoolmaster (tutor) to bring them to Christ and the New
Covenant, which the divine record sets forth as a "better covenant established upon
better promises" (Galatians 3:24, Hebrews 8:6).  Thus we are bound by the law of
Christ contained in the New Testament, and we believe that we must have the authority
of Christ for whatever we practice or teach (Colossians 3:17).


REGARDING  SALVATION

The Bible teaches the Scriptures are able to make one wise unto salvation (2 Timothy
3:15), and we learn the following from the Lord's commandments, the writings of the
apostles, and the examples of conversion in the New Testament: One must hear the
Word of God (Romans 10:17), believe in Christ (Acts 16:31), repent of his sins (Luke
13:3), confess that Christ is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized in the
name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of sins (Matthew 28:19,
Acts 2:37-38).  Once these steps are faithfully obeyed, the Lord then adds that individual
to His Church (Acts 2:47).


REGARDING THE  CHURCH

The Bible teaches that there is one body (Ephesians 4:4), and since the body is the
Church (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22-23), there is but one Church.  Jesus built
this Church (Matthew 16:18) and purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28).  We
believe one must be in the Lord's Church to be saved, since the Lord adds to the
Church those who are saved (Acts 2:47), and since the Bible declares Christ to be the
Savior of the body, or Church (Ephesians 5:23).

We believe, despite the discouraging number of denominations in existence today, and
despite the conflicting doctrines they teach, "God is not the author of confusion" (1
Corinthians 14:33).  He condemns division, exhorting us all to speak the same thing (1
Corinthians 1:10).  We believe unity is not achieved by simply accepting the fact that
there are various denominations and doctrines, but by rejecting all creeds and
doctrines of men and simply uniting upon the teachings of the Scriptures, walking by
the same rule (Philippians 3:16).

Nowhere in the New Testament does God endorse the existence of more than the one
Church Christ established, as stated above.   We believe that even today we can and
must be a part of that one true Church.  Since the seed of the kingdom is the Word of
God (Luke 8:11, 1 Peter 1:23), we believe if we plant that same seed planted many
years ago, we can reap the same results and truly be the Church of the New
Testament.  We believe the Church of the New Testament has certain identifying marks
that set it apart from denominations founded by men.  To be the Church of the New
Testament, we must be added to it in the same way those early disciples were (see
"Regarding Salvation"), we must teach the same doctrine they taught, we must worship
in the same manner they worshiped, and indeed we must follow all the divine patterns
they followed.  Any organization that lacks these distinguishing marks simply cannot be
the Church of the New Testament.


REGARDING  THE  WORSHIP   OF  THE  CHURCH

Since the Bible teaches we must have the authority of Christ for whatever we practice or
teach (Colossians 3:17), our worship services will be conducted strictly in accordance
with the Scriptural patterns set forth in the New Testament.  Jesus said, "they that
worship [God] must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).  To worship God "in
spirit" means to worship Him with the right attitude and motives.  In other words, the
condition of the heart must be acceptable in our worship.  To worship God "in truth"
means to worship Him according to the Word of God, for Jesus said that the Word of
God was truth (John 17:17). In other words, all that we do in worship to our God must
be regulated by the truth, which is the Word of God.  Jesus said that the truth was
knowable (John 8:32), but we must be willing to diligently study God's Word to find it (2
Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11, Matthew 7:7-8).  We must also be willing to receive the truth
with meekness (James 1:21).  Indeed, Jesus expects us to understand and follow the
truth, for He promises indignation, wrath, tribulation, anguish,  a fiery vengeance, and
everlasting destruction for those who do not obey the truth (Romans 2:8-9, 2
Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Following are the five items of worship found in the corporate worship of the Church in
the New Testament.  As we have stressed above, each item must be carried out with
the right attitude and must be regulated by truth for our worship to be acceptable.  The
Church assembles, or comes together, in one, undivided assembly, for corporate
worship, which we believe we must do to follow the New Testament pattern (1
Corinthians 11:20, 14:23).


SINGING

The Bible teaches by divine example that singing should be a portion of our worship
service (Hebrews 2:12).    Christians are also commanded to sing and make melody in
the heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).  Because the Bible only authorizes vocal music
in our worship, we believe it would be an addition to His Will if we added and employed
instrumental music.  We sing a cappella, "the way of the Church," without instrumental
music.


TEACHING

Because we recognize the preeminence of God's Word, we believe the teaching should
come from that precious source (1 Peter 4:11), and center around the gospel of Christ,
which is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16).  The teaching service must
be handled by able, faithful men, speaking one at a time (1 Corinthians 14:31).  We
believe the Scriptures teach that, regardless of age, "all may learn, and all may be
comforted" in the scriptural, undivided assembly (1 Corinthians 14:31).

The Bible plainly forbids the woman to take up the role of a public teacher in the
worship of the Church (1 Timothy 2:11-12, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35); therefore, only male
members are allowed to instruct the assembled Church.  The teacher has a
responsibility to convict and edify with God's Word, "speaking the truth in love"
(Ephesians 4:15).


PRAYING

The Bible teaches and the Scriptures repeatedly affirm the necessity and
immeasurable value of frequent, heartfelt prayer (1 Timothy 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:17).  
According to (Acts 2:42), prayer was one of the things the early disciples continued in
steadfastly.

The Bible teaches that through the mediation of Christ, we now have bold access to the
Father's throne through the avenue of prayer (Hebrews 4:16).  Our prayers should be
fervent (James 5:16), consisting of our thanksgiving for God's rich blessings and our
requests for God's continued help (Philippians 4:6).  The Bible teaches prayer is a
precious spiritual blessing in Christ through which we cast all our care upon the One
who cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  These things should be kept in mind by the male
member leading the prayer during the worship service, and by the rest of the Christians
who follow along in their minds.


CONTRIBUTION

The Bible teaches the "collection for the saints" must be gathered only once a week, on
the first day of the week (the Lord's Day), according to the divine pattern given to the
Church at Corinth and the congregations at Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  At this time,
each disciple is to give of his means in a cheerful manner as he has been prospered,
and as he has purposed in his heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).  Those who are not members
of the Church are not required to give.

The Bible teaches that these funds are to be utilized for the work of the Church, for the
support of evangelists, elders, and widows indeed, and for the assistance of needy
saints (1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Timothy 5:3, 17-18, Romans 15:26).  The Bible teaches
that God requires Christians and congregations to be good stewards of  the blessings,
be they material or otherwise, bestowed upon them (1 Peter 4:10).


THE  LORD'S  SUPPER

The Bible teaches the communion, or Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20), is the "joint
participation" of Christians in the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 10:16).  The early disciples continued steadfastly in the observance of the
Lord's Supper (Acts 2:42).  The frequency with which they observed the Lord's Supper
can be ascertained from (Acts 20:7), where the Bible informs us that the disciples came
together upon the first day of the week to break bread (observe the Lord's Supper).  
Thus, in accordance with this scriptural example, we believe we must come together
every first day of the week to observe this solemn memorial.

We believe, as the Scriptures record, that on the night of Christ's betrayal, He took a loaf
of unleavened bread, blessed it, broke a piece off, and told His disciples, "Take, eat.  
This is my body which is broken for you."  Likewise, He took a cup containing the fruit of
the vine, blessed it, took a drink, and told His disciples, "Drink ye all from it," and, "this
cup is the New Testament in my blood" (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke
22:17-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

We believe we must observe the communion in the same manner as the Lord
instituted it and observed it with His disciples.  We believe we must keep this divine
pattern with all diligence, for the apostle Paul said in (1 Corinthians 11:2), "Keep the
ordinances as I delivered them to you."  He then went on to deliver unto them the proper
way in which they were to observe the communion (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).  He
received this pattern from the Lord, and it was the same pattern recorded by Matthew,
Mark, and Luke.  We believe this divine ordinance must be kept as it was delivered still
today.

Since we must keep it as it was delivered, we reject the use of a plurality of drinking
vessels, which are an innovation born out of a desire for sanitation, and we reject any
other corruption of the scriptural method of observing the Lord's Supper.  We believe the
Lord set His table many years ago in the upper room, and no man has the authority to
change the way he set it in any way!  (Additional Study on the Communion)

We earnestly contend for "the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3), pleading for
the restoration of New Testament Christianity, standing upon the firm foundation of the
Holy Scriptures and a "thus saith the Lord!"

article borrowed from newtestamentchurch.org
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