The church was built by Christ (Matt. 16:16-18), was purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28), and is that which He will save (Eph. 5:23-25). The New Testament teaches that the church is the singular body of Christ (Eph. 1:23; Col. 1:18), and that Christ is the head of that body with all authority  (Eph 1:22, John 12:48).

Our worship must be according to the word of God. The church is only authorized to use congregational singing without the use of mechanical instruments (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19). Having a choir replace the congregational singing is not authorized in the Scriptures. In addition, the New Testament teaches that men are to assume the leadership roles in the assembly (1 Tim. 2:8-15; I Cor. 14:34-35). We are to also partake of the Lords supper every Sunday (Matt. 26:26-29; Acts 20:7). We are only authorized to partake of the Lords supper in the same manner as Jesus did, which was instituted during the Passover (Matt. 26:17-18). We also are commanded to have prayers offered by faithful men during our worship to God (1 Tim. 2:8). We are commanded to give of our means every Sunday (1 Cor. 16:1-2) as a free will offering. It is also commanded that we have preaching every Sunday during our worship ( Acts 20:7, 2 Tim. 4:2). Worship is to be conducted in a decent and orderly manner (1 Cor 14:33). 

John instructed in 1 John 1:3-7 that we can only have fellowship with those who have fellowship with God. Those who have fellowship with God are those who are “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7). Thus, it is impossible for us to have unity with, or to offer fellowship to those who do not “obey His commandments” (1 Jn. 2:4, Eph. 5:8-17). We will not fellowship those who do not abide in all the teachings of Christ (2 John 9-11). 

The Bible teaches the following truths on this subject. If one marries another, while the first mate lives, he/she is guilty of adultery (Rom. 7:1ff).  Fornication is the only exception Jesus offers to the above situations. If one’s mate is sexually unfaithful, the innocent party has the right to divorce his/her mate and marry another (Matt. 19:9). We do not teach that the guilty party has the right to remarry. He (or she) forfeited their right when they were unfaithful.  The so-called “Pauline privilege” of 1 Cor. 7:11-15 is not an additional reason to remarry. Paul is allowing one to leave his or her mate under an extreme circumstance, but does not provide an additional reason for remarriage.

The grounds for man’s salvation is the blood of Christ, and God’s grace is manifested by what He did for our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). Therefore, it is God who determines to whom He extends His grace. He is not going to give His gift of grace to one who disregards His commands in the Gospel, or one who continues in sin (Rom. 6:1-2). God has given man His grace when he came to God through faith and obedience. Therefore, the acts of obedience that we do are not to merit or earn our salvation. Our works are done in order to demonstrate our faith and love (Jas. 2:14-26, John 14:15).

The Scriptures teach that one receives forgiveness of sins when he is baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16). There is no other point in one’s initial obedience where he/she receives forgiveness. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that one be baptized (immersed) to be saved. Otherwise his/her sins will not be forgiven. The Bible clearly teaches in Acts 8:12 that we must understand the authority (name) of Jesus and understand the essential nature of the Church (the kingdom) prior to baptism. While there are clearly other Biblical steps necessary (hear-Rom. 10:17; believe-Jn. 8:24; repentActs 2:38; confess-Rom. 10:9-10), it is when one emerges from the waters of baptism that he is united with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal 3:27), he is then added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47) 

The Bible clearly teaches that during the first century the Holy Spirit was very active in the lives of the Apostles and many of the Christians. The gift of the Holy Spirit was only able to be transferred to an individual by an apostle “laying hands” on them (Acts 8:18). Upon the death of the last of the Apostles, the gift was no longer able to be given. The Holy Spirit was for the main purpose of bringing comfort (John 14:16) and revealing truth (John 16:13). When truth had been revealed in its complete/perfect state then there was no more need for the Holy Spirit to be given (1 Cor. 13:10; Eph. 4:13). Today we are able to enjoy the completed product of the Holy Spirit every time we open our Bibles and read. 

Clearer words cannot be spoken than those of Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Many have tried to justify drinking without getting drunk using such scriptures as John 2 and Ephesians 5:18 and other New Testament verses. These attempts put our Savior in the position of sinning because Habakkuk 2:15 says that a Jew wasn’t to give his neighbor strong drink to drink. If Jesus turned water to alcoholic wine then he not only gave his neighbor strong drink, but an entire wedding party!  Furthermore, God is a consistent God. If alcohol caused mockery, rage, deception, and one to be a fool under the Old Testament, the principle still applies under the New Testament. Proverbs 23:31 says to not “look upon it when it is red, when it turns itself aright in the cup.” If we can’t look at it, how can we drink it?