Article Seven

The Seventh Article in the Draft Revision to the EFCA Statement of Faith:
7. God’s gospel is now embodied in the new community called the church –
We believe that the true church is composed of all those who have been saved by the grace of God through union with Christ by faith and through regeneration by the Holy Spirit. This church, of which Christ is the Head, is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of members of the true church.
The two biblically-mandated ordinances of the church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, visibly and tangibly express this gospel, strengthening our faith. They are to be celebrated by the church during the present age in obedience to Christ, but are not a means of salvation.


The four articles in the current EFCA Statement of Faith that it will replace:

7. That water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.

8. That the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.

9. That only those who are, thus, members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.

10. That Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs.



I will publish several posts in response to this portion of the revision.