The church of Jesus Christ is not a human organization, but a creative act of God. Christ said, " … I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." [Matthew 16:18] The creation and founding of the church of Jesus Christ is an act of God. His congregation is subject solely to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Human interpretations and dogmas have no place in it. The founding and building up of the first christian congregations, as set forth in the Scriptures, serve as the standard.

In a special way, we want to highlight the five ministries and the appointment of elders to show the function of the offices in the church. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, God has appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers in the church. These five ministries are intended to edify the body of Christ and to furnish the holy ones for the work of the ministry. Where these five offices are lacking, there can be no talk of exercising the ministries of the church and edification of the body of Christ. God gave these five ministries to the entire church, and therefore a divine calling is necessary for them. No apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, or teacher is called or elected by a congregation, but as it is written: "God hath set some in the church" [1 Corinthians 12:28]

In the New Testament church, we first find the ministry of the apostles, for the Lord has entrusted them with the secrets of His Word. Everything that was revealed to the Old Testament prophets concerning the plan of salvation was fulfilled over the course of the New Testament church ages. The apostles had a particularly deep insight into God's Plan of Salvation and were commissioned by Him to inform the congregation whatever they had received from the Lord. Paul values his apostleship so highly that he introduces himself as such at the beginning of his letters. To the Romans he writes: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)"

In 1 Corinthians 1 he writes: "Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, . . ."

In 2 Corinthians 1, Galatians 1, Ephesians 1, and Colossians 1, he writes almost the same words. In Titus 1, he says: "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth…" From these words, it becomes clear that Paul does not emphasize an evangelistic ministry, but rather underscores his commission for the faith of God's elect and for the knowledge of the truth. If today a servant of God were to introduce himself at the beginning of a letter or a sermon as Paul did, one would have the impression that it was inappropriate. But Paul deemed it right, led by the Spirit of God, to place his divine calling and divine commission right at the beginning of his letters. This fact is only intended to point out that he, as a man of God, represents and expounds the divine viewpoint. What he presents of the Plan of Salvation from a prophetic perspective is just as binding as what he writes down doctrinally. God has also shown him the ordinances for the congregation: Baptism, Lord's Supper, the use of spiritual gifts, or the appointment of elders in the local congregations.

The church of Jesus Christ is not a human organization, but a creative act of God. Christ said, " … I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." [Matthew 16:18] The creation and founding of the church of Jesus Christ is an act of God. His congregation is subject solely to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Human interpretations and dogmas have no place in it. The founding and building up of the first christian congregations, as set forth in the Scriptures, serve as the standard.

In a special way, we want to highlight the five ministries and the appointment of elders to show the function of the offices in the church. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, God has appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers in the church. These five ministries are intended to edify the body of Christ and to furnish the holy ones for the work of the ministry. Where these five offices are lacking, there can be no talk of exercising the ministries of the church and edification of the body of Christ. God gave these five ministries to the entire church, and therefore a divine calling is necessary for them. No apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, or teacher is called or elected by a congregation, but as it is written: "God hath set some in the church" [1 Corinthians 12:28]

In the New Testament church, we first find the ministry of the apostles, for the Lord has entrusted them with the secrets of His Word. Everything that was revealed to the Old Testament prophets concerning the plan of salvation was fulfilled over the course of the New Testament church ages. The apostles had a particularly deep insight into God's Plan of Salvation and were commissioned by Him to inform the congregation whatever they had received from the Lord. Paul values his apostleship so highly that he introduces himself as such at the beginning of his letters. To the Romans he writes: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)"

In 1 Corinthians 1 he writes: "Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, . . ."

In 2 Corinthians 1, Galatians 1, Ephesians 1, and Colossians 1, he writes almost the same words. In Titus 1, he says: "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth…" From these words, it becomes clear that Paul does not emphasize an evangelistic ministry, but rather underscores his commission for the faith of God's elect and for the knowledge of the truth. If today a servant of God were to introduce himself at the beginning of a letter or a sermon as Paul did, one would have the impression that it was inappropriate. But Paul deemed it right, led by the Spirit of God, to place his divine calling and divine commission right at the beginning of his letters. This fact is only intended to point out that he, as a man of God, represents and expounds the divine viewpoint. What he presents of the Plan of Salvation from a prophetic perspective is just as binding as what he writes down doctrinally. God has also shown him the ordinances for the congregation: Baptism, Lord's Supper, the use of spiritual gifts, or the appointment of elders in the local congregations.