On the one hand, they attend worship and other meetings in order to worship God along with their fellow Christians. The Lord Himself promised, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20). 

On the other hand, they have the opportunity to communicate with other Christians and serve one another, so embodying the mutual love of the members. At the same time, they can show concern for one another, stirring up one another in love and good works (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25). They meet together to listen to the Gospel, study it and receive care and training (cf. I Corinthians 14:31).

(a) Shepherding Christians, enabling everyone to “attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13).

(b) Witnessing of Christ, preaching the Gospel, and leading people to the Lord (cf. Mark 16:15).

(c) Acting as a “golden lampstand”, enabling the light of God’s truth to illumine the world through the Church, giving expression to what is right, promoting righteousness, reprimanding error, and dispelling darkness (cf. Matthew 5:14-16; Revelation 1:12-13). 

(d) Serving people and serving the community, as Jesus did (cf. Mark 10:45;  I Peter 4:10-11).

(a) By always acting in a spirit of humility, meekness, and patience, with each counting others better than himself (cf. Philippians 2:3), accepting the brothers whom the Lord has accepted, and enriching one’s self by the grace which others have received (cf. Romans 15:7).

(b) By forbearing one anther in a spirit of love, not disputing about past estrangements, grudges and enmity.

(c) By being united in the bond of peace, by seeking common ground and respecting one another’s differences, and by not indulging in mutual revocation and attacks (cf. Ephesians 4:2-3).

(d) By observing the Lord’s new commandment that we should love one another as the Lord loves us (cf. John 13:34-35).

It was the prayer of Jesus Christ as He was about to leave this world that His disciples should be united. 

In His prayer He said, “Holy Father, protect through the power of your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 

May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so also may they be in us” (John 17:11, 21). 

The desire for unity is bestowed by the Holy Spirit, so the Bible teaches us to “be eager to maintain the unity which the Spirit bestows”(Ephesians 4:3).

The visible Church has not been entirely flawless, and it has made mistakes throughout history. 

From the time of the apostles, sin has existed within the Church. 

From time to time, it has in some places been manipulated by unrighteous and sinful people. 

Christ wishes to “sanctify it, cleansing it by water through the Word, so that it might be presented to Him as a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27). 

The Church on earth must constantly purify itself and correct its mistakes and shortcomings. 

Many reform movements—“transformation by the renewal of the mind” have come about in this way. 

The Church will at last be “made ready as a bride adorned for her husband”, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for the Church (cf. Romans 12:2; Revelation 21:2). 

This happens when there is a new heaven and a new earth.

Years ago, before liberation, some Christians advocated, on the basis of Biblical revelation, that the Chinese Church should be independent and self-governing. 

However, the situation prevailing at that time made it impossible to develop their ideas. 

After liberation, some leaders and Christians in the Chinese Church proposed, with a view to making a fresh start, to develop and promote self-government, self-support and self-propagation (abbreviated as “Three-Self”). 

This proposal met with a ready response from the masses of Christians, and with the sympathetic support of the Chinese people. 

The events of the past fifty years or so have clearly demonstrated that the Chinese Church, by supporting the three-self principles, has taken on a fresh appearance. 

Moreover, the relations between believers and those who have no religious belief are constantly improving. 

The Three-Self Movement has clearly been of great benefit to the church, in expressing the truth of the Gospel, in asserting our national independence, and in ensuring the stability of social order. 

It has clearly embodied the teachings of the Bible with regard to glorifying God and benefiting mankind (cf. I Corinthians 9:20-21; Matthew 5:16).

There were foreign Christians who loved the Lord, and who expressed their love by bringing the Gospel to our land. 

This was a good thing. However, missionary work in those days was used by colonial and imperialist powers. They made the Chinese Church into an organization belonging to foreign churches, so the churches and believers depended on unequal treaties for protection. These treaties were imposed on China by foreign aggressors. 

All this is contrary to the teachings of the Bible, and gave the Gospel of Christ the ignominious reputation of being a “foreign religion”. 

Moreover, it made it difficult for the Gospel to gain acceptance and become widespread among the masses of Chinese people. 

The policy in all religious activity should be, rely, not on might, nor on power, but on the Spirit of the Lord, then only can it succeed (cf. Zechariah 4:6).

All the churches in the world belong to the one Body of Christ, and the churches in the various countries are its limbs. 

The churches should be independent and autonomous, with none lording it over the other, but with Christ as the common Head to all (cf. Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 2:18-19).

The first characteristic of the Church is “holiness”. By holiness we mean that the Church belongs to God and is pure and sacred. 

Another characteristic is “catholicity”. By “catholic” we mean that all those throughout the world who belong to Christ Jesus belong to the one Church, and should not have divisions or indulge in mutual discrimination (cf. I Corinthians 11:17-19). 

But the Church in each country, in each region, and in each period of history has its own special gifts and responsibilities, and each has its own characteristic features (cf. I Corinthians 12:13-14).

The Church is the assembly of those who have been chosen by God and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. 

The Church is God’s household (cf. Timothy 3:15) and the temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. Ephesians 2:20-22;  I Corinthians 3:16). 

It is the body of Christ and the bride of Christ (cf. Revelation 19:7; Ephesians 1:22-23). 

It is the pillar and foundation of the truth (cf. I Timothy 3:15), and it is the united body of believers. 

The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, apart from whom there is no other foundation (cf. I Corinthians 3:11).

The redemption of mankind is completed when there is a new heaven and a new earth. The way to the tree of life will no longer be barred (cf. Genesis 3:24; Revelation 22:2). 

There will be no more curse (cf. Genesis 3:17; Revelation 22:3); and no more death (cf. Genesis 2:17; Revelation 21:4). 

God Himself will dwell with men and be their God and they will be His people (cf. Genesis 3:23; Revelation 21:3). 

When the whole body is redeemed, the enmity will be abolished, and harmony will be achieved, so that eventually in Christ one new man will be created (cf. Ephesians 2:15). 

This will be the completion of God’s redemptive work. 

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). 

After we have attained rebirth, we must strive that our life may be more abundant. 

So that surrounded by the glory of the Lord, we may be transformed into the Lord’s image from glory to glory, as from the Spirit of the Lord ( II Corinthians 3:18). 

The most effective manifestation of an abundant life is “having love” (cf. I John 3:14, 5:1-2); “doing righteousness” ( I John 2:29); “doing no sin” ( I John 3:9, 5:18).