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What is the church of Christ?
The word "church" means the "called out ones." The church is composed of those who have been "called out" of the world by the gospel to Christ, 2 Thess. 2:14. Thus, these "called out ones" are simply Christians trying to be just what the followers of Christ were in New Testament times, 1 Thess. 1:5,6.
In New Testament times each local congregation of God's people was a church of Christ. For example, there was a church of Christ at Philippi, a church of Christ at Corinth, a church of Christ at Jerusalem, etc. For more study, examine the following verses: Philippians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Acts 8:1 and Romans 16:16
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What We Are
The Saved. The church is saved, Ephesians 5:23. The church is NOT the savior, Jesus is. The church is the body of Christ, with Jesus as its head, Ephesians 1:22,23. ALL who believe in Jesus and are baptized are saved, Mark 16:16; that is, they are "added to the church" by the Lord, Acts 2:38,41,47. The church at Samaria consisted of the saved, those who had believed and had been baptized after hearing the things concerning the kingdom of God (i.e. the church of God), and the name of Jesus Christ, Acts 8:5,12.
Subject to Christ. Jesus is "the head over all things to the church," Ephesians 1:22,23; Ephesians 5:24. We have no councils or conventions to guide us. We are not part of any hierarchy or association of churches. We are subject only to the authority of Christ, Matt 28:18; Colossians 3:17.
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What We Are not
A Denomination. We are not associated or affiliated with denominationalism. The creeds of denominations are foreign to the Bible teaching on Christ's church. The only church founded by God is the one mentioned in the Bible, Matthew 16:18.
Catholic or Protestant. We are not a Catholic Church. We honor and revere no man or human authority such as the Pope, Matthew 28:18. We are not a "Protestant" church in the popular sense. We "protest" sin, false doctrine, ungodliness, and immorality, but we are not allied with Protestant denominationalism. Catholics and Protestants are not referred to in the scriptures, Christians are. Acts 11:26
A Social Club. The church was purchased with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). The Son of God did not die for a social organization, but for a "spiritual house" (1 Pet. 2:5). We are not a glorified social center. We are the church. We worship God "in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)
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What is the Creed of the Church?
Jesus Christ and God's inspired Word are the only authority of the church, (Matt. 16:16,17). Anything more or less is of human origin (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
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How Do We Worship?
The New Testament says "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. " (2 John 9). Christians must conduct worship consisting only of those elements found in the New Testament church (John 4:24). These are: prayer (Acts 2:42), singing (Col3:16), gospel preaching (Acts 20:7), observing the Lord's Supper (1 Cor.11:23-26) (Acts 20:7), and giving (1 Cor.16:1,2), for the work of the church (Eph. 4:12).
All of these actions of worship are privileges of the members of the Lord's church and in no way will our visitors be forced to participate.
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How Can I Tell if a Congregation is of Christ?
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31,32).
We live in a world where there are hundreds of different kinds of so-called churches, all of them differing in name, in creed, and in practice; and yet they claim to be Christian and headed by Christ. How can one be sure which church, creed, or practice is what Jesus wants and which is of man? By examining what is taught and practiced against the only standard available... GOD'S WORD (1 John 4:1).
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How do I Become a Member of the Church of Christ?
The Lord adds to the church those who are being saved, (Acts 2:47). One does not "join" the church. To be saved, one must do the will of God, (Matt .7:21-23). The will of God, as expressed by the New Testament, for the sinner outside the body of Christ, is that he or she:
HEAR the Gospel
(Rom. 10:17)
BELIEVE in Christ
(John 8:24)(Heb. 11:6)
REPENT of his sins
(A change of mind, involving action)
(Acts 17:30,31) (Acts 26:20)
CONFESS faith in Christ
(Matt. 10:32; Rom 10:10)
BE BAPTIZED for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38)
People are saved and added to the Lord's church today in the same manner that they were in New Testament times (1 Cor. 12:13) (1 Peter 1:23-25).
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Why the name Church of Christ?
In New Testament times, the church was called:
"the church" (Acts 2:47; 5:11; 8:1)
"church of God" (1 Cor. 1:2; 1Tim. 3:15)
"body of Christ" (Col. 1:24; Eph 4:12)
"churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16)
"church of the first-born" (Heb. 12:23)
Individual members of the church were called:
"Disciples" (Acts 11:26)
"Saints" (Rom. 1:7; 1Cor. 1:2)
"brethren" (Acts 11:26; 26:28)
"Christians" (Acts 11:26) (1 Peter 4:16).
Whatever we do in word or deed must be by the authority of Christ (Col.3:17).
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