Should I investigate the church of Christ?

by:  David A. Beck

 

1. It has no creed but the Bible.

     A.  2 Tim. 3:16-17 – The Scriptures furnishes a man unto all good works 

          2 Pet. 1:5 – Gives everything that pertains unto life and godliness

     B.  The New Testament was the apostles’ creed 

    C.       The churches of the New Testament were governed without human creeds.  It can be done now, too.

 

2. It believes in speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is silent.

    A.  1 Pet. 4:11 – It speaks as the oracles of God

          2 Tim. 1:15 – It holds fast the form of sound words

          Gal. 1:9 – It teaches nothing that the apostles did not teach or preach

     B.  We must teach and practice all the truth –Nothing less!

     C.  Not to go beyond the truth as revealed in the          New Testament - 2 John 9

     D.  The only safe guide is the Bible.  Even sincere men can be deceived.

 

3. It pleads for the unity of all believers in Christ upon the basis of the Word of God and the one body.

     A.  John 17:20-21 – Jesus prayed that all be ONE

          1 Cor. 1:10 – Paul pleaded for “speaking the         same things”

          Eph. 4:4-7 – There is one body and the body is the church.  (Col. 1:18;  Eph. 1:22-23)

     B.  It is undenominational – has no membership in any human organization

     C.  Its members are in no spiritual organization other than the one to which the Lord adds the saved – Acts 2:47

    

4. Its worship is fashioned to the New Testament pattern

    A. “In spirit” – (with sincerity) and “In truth” (as the Word of God dictates) – John 4:24

     B.  It opposes all items of worship not authorized in the New Testament –          Matt. 15:9 – The unauthorized is VAIN worship

          Acts 2:42 – Continues steadfastly in the apostles doctrine

     C.  The worship of the early church consisted of:

          SINGING – Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16

          GIVING – 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 9:7

          TEACHING – Acts 20:7

          PRAYING – Acts 2:42

LORD'S SUPPER – Acts 20:7

ON THE FIRST DAY OF EVERY WEEK

     D.  If we worship in the same way as the church did when it was being led by Spirit-filled apostles, we know that we are pleasing God.

 

5. It wears no name but the name of Christ, and opposes all names of man’s       invention.   

     A.  Acts 11:26 – Called CHRISTIANS at Antioch

          Acts 26:28 – Almost persuaded to be a CHRISTIAN

          1 Pet. 4:16 – Glorify God in the name CHRISTIAN

     B.  All to wear name as Bible speaks 1 Pet. 4:16

     C.  1 Cor. 1^st chap. condemns wearing human names

     D.  It is these other (denominational) names that divide us.  Why not just be a Christian?

 

6. It is apostolic in its organization.  Elders and deacons in every church or congregation.

     A.  Acts 20:28 – Elders to oversee the church

          Acts 14:23 – ordained elders in every church

          1 Tim. 5:17 – Let the elders rule well

          1 Pet. 5:1-3 – Elders to take the oversight and not lord it over God’s heritage

     B.  The church is not run by a majority rule or by          Popes, councils, conferences, etc.  But as its only head, Christ, dictates His will through         the apostles and is overseen by the elders.

 

7. It teaches that the Gospel,  as revealed and confirmed by the Holy Spirit, is able to convert sinners and bring them to salvation.

     A.  Rom. 1:16 – the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation  

          1 Cor. 15:2 – we are saved by the gospel

          1 Cor. 4:15 – we are begotten through the gospel

          Jas. 1:18 – we are begotten by the word of truth

          Rom. 10:17 – faith comes by hearing the word of God

          John 17:17 – we are sanctified through the truth

     B.  The scriptures do not teach that we are miraculously converted by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit;            rather that we are converted when we believe and obey the Gospel.  (Mark 16:15-16)

 

 

8. All of its work and worship is done simply as Christians,          through the local church, and not through some human organization.

     A.  Building and maintaining societies and institutions takes away from the personal involvement of the Christian.    

     B.  Eph. 3:21 - God is glorified by the church (Christians) not human institutions

     C.  1 Tim. 3:15 – The church is the pillar and ground of the truth

     D.  Mat. 16:18 – Jesus built the church – it belongs to Him-we need to follow His instructions for how it is to operate

     E.  In the New Testament there is no organization larger than, smaller than, or other than the church to do the work of the church.

 

 

9. For salvation it teaches sinners to do only what Jesus taught      through the apostles.

     A.  Rom. 10:17; Acts 16:31 – believe

     B.  Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30-32; Luke 13:3 -Repent

     C.  Rom. 10:9-10 – confess Jesus  

     D.  Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16;

          1 Pet. 3:21 – be baptized   

     E.  If we follow the same examples of conversion as we find in the New Testament, we will have the same hope that they had.

10.    It teaches Christians to live faithful to Christ.

     A.  John 15:1-8 – unfruitful branches to be cast into fire and burned

     B.  2 Pet. 1:5-11 – If you do these things you shall never fall

     C.  Rev. 2:10 – The faithful receive a crown of life

     D.  1 Cor. 6:9 – The unrighteous shall not enter the kingdom of God

 

     The church of Christ is not a denomination.  It is the church that Jesus built (Matt. 16:18) in the first century.  He did not give authority for any others

     Denominationalism is not from God, but from man. They are in competition with the church the Lord established.

     God wants us to become His child by believing in Him and being obedient to the simple scheme of redemption.  When we do this we are added by Him to his church (see Acts 2:47 and its context).  As Christians, then, He expects us to live faithfully to Him for the rest of our life.

     Denominations offer many different things.  They appeal to what man expects or wants. 

     Why not consider becoming just a Christian and determine to simply follow the doctrine of Christ as given by the Holy Spirit through His apostles? 

     We are anxious to study with you, if you wish.