The lesson today is to remind us of how important it is to be members of the one true church that we read about in our Bibles and to be able to give an answer to those who we may come in contact with who might say that all the different denominations all believe in the same Jesus we worship. They might argue that we can choose and join any church we want too, it really doesn’t matter what name one wears as long as
we believe in the same God. Besides, we are all Christians who believe the same thing … it really doesn’t matter which denomination you belong too because we all going to go to heaven when we die. Some might say to us, “You think you’re the Only Ones going to heaven.”
So is the church of Christ the church we read about in the Bible truly the one we should belong too…? How should we answer this to those who say that the name isn’t important when we know that its vitally important if you want to be saved and know that the right church is very important.
First of all we need to be ready to give an answer to those who ask of us questions regarding the church we belong to with book, chapter and verse if we are to convince them that we have the answers in our Bibles and everything we believe in can be read straight from God’s inspired word.
A number of years ago I had the opportunity to be engaged in a Bible study with some men who were members of various churches. One of them was a member of the church of Christ. Questions were asked by those present. The answers given by the man from the church of Christ seemed to differ from the others in that he would not answer with “this is what the Church of Christ believes…” but rather would say, “let’s see what the Bible says on…” and then he would allow us to read what God taught in Scriptures. This really impressed me to see a person appeal to the Scriptures for all his answers. Later on I found out why he made us read the Bible to find the Lord’s teachings and how important it was to obey the Bible.
The Scriptures – Our Only Hope of Eternity
The God we worship is so powerful in that when He spoke, the universe came into existence, Psalm 148:3-5. This creator choose to communicate with the human race through the only preservable means – the written form, Psalm 12:6-7 and He promised that His Word would last forever, Isa. 40:8. Since it is impossible for Him to lie, Heb. 6:18, we know that when we read the Bible today, it is the Lord communicating his will for us. In fact, anything taught or practiced by man in the field of religion outside of what the Bible teaches is a corrupted teaching, 1 Peter 1:22-23. Since the Bible alone offers all we need to give us eternal life and to live godly lives, 2 Peter 1:3, to go beyond its teachings will result in Judgement, John12:48-50.
Is The Church Clearly Described in the Bible?
I was amazed to find that God’s foreknowledge led Him to look forward to the establishment of the church – even before the earth was created, Eph. 1:4-10; 3:8-9. God’s scheme of redemption is clearly revealed in Rev 13:8 where He tells of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 12:48-50.
In the Old Testament, the Lord begins to reveal that He would establish a new covenant, Jer. 31:31-34, and that this law would go forth from Jerusalem, Isa. 2:14, and that its ruler would be His Son, Isa. 9:6-7. Daniel also stated that in the days of the Roman Empire that the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never pass away, Dan. 2:44. In the New Testament, this kingdom is revealed as the church, Matt. 16:18; Colossians 1: 13-14.
Paul would later refer to the church as the body of Christ, Eph. 1:22-23. He describes the church in terms we can understand using the human body as an example. We as humans have a head and we have a body. The head makes the decisions telling the body what to do. Jesus is the head of the church and He governs and controls what this body of people should do, Matt. 28:18.
Why is The Church So Important?
The church was in the mind of God as He allowed His own Son to die on the cross, Isa. 53:4. In Acts 20:28, it says that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood. The Hebrew writer explains the mental torment Jesus encountered the night He was betrayed, Heb 5:7. Listen to the prophet Isaiah describe the appearance of Jesus as He hung on the cross, “Just as there were many who were appalled at him – His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness,” Isa. 52:14. I really cannot see why so many make light of the church when they can see that God gave His own Son for it, Eph. 5:25. Paul later states that Jesus promises to save only the church, Eph. 5:23 which belongs to Him.
How Can We Identify The Church Of The Bible?
Any church claiming to follow the Scriptures only should be able to give book, chapter, and verse to confirm that they are a member of the church described in the Bible. We have already read that Jesus purchased the church with His blood which means the church could not have been established prior to His death. After He raised from the dead, He told His disciples to remain in Jerusalem so that they could be instructed concerning the church and conversion, Luke 24:46-49. On the first Pentecost after He raised, the apostles began to unfold the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Acts 22-26. Those who had earlier cried, “crucify Him” than asked what they could do to be saved, verse 37. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” verse 38. Any church claiming to be the church of the Bible should trace its roots back to the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death and should ask one to respond as Peter did nearly 2,000 years ago.
God’s Organisation for The Church
When the church was first established, the Lord set apostles in it, they had to be men who had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection, Acts 1:22. They were responsible for introducing the gospel and information on the church. Paul stated that the church consisted of bishops (also called pastors), deacons, evangelists, and teachers, Phil. 1:1; Eph. 4:11. The church in its infancy had apostles and prophets to protect the hearers from false teachers, Eph. 4:14-16. They were given the ability to perform miracles to confirm their teachings came directly from God. Heb. 2:3-4. Today, however, we have God’s written word, the Bible, and thus no longer have apostles, prophets, or miracles which passed away in the first century, 1 Cor. 13:8-10.
The qualifications for the elders (which is another term to describe the bishops) is described in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. These men assume the responsibility for the souls of the church, Heb. 13:17 and are instructed to act as a spiritual guide to the Christians, 1 Peter 5:1-4. The deacons serve in physical areas such as benevolence or caring for the elderly as described in Acts 6:1ff. Their qualifications are listed in 1 Tim. 3:8-13. The preacher or evangelist may serve as a pulpit minister or one who shares the gospel in the home, 2 Tim. 4:2-5. Teachers would of course teach on any age level described in Titus 2:3-15.
Any church claiming to be the church of the Bible must follow the organisation described in God’s Word.
God’s Simple Worship Plan
The Lord has arranged for Christians to meet every Sunday to remember Christ’s death and resurrection by partaking of the Lord’s Supper, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20-34. It is interesting that in the secular writings of Justin Martyr that this practice continued week by week, even into the second century and beyond, in his book Apology Antoninus, page 67. Yet today, men following the doctrines and commandments of men will take it once a month or quarter and will try to justify their practice by saying that to take the Lord’s Supper every week will cause it to loose its meaning. It makes one wonder how often a person making a statement like this approaches God in prayer. Would praying every day cause it to loose its significance?
In addition to the Lord’s Supper, the assembly met for prayer and singing, 1 Cor. 14:15-16. Historical research has produced evidence that no instrument was introduced into the worship until after 900 A.D. I appreciate so much an eldership that will not allow an unauthorised form of music to creep into God’s pattern of worship. Some have argued that it does not say that you can’t worship with the instrument. Nahab and Abihu also used that same argument when they offered fire from a strange source, Lev. 10:1-2. They changed their minds though instantly — God’s Word wants us not to go beyond what is written in His Word, no matter what we would like, 1 Cor. 4:6.
Also, the Lord’s church heard a lesson from the Bible and contributed monetarily to the church, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1- 2, each Lord’s day. Their worship did not end with a Sunday morning service but they continued to serve God throughout the week, Romans 12:1-2.
A Changed Life Style
If a person claims to be a Christian as described in the Bible, there should be a marked change in his attitude and actions, Gal. 5:19-26; 1 Thess. 4:1-8. The church at Colissae was so excited about their life in Christ that they were sharing the gospel with their lost neighbours, Col. 1:3-6.
Being A Christian Only
The Scriptures both in prophecy, Isa. 62:2 and its fulfilment, Acts 11:26 tell that once the Gentiles would see God’s righteousness that they would be called by a new name given by the Lord’s own mouth. That name “Christian” is proudly worn by those who want to be the church of the Bible, 1 Peter 4:16. Man made names would later appear but not with God’s approval, 1 Cor. 1:10-15. Christians are also referred to as saints, 1 Cor. 1:2; brethren, Gal. 6:1; or children of God, Gal. 3:26.
Descriptive terms for the church are the church of God, Acts 20:20; body of Christ, Col. 1:18; house of God, 1 Tim. 3:15; or church of Christ, Romans 16:16.
Is It The Church Of The Bible?
Any church claiming to be the church of the Bible must be able to find its identifying characteristics within the pages of God’s Word. No creed books, manuals, catechisms or set of by-laws should be necessary to identify it. The New Testament alone was its only creed by which we must live by.
Nor should an earthly headquarters ever exist, for each church described in the New Testament was the highest order designed by the Lord. It doesn’t need man to change it add or subtract from its clear instructions that we should follow anything else other than God’s Inspired Word the Bible.
In Spain, Eastern Turkey, the UK, USA, South America, Nigeria, Kenya, India and other locations around the world small groups of Christians have been found following the pattern for the church and the only thing they had that made them identical was a Bible in their respective language.
Therefore, any group who follows just the Scriptures in worship, the gospel message, the plan of salvation, and organisation can proudly say, “I am a member of the church you read of in the Bible.”
You can’t ‘Join’ the Church
Even though today a person may join a club or a denominational group, he cannot join the church of the Bible. When he makes a response to the gospel, the Lord automatically adds him to His church, Acts 2:41, 47. But he cannot add an unbeliever, Heb. 11:6; an unrepentant person, Acts 17:30-31; one who has not confessed Him, Acts 8:37; or an un-immersed individual, 1 Cor. 12:13, to His church.
If you would like to be a part of an un-denominational group that is humbly trying to be the church one reads about in the Scriptures, then please contact us here in Ramsey or look for the nearest church in your local area. Let’s do our best to
restore the church of Christ as we see it unfolded in the Bible. If we can help then please come and speak to one of us or write to us and we will do our best to connect you to a faithful church of Christ regardless of where you live in the world. We are here to serve our Master Jesus Our Lord and Saviour. Amen brothers and sisters.
The lesson today is to remind us of how important it is to be members of the one true church
says, Robert H. Brown
