December 1, 2002 Volume 3 Number 48
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INTRODUCTION TO THE
CHURCH OF CHRIST Part 2 Historical Lineage for churches of Christ? No one who understands the Bible makes the claim for authentication of modern churches of Christ by a historical, unbroken link that connects back to Jerusalem. It cannot be done, historically, nor is it necessary that it be done to recognize the Lord's church today. How is it valid, then, for us to claim spiritual identity as the church of Christ without this link? What right do we have to say that we belong, spiritually and organically, to the Lord's church? First of all, Jesus taught the validity of New Testament Christianity for all ages when he gave the "Great Commission" (Mt. 28:18-20). The gospel was to be for "the whole world" until the "end of the ages." The gospel is for all ages of time, for all nations, for every tribe, for every tongue. Faithful men in the first century were instructed to teach future generations (2 Tim. 2:2). As the gospel of Christ is proclaimed in its purity, without the addition of creeds (Gal. 1:6-9), its simple message (1 Cor. 1:19--2:13) becomes the "power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). Within the gospel is a divine power that is called "the seed" (Luke 8:1-15) by which spiritual life is generated in every age, wherever the gospel is proclaimed. No self-appointed clergy has the right to reject those who do not recognize their ecclesiastical oversight. Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23), and it is His right to determine who is saved and who is in His fellowship. The power of the gospel, the seed (Lk. 8:11) generates life wherever it is sown. Disciples are made when they obey the gospel (Mt. 28:18-20) and the Lord adds them to His church (Acts 2:47). As individual saints are born by the word, they meet with others saints in a locality in order to work and worship as New Testament Christians did. In this fashion, wherever the gospel is preached, churches of Christ will appear. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST A local church of Christ is simply a congregation that belongs to Christ. It is organized after the New Testament pattern of "elders, deacons and saints" (Phil. 1:1). All creeds of men are rejected and the Bible is the only standard of faith and practice. As the gospel is planted in the hearts of honest men and women (Luke 8;11; Rom. 1:16), new Christians are born (John 3:1-5; Rom. 6:1-7). Upon the instructions of the New Testament, Christians meet on the Lord's day for the Lord's supper (Mt. 26:26-30; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-29), singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), prayers (Acts 12:5), study of the scriptures (Acts 15:7-21) and giving contributions for the Lord's work (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Each congregation is independent from every other congregation, claiming its autonomy under Christ (Phil. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:1-2). It recognizes no earthly head, belongs to no association of churches, stands free from denominational churches and supports no human institutions. It recognizes its God-given responsibility to preach the gospel according to its own ability, to provide edification to its own members, and to provide benevolence for its own needy (Acts 6) and for those saints in need in other places (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8, 9). As the early disciples "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4), so do 20th Century Christians. Please consider the following material as a short explanation of God instructions to man for Salvation. It is important we answer through scripture what God require of us that we might be saved. How Does One Become A Christian? Hear the Gospel Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20). The Lord is inviting you into His kingdom. He also said, "I am the good shepherd," and he is the "door of the sheep" (John 10:7, 11). He invites the lost into the fold of safety, for danger is outside. For the lost, Jesus is the good shepherd that leaves the "ninety and nine" and looks for the "sheep that is lost," for "the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost" (Mt. 18:11-14). Jesus' sheep hear his voice and follow him (John 10:27-28) for eternal life. How do the sheep hear the voice of Jesus? We are "called by the gospel" (2 Thes. 2:14), which is "power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). It is by the word of God that faith is produced in the hearts of the lost (Rom. 10:17). Have you heard the gospel? Believe As the gospel story is read (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), Jesus is shown to be the Son of God (Jn. 20:27-31). Our faith rests in Him. We must believe that He is the Son of God, sacrificed for our sins (Mt. 16:13-16; John 8:24). Do you believe? Repent of Sins All of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and have died spiritually because of sin (Rom 6:23). We must face our sins and repent. Repentance is a change of mind, followed by a change of life, as illustrated in Matthew 21:28-31. The son "repented" (changed his mind) and "went" (changed his life). This repentance is required before one can be saved (Lk. 13:3-5; Acts 2:36-38). Have you repented? Confess the Name of Jesus Jesus warned that we must have the courage of our faith to openly confess Him with the mouth, an oral confession (Rom. 10:10). If we do not have this courage, Jesus will not confess our name as brethren (Mt. 10:32-33). People in the New Testament times confessed Jesus' name (Acts 4:10-12; 8:37). Have you confessed that Jesus is the Son of God? Be Baptized Yes, baptism is a Bible doctrine, commanded by Jesus (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Luke 24:48). Baptism is not administered as a "rite of the church," as a work of human righteousness or merit, but as an act of faith (Mk. 16:16; James 2:17, 18, 20, 24). Regardless of the animosity toward baptism in the denominational world, and in spite of their denial of its place in salvation, it is administered by the authority of Jesus for the remission of sin. Baptism is a burial (Rom. 6:1-7; Col. 2:12) in water (Jno. 3:1-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:38). It is for (unto, toward) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and is viewed in scripture as involved in "washing away sins" (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). It is understood by Bible students that forgiveness is not in the water, but in the blood of Christ (Mt. 26:26-28; Rom. 6:1-7). However, Jesus has placed the opportunity of reaching that blood in the act of baptism. It is at baptism that the sinner mets the blood of Christ, that the old man of sin dies, and the new birth takes place (Rom. 6:1-7; Jn. 3:1-5). Baptism is a re-enactment of the sinner for what Jesus did for him (death, burial and resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:1-4). The sinner obeys, in baptism, a "form of the gospel" (Rom. 6:16-18) in that he becomes dead to sin as he repents, is buried in baptism, and arises to a new life in Christ (Rom., 6:1-7). There is no other act of obedience in the New Testament that so fittingly portrays the gospel in our life as baptism. It is an act of faithful obedience (Rom. 1:5; Jn. 6:28-29; 8:39), not an act of merit or of human righteousness (Tit. 3:5). At the time of baptism, Jesus forgives our sins by the power of the blood and adds us to His church (Acts 2:38, 47). Have you been baptized? Now That I'm A Christian Disciples of Jesus wear no denominational names or support denominational doctrines. You are not Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc. No such names or denominations existed when Jesus built His church, and you now belong to that church (Mt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). The name of "Christian" is given for you to wear, and you glorify God in that name (Acts 11:26; 4:12; 1 Pet. 4:14-15). As a Christian, you will meet with other Christians for worship and service (Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:42; 9:26-28; Eph. 4:11-16). Christians begin as "babes" in Christ, having been born again (Jn. 3:1-5; Rom. 6:1-7; 1 Pet. 1:22-23; 1 Pet. 2:1-2). Each grows toward being a mature Christian (Eph. 4:11-15). They no longer live in sinful life-styles as in the past (Col. 3:1-17; Gal. 5:19-24). A Christian grows by adding the attributes of grace (2 Pet. 1:2-11). Are you a Christian? Quit Using "Church Of Christ"? by Larry Ray Hafley Before we deal with the question as to the advisability of using the designation, "church Of Christ," perhaps we should establish that it is a scriptural label. In 1 Thessalonians 2:14, the Spirit cited "the churches of God." However, when he wanted to speak of one such church, he spoke of, "the church of God" (1 Cor. 1:2). Thus, the singular of "churches of God" is "church of God." In Romans 16:16, the Holy Spirit mentioned "the churches of Christ." Since the singular of "churches of God" is "church of God," what is the singular of "churches of Christ"? (If you do not know the answer to that question, there will be no need for you to worry, or to read further. Bless your heart, God will take care of you.)Over the years, some have said it would be best if we ceased to put the name, "Church Of Christ," on our meetinghouses. Various reasons have been given. "It's confusing." "People with a negative view of the church won't attend when they see the name." "It's too traditional." What shall we say to these objections? If we drop the name, "Church of Christ," and replace it with "Christians meet here," we will confront the same set of problems and objections. The name "Christian," too, is "confusing." When we use it to tell folks what we are religiously, many wonder "what kind of Christian" we are, Baptist-Christian? Methodist-Christian? Catholic Christian? Others have a "negative view" of it (Cf. James 2:7 "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”). It is a very traditional term, used widely and loosely around the world. Since the name "Christian" is greatly abused and misunderstood, shall we, therefore, cease to call ourselves "Christians"?Shall we quit referring to "elders" because certain ones may link us with the Mormons and their "elders"? Obviously, we dare not call our elders, "pastors," for that would certainly confuse most people (even some of our own brethren!). Shall we drop references to "baptism" since it is a traditionally used and often misunderstood term? "Baptism" makes some think we approve of "sprinkling," for that is their concept of it. Thus, they are misled about what we believe. Does that mean that 1 Peter 3:21, like the name, "church of Christ," must go by the way side, for it employs that confusing, traditional expression, "baptism doth also now save us"?Neither can we speak of being "born again," for that designation is misunderstood and misrepresented. To use it would identify us with Protestant churches. Obviously, we dare not speak of the Holy Spirit, or "Holy Spirit baptism" or "tongues," for those are "buzz words" of wild-eyed faith healers in particular and Pentecostalism in general. Of course, we absolutely must not even breathe the word "miracle," for everyone knows what would be assumed of us! If we must cease references to "churches of Christ," to be consistent we must do away with these other terms--Christian, elder, pastor, baptism, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit baptism, tongues, and miracles. However, the truth is that we need not dispense with any of them. Rather, without shame or apology, we must teach the world the truth and use every opportunity to show the distinction between the words of men and the word of God (Acts 17:23; 1 Pet. 4:11).BLESSINGS TO PONDER: If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare, even in the United States. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer healing touch. If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind everyone else how very blessed we all are. Food For Thought Life is like a cafeteria: One goes through choosing as he goes, but what he chooses must be paid for at the end of the line. CHOOSE WISELY, CAREFULLY, PRAYERFULLY: NO REFUNDS, NO EXCHANGES! We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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