About the Church of Christ
What Is The Church Of Christ?--ABrief Description
About the churches of Christ/Not a Denomination--The churches of Chirst salute you.
What Is The Church Of Christ --A Brief Description
The Church of Christ is the church which Jesus Christ built, Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Eph: 2:19-22). The church began in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost.
The church is not a
building of wood and stone,
but a living building made up of many members who are obedient to the
commands
of Christ (1 Peter 2:5-10). God blesses each member and desires us to
use
our possessions and talents to help the congregation we are a part of
to
grow, both in number and spiritually
(1 Cor. 12:12-26).
The scriptures refer to the church by several acceptable names. However in Romans 16:16 the church was referred to as "churches of Christ". In other words the churches which belong to Christ, our Lord and Master (Matt. 23:10).
We have no hierarchy. Our
only leader is Jesus
Christ; through His example and teachings recorded in the scriptures
for
us. The Bible is our only guide. Elders and Deacons are chosen in each
congregation, if qualified men are available (1 Tim. 3:1-13). These men
serve and over see the local congregation under the guidance of the
scriptures.
No organization of men above the elders makes decisions for this
congregation.
All joint works between the congregations of the churches of Christ are
decided by the individual congregations.
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The Churches of Christ
Salute You-- Rom 16:16
By George W. DeHoff
Throughout the world are congregations of Christians who have obeyed the commands which our Blessed Lord said for sinners to obey to be saved. These Christians meet for worship and are organized into local congregations. They are neither Catholic or Protestant. They belong to no denomination. They have no central government nor earthly headquarters. Each congregation is independent taking the New Testament as its sole and only authority in religion. The members insist that if we believe the same things the early Christians did and do the same things they did, it will make us the same thing. Paul was a member of no denomination, yet was a Christian and a member of the Lord's Church.
The church of Christ was established on Pentecost day, A.D., 33, as we read in Acts 2. Every saved person was added to the church(Acts 2:47). The church is composed of all Christians on earth. The members of the church were called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). The Lord gave this name (Isa 62:2). Humans names are condemned (1Co 1:12-13;Acts 4:12).
"The Word of God is the seed of the Kingdom" (Lu 8:11). This seed produced Christians when first planted. If we plant the same seed today, we will reap the same product. The life is in the seed. If there were not a Christian on earth today, you might become one by believing, repenting, confessing your faith in Christ and being baptized. If there were not a church of Christ on earth we might start one by obeying the gospel the apostles preached. Paul went to Corinth and preached the gospel. "Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). Paul later addressed them as the church of God" and "the body of Christ" (1Co 1:2; 1Co 12:27)
Nineteen centuries have
passed since the beginning
of the church. but we still have the same truth. We have today the same
church unchanged in name, doctrine, organization, faith and practice.
We
dare not use any creed except the New Testament (2John 9). we must not
add to our worship any doctrine or commandment of man (Mat 15:9). Our
plea
is for unity--not during a so-called union meeting--but for all time on
the platform given in God's word (Eph 4:4-6). We plead no merit of our
own--only the merit of Christ's shed blood and of his holy
word.
The New Testament is the Word of God. It is inspired of God and is
superior
to any human confession of faith (2Ti 3:16-17). Will you not join with
us in standing on the solid rock of God's word?