In fulfillment of God’s eternal plan (Eph. 3:10-11) the church was born. Jesus fulfilled His promise to build the church (Matt. 16:18) on the first day of Pentecost after His resurrection. From Acts chapter two on the church that Jesus built almost becomes the center of focus. Churches belonging to the Lord began to spring up in city after city throughout the Roman Empire. How was this church designated in the Scriptures?

A careful reading of the New Testament will reveal designations that can be divided into three groups. These designations were used with real meaning, expressing function, ownership, and relationship. These designations were given by divine direction and fulfill a divine purpose. Let’s take note of them. » Continue reading “Does God Care How The Church Is Designated?”

Unless the church of Christ is different from all other religious institutions it has no lawful right to exist as a separate body. To establish another church and create more division among professed followers of Jesus Christ is both foolish and wrong. There are therefore certain distinct factors that distinguish the church of Christ from all others and we believe that these differences are absolutely essential.

One of the significant features of the church of Christ is its attitude toward the Holy Scriptures in terms of the nature of the Bible, and the authority inherent in this sacred Book. We believe the Scriptures are from God, and through them the divine Mind has been revealed. » Continue reading “What Makes The Church Of Christ Different?”

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He {began} asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some {say} John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” –Matt 16:13-16 NAS

The tendency was to give Jesus a label, to put Him into some category and to dismiss Him from their thoughts. This saved them the trouble of really looking at Jesus and making a fresh, independent evaluation of Him. However, the different categories into which the people put Jesus were all wrong. Jesus was not John, Elias, » Continue reading “Can One Be Just A Christian?”

It is very sad that the majority of people of our day have become so accustomed to thinking in terms of denominationalism that it is a most difficult task to persuade them that the church of Christ is not a denomination. Neither Peter, Paul, nor any other Christian of the first century belonged to a denomination. Yet, all Christians in apostolic times belonged to the church.

The term “church” translated from the Greek word ekklesia appears in the New Testament more than one hundred times. Literally, it means “the called out.” Therefore, the phrase “church of Christ” simply means “the called out belonging to Christ.” Such people are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14; Rom. 1:16) out of the world of darkness into the glorious light of the kingdom of Christ (I Pet. 2:9; Col. 1:13). » Continue reading “What Is The Church?”