OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #22
| - Church of Christ - |
I. It is the church in the new testament, the one body (EPHESIANS 4:4-6).
Jesus said, …I will build my church, MATTHEW 16:18. He died for His one church,
which He hath purchased with His own blood, ACTS 20:28. In 1 COR 11:25 about
communion, He said, This cup is the new testament in my blood… In the new testament
book of 1 CORINTH 12:27 it says, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular. That shows the church is: Christ and His people, NOT the building into which
they go. Within the one church (worldwide, singular), the congregations (local, plural)
scattered in the land were identified as, the churches of Christ, ROMANS 16:16. In
Antioch disciples of Christ were called, Christians, Acts 11:26.
Jesus said, …I will build my church, MATTHEW 16:18. He died for His one church,
which He hath purchased with His own blood, ACTS 20:28. In 1 COR 11:25 about
communion, He said, This cup is the new testament in my blood… In the new testament
book of 1 CORINTH 12:27 it says, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular. That shows the church is: Christ and His people, NOT the building into which
they go. Within the one church (worldwide, singular), the congregations (local, plural)
scattered in the land were identified as, the churches of Christ, ROMANS 16:16. In
Antioch disciples of Christ were called, Christians, Acts 11:26.
II. Christ rules over members, elders, deacons, preachers.
Jesus Christ is the Founder and only Head, of the one true church of Christ, COLOSSIANS 1:
18. Therefore, preachers (ROM 10:14, also called minister, 1 TIM 4:6, or evangelist, EPH
4:11) are charged to preach His word only, 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5. Christians (ACTS 11:26),
also called saints (PHILIP 1:1), are simply the members (1 COR 12:27) of the body of
Christ. The elders are a plurality of those men who have been qualified and appointed to be
overseers and thus to “shepherd the flock” as pastors, caring for souls and watching over the
work of the congregation in their charge, ACTS 20:17,28. And deacons are qualified and
appointed special workers to assist in the Lord’s church, 1 TIMOTHY 3:13.
Jesus Christ is the Founder and only Head, of the one true church of Christ, COLOSSIANS 1:
18. Therefore, preachers (ROM 10:14, also called minister, 1 TIM 4:6, or evangelist, EPH
4:11) are charged to preach His word only, 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5. Christians (ACTS 11:26),
also called saints (PHILIP 1:1), are simply the members (1 COR 12:27) of the body of
Christ. The elders are a plurality of those men who have been qualified and appointed to be
overseers and thus to “shepherd the flock” as pastors, caring for souls and watching over the
work of the congregation in their charge, ACTS 20:17,28. And deacons are qualified and
appointed special workers to assist in the Lord’s church, 1 TIMOTHY 3:13.
III. Worship includes communion, giving, preaching, prayer, singing.
"Preach the word" (2 TIM 4:2) means preaching the Bible only, 1 COR 1:18. Every "first
day of every week" is the command, example and precept for partaking the communion,
ACTS 20:7; 1 COR 11:23-25. Even the whole world has sense enough to know that prayer
must belong, (1 COR 14:15; ACTS 2:42), and that singing belongs (1 COR 14:15; EPH
5:19). The church of Christ must not add to worship that which has no authority from God
(MATT 15:9; JOHN 4:24; 1 COR 4:6), like the playing of instruments. Finally, the
God-approved work of the church is supported through the giving of freewill contributions,
1 COR 16:1-2.
"Preach the word" (2 TIM 4:2) means preaching the Bible only, 1 COR 1:18. Every "first
day of every week" is the command, example and precept for partaking the communion,
ACTS 20:7; 1 COR 11:23-25. Even the whole world has sense enough to know that prayer
must belong, (1 COR 14:15; ACTS 2:42), and that singing belongs (1 COR 14:15; EPH
5:19). The church of Christ must not add to worship that which has no authority from God
(MATT 15:9; JOHN 4:24; 1 COR 4:6), like the playing of instruments. Finally, the
God-approved work of the church is supported through the giving of freewill contributions,
1 COR 16:1-2.
Conclusion: In MATTHEW 7:7 Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened you." Why people attend and worship where they
do is very telling about their type of character – spiritual or carnal, ROMANS 8:5-10.
Instead of selecting religion on the basis of one’s parents, or the location, or what
“programs” they have, spiritually wise persons will seek the church about which Jesus
said, "I will build my church", MATT 16:18. Of this one new testament church, Jesus
further stated, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." So what about you?
MATTHEW 12:30. Will you be against Him? Or will you be with Him, in the church of
Christ?
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened you." Why people attend and worship where they
do is very telling about their type of character – spiritual or carnal, ROMANS 8:5-10.
Instead of selecting religion on the basis of one’s parents, or the location, or what
“programs” they have, spiritually wise persons will seek the church about which Jesus
said, "I will build my church", MATT 16:18. Of this one new testament church, Jesus
further stated, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." So what about you?
MATTHEW 12:30. Will you be against Him? Or will you be with Him, in the church of
Christ?