Who are the churches of Christ?
Different Meanings
The word “church” is often used by people of existing religious
organizations. Today there are about 300 different kinds of churches, so it has
become necessary for each to be identified by some word other than just “the
church.” Church has come to mean different things to different people, depending
on their association with, or knowledge of, a particular denomination.
This was not always so. During New Testament times, and for several
centuries, there were no religious divisions, since the church of Christ existed
in it purity.
Bible Definition of “The Church”
Church is first used in the Bible is in Matthew 16:18 when Christ
said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” It occurs again in Acts 2 and from there is used
often to the close of the New Testament. It literally means “the called out
body.” This body consists of people who have been “called out” of the darkness
of sin and into God’s marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). The primary plea
of the churches of Christ is for religious unity of all the “called out.” In a
divided religious world it is believed that the Bible is the only possible
common basis upon which people who love God can unite.
How People Are “Called Out”
Paul states that God “…called you through our gospel…” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). When the
inspired apostles preached the Gospel or “good news” of Christ, they “called”
for people to believe and obey God’s Word. When a person did so, he was added to
the Lord’s church which was composed of the body of believers and followers of
Christ. He became thereby a member of the body of Christ which is the church of
Christ. The Bible nowhere teaches that a person was saved and then later joined
the church of his choice. When one obeyed the Gospel, he was saved from past
sins and became a member of that group of people who belonged to the
Lord.
Salvation and membership in the Lord’s church were obtained by one
action: that of obedience to the terms of Christ as stated in His Gospel. Jesus
said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...” (Mark 16:16). This is God’s
calling you through the Gospel. Each apostle preached the same Gospel. One did
not teach one thing and another something different. Therefore, when people
heard the Gospel, all obeyed identical commands in order to become Christians
and were added to the same church, for there was only one body, one church—not a
multiplicity of religious divisions.
What Is the Church?
The church is the body of believers in Christ who have been immersed
into Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”
(Galatians 3:26-27). The church is composed of those who wear only the name of Christ.
” And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). The church consists
of those who believe and teach only the doctrine of Christ. God said, “This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him: (Matthew 17:5). The church is
that body of believers who obey only the commands of Christ, their Savior. “And
being made perfect, he (Christ ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).
It is this the church of Christ strives to be.
The word “church” is often used by people of existing religious
organizations. Today there are about 300 different kinds of churches, so it has
become necessary for each to be identified by some word other than just “the
church.” Church has come to mean different things to different people, depending
on their association with, or knowledge of, a particular denomination.
This was not always so. During New Testament times, and for several
centuries, there were no religious divisions, since the church of Christ existed
in it purity.
Bible Definition of “The Church”
Church is first used in the Bible is in Matthew 16:18 when Christ
said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” It occurs again in Acts 2 and from there is used
often to the close of the New Testament. It literally means “the called out
body.” This body consists of people who have been “called out” of the darkness
of sin and into God’s marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). The primary plea
of the churches of Christ is for religious unity of all the “called out.” In a
divided religious world it is believed that the Bible is the only possible
common basis upon which people who love God can unite.
How People Are “Called Out”
Paul states that God “…called you through our gospel…” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). When the
inspired apostles preached the Gospel or “good news” of Christ, they “called”
for people to believe and obey God’s Word. When a person did so, he was added to
the Lord’s church which was composed of the body of believers and followers of
Christ. He became thereby a member of the body of Christ which is the church of
Christ. The Bible nowhere teaches that a person was saved and then later joined
the church of his choice. When one obeyed the Gospel, he was saved from past
sins and became a member of that group of people who belonged to the
Lord.
Salvation and membership in the Lord’s church were obtained by one
action: that of obedience to the terms of Christ as stated in His Gospel. Jesus
said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...” (Mark 16:16). This is God’s
calling you through the Gospel. Each apostle preached the same Gospel. One did
not teach one thing and another something different. Therefore, when people
heard the Gospel, all obeyed identical commands in order to become Christians
and were added to the same church, for there was only one body, one church—not a
multiplicity of religious divisions.
What Is the Church?
The church is the body of believers in Christ who have been immersed
into Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”
(Galatians 3:26-27). The church is composed of those who wear only the name of Christ.
” And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). The church consists
of those who believe and teach only the doctrine of Christ. God said, “This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him: (Matthew 17:5). The church is
that body of believers who obey only the commands of Christ, their Savior. “And
being made perfect, he (Christ ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).
It is this the church of Christ strives to be.