The Church of Christ

[Xzist]

Some Things You Should Know

You should know that in Bible times, the church is called:

• The temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• The bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32)
• The body of Christ (Colossians 1:18,24; Ephesians 1:22-23)
• The kingdom of God's son (Colossians 1:13)
• The house of God (1 Timothy 3:15)
• The church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2)
• The church of the first-born (Hebrews 12:23)
• The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28)
• The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16)

You should know that the church is:

• Built by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:13-18)
• Purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28)
• Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)
• Not built on Peter, Paul, or any other man (1 Corinthians 1:12-13)
• Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord who saves them (Acts 2:47)

You should know that members of the church are called:

• Members of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5)
• Disciples of Christ (Acts 6:1,7; Acts 11:26)
• Believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15)
• Saints (Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1)
• Priests (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6)
• Children of God (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2)
• Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16)

You should know that the local church has:

• Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
• Deacons, who serve the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1)
• Evangelists (preachers, ministers) who teach and proclaim the word of God (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
• Members, who love the Lord and each other (Philippians 2:1-5)
• Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith shared (Jude 3; Galatians 5:1)

You should know that the Lord Jesus Christ:

• Loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)
• Shed his blood for the church (Acts 20:28)
• Established the church (Matthew 16:18)
• Added saved people to the church (Acts 2:47)
• Is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:23)
• Will save the church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23)

You should know that man did not:

• Purpose the church (Ephesians 3:10-11)
• Purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25)
• Name its members (Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)
• Add people to the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:18)
• Give the church its doctrine (Galatians 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11)

You should know, to enter the church, you must:

• Believe in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31)
• Repent of your sins (Turn away from your sins) (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30)
• Confess faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10)
• Be baptized into the saving blood of Jesus Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Acts 22:16)

You should know that baptism requires:

• Much water (John 3:23; Acts 10:47)
• Going down into the water (Acts 8:36-38)
• A burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)
• A resurrection (Acts 8:39; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)
• A birth (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-6)
• A washing (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22)

You should know that by baptism:

• You are saved from sins (Mark 16:16 1 Peter 3:21)
• You have remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
• Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21)
• You enter into the church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41,47)
• You enter into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4)
• You put on Christ and become a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27)
• You are born again, a new creature (Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• You walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-6)
• You obey Christ (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

You should know that the faithful church will:

• Worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)
• Meet on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25)
• Pray (James 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Sing, making melody with the heart (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
• Eat the Lord's supper on the first day of the week (Acts 2:42 20:7; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:20-32)
• Give, liberally and cheerfully (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

You should know, that in New Testament times there was:

• One family of God (Ephesians 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:15)
• One kingdom of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13-14)
• One body of Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4)
• One bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-23)
• One church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4-6)

You know that the same church today:

• Is guided by the same word (1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Contends for the one faith (Jude 3; Ephesians 4:5)
• Pleads for unity of all believers (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6)
• Is not a denomination (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6)
• Is faithful to Christ (Luke 6:46; Revelation 2:10; Mark 8:38)
• Wears the name of Christ (Romans 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)

You should know that you can be a member of this church:

• By doing what people 1900 years ago (Acts 2:36-47)
• Without being in any denomination (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

You should know that a child of God:

• Can be lost (1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12-19)
• But is given a law of pardon (Acts 8:22; James 5:16)
• Is constantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10)

 

[SoulFly51]

 

[Shannonkish]

um, Okay.

 

[SoulFly51]

Thank you for adding so much to the discussion Shannonish.

 

[New_Wineskin]

Where is this located ? There seem to be a lot of people in that one assembly .

 

[Xzist]

Where is this located ? There seem to be a lot of people in that one assembly .

World wide...
Click here for a list

 

[New_Wineskin]

World wide...
Click here for a list

Just as I thought . A name that is singular for many groups and a central website .

 

[Flynmonkie]

What is the difference between this Church of Christ and the International Chrurch of Christ considered to be a religous movement?:
International Church of Christ

This group is definitely to be avoided. Along with its erring doctrine that baptism is necessary for salvation, it is legalistic, manipulative, and uses guilt and aberrant doctrines to keep its members in line. Though it is not a cult per se, it has many cult practices. It has destroyed many lives and left many others wary of anything Christian.

See here also:http://www.carm.org/list/bcc.htm

 

[Xzist]

What is the difference between this Church of Christ and the International Chrurch of Christ considered to be a religous movement?:
International Church of Christ

See here also:http://www.carm.org/list/bcc.htm

you know what... I have no idea what the difference is. I've never been to an International Church of Christ

But the Church of Christ does def. preach baptism essential for salvation....

 

[Shannonkish]

Thank you for adding so much to the discussion Shannonish.

What discussion? When I posted there was one response and all it was, was "Amen."

 

[Shannonkish]

Okay, I have a couple of questions---

Is this "Church of Christ" that the OP discusses the Church of Christ denomination or is it the "Body of Christ" that all Christians regardless of denomination belong too?

Because if it is the former then this is the wrong forum for this post to be in since Church of Christ is an actual denomination.

 

[SoulFly51]

What is the difference between this Church of Christ and the International Chrurch of Christ considered to be a religous movement?:
International Church of Christ

See here also:http://www.carm.org/list/bcc.htm

The ICOC is a cult.

Read more here - www.Reveal.org

That is a website for people who have left it and it has a lot of information there.

 

[SoulFly51]

Because if it is the former then this is the wrong forum for this post to be in since Church of Christ is an actual denomination.

No, you're confused.

If you see a church that has "church of Christ" on the side of it then it is non-denominational.

 

[Flynmonkie]

No, you're confused.

Ok Now I am confused even more

There is a Church of Christ on the side of the road up the street, How is this "Church of Christ" different than the movement? I realize the ICOC reads to be spun off of the original COC...But how can you tell the difference???

 

[Xzist]

Sorry... mistake

 

[Xzist]

Okay, I have a couple of questions---

Is this "Church of Christ" that the OP discusses the Church of Christ denomination or is it the "Body of Christ" that all Christians regardless of denomination belong too?

Because if it is the former then this is the wrong forum for this post to be in since Church of Christ is an actual denomination.

You know that the same church today:

• Is guided by the same word (1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Contends for the one faith (Jude 3; Ephesians 4:5)
• Pleads for unity of all believers (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6)
• Is not a denomination (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6)
• Is faithful to Christ (Luke 6:46; Revelation 2:10; Mark 8:38)
• Wears the name of Christ (Romans 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)

 

[NacDan]

Just for clarification....

All the "Church of Christ" congregations I see are wholly independent, and not organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy?

Who does the ordinations for the ministers in the Church of Christ? Are they all self ordained?

You've posted the dogma & doctrine of the "Church of Christ"...where did this doctrine come from (I know, THE BIBLE, but someone put it all together...)? Who publishes it.

Can I rent a building and put up a sign that says "Church of Christ" without some central organization thinking I ought to join it's association?

I think our issue isn't so much with your doctrines, as it is with our definitions of "denomination".

Danny

 

[Xzist]

Just for clarification....

All the "Church of Christ" congregations I see are wholly independent, and not organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy?

Who does the ordinations for the ministers in the Church of Christ? Are they all self ordained?

I guess you can say that they're self ordained...
if you want to be a minister... you can.. there's no one who appoints them

You've posted the dogma & doctrine of the "Church of Christ"...where did this doctrine come from (I know, THE BIBLE, but someone put it all together...)? Who publishes it.

I got the information that I posted on this site from church-of-christ.org...
I don't know who wrote it, but anyone could write it. It's not like we only want our minister to write information down. If I wanted to make a Website and put information about the church of christ... then I def. could

Can I rent a building and put up a sign that says "Church of Christ" without some central organization thinking I ought to join it's association?

yes sir... you sure could. There is no central organization. It usually goes like this...

I drive down the street and see a building with "The church of Christ" on it... and I say "hmmm there's a church of christ!" wow... let me visit it...

I attend and see if I like it... I check to make sure they have their bibles open, I make sure they're worshiping according to the bible... and that's it.

I think our issue isn't so much with your doctrines, as it is with our definitions of "denomination".

Danny

oh ok... I think I understand

 

[Stinker]

No, you're confused.

If you see a church that has "church of Christ" on the side of it then it is non-denominational.

Even we who are members of the body of Christ enjoy good oxymoron statements!

Thanks Wes!