WHO ARE WE?
Many seem to be confused as to what it means to be a member of the church of Christ. The following observations are given for clarification.
1. We are followers of Jesus. Though we are imperfect, we have been saved through faith, not because of our goodness or merit, but by the wonderful grace of God.
Ø Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
Ø Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
Ø Romans 5:1-2— Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
2. We truly believe that Jesus is God's only begotten Son.
Ø John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
3. We believe that the Son of God (Jesus), actually came down from heaven and lived among us, suffered and died on our behalf.
Ø 1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
4. We have been baptized by immersion into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the remission of our sins.
Ø Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
5. We have not attained perfection but we strive to please God and to know and understand His Word.
Ø Philippians 3:12-14— Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things, which are behind, and reaching forward to those things, which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
6. We search the Scriptures daily to determine God's will for our lives.
Ø Acts 17:11 These were more fair–minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily [to find out] whether these things were so.
7. We are Christians, members of a heavenly city whose builder and maker is God.
Ø Hebrews 11:10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.
8. We believe Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Ø Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
9. We desire to follow the New Testament of Christ as our only rule of faith and practice, and because his Word will judge us in the last day.
Ø John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him––the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
10. Our goal is to be a church of Christ just like those we read of in the New Testament and to whom Paul referred in his letter to the Romans.
Ø Romans 16:16 "…The churches of Christ greet you."
11. We worship in the simple and sincere way set forth in Scripture. We attend church services, not to be entertained but to honor and adore our Creator. We need no pageantry or professional performers to stir us to worship and adoration.
Ø John 4:24 "God [is] Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
12. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, who care for each other. We bear one anther's burdens as we fulfill the law of Christ.
Ø Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
13.In our work, we seek to save those who are lost in sin by teaching them about Christ.
Ø Luke 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Forgiveness/pardon of sins is available.
Believe + baptism = Saved
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Repent + baptized = Remission
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins."
Man must OBEY the will of God
Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
God wants all to be saved
1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Salvation is God's gift to the obedient
Revelation 2:10—"…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."