What Is The Church Of Christ?
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
I. IT BELONGS TO CHRIST BECAUSE:
A. It was built by Christ himself——— Matt. 16:18; Psa. 127:1
B. He purchased it with his own blood————Acts 20:28.
C. He gave himself for it ——Eph. 5:25.
1. There is only ONE body ———Eph. 4:4
2. He is the head of the body———Col. 1:18.
D. He is the head of the church ———Eph. 1:22-23.
E. He is the Savior of the church ——— Eph. 5:23.
II. THE CHURCH IS CALLED:
A. The temple of God——I Cor. 3:16.
B The church of God.——I Cor. 1:2; Acts 20:27-28.
C. The house of God——— I Tim. 3:15.
D. The kingdom of God——Col. 1:13; Matt. 16:18-19; Rom. 14:17.
E. The church ———Eph. 3:10.
F. The church of the first born———Heb. 12:23.
G. The church of the Lord———Acts 20:28
H. The body of Christ———Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:24.
I. The bride of Christ—— Eph. 5:22-32.
J. The churches of Christ——Rom. 16:16.
III. THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE FIRST PENTECOST AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
A. The church/kingdom was to come with power——Mark 9:1.
B. The power was to come when the Holy Spirit came———Acts 1:8.
C. The Holy Spirit came on that Jewish feast day (Pentecost) ——Acts 2:1-4.
1. Therefore, the church was established on that day.
2. The Lord added the saved to it.———Acts 2:47.
IV. HOW DOES ONE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH?
A. First, one must be forgiven of their past sins.
1. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ——Heb. 11:6; Acts 16:31.
2. Repent (turn from) of your past sins——Acts 2:38; Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30.
3. Confess one's faith in Christ——-Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:10.
4. Be buried in baptism for the remission (doing away) of sins
——Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Mark 16:16; Rom. 6:3-4; I Pet. 3:21.
B. When the people in Acts two did these things, they were added to
the church by the Lord. —— Acts 2:47.
1. Notice in this verse that the Lord added them to the church, but they did
not join the church.
C. Baptism requires:
1. Water——Acts 8:36; Acts 10:47; (much water—John 3:23)
2. Going to water ——Acts 8:36; Mat. 3:5-6.
3. Going into the water ——Acts 8:38.
4. Buried——Rom. 6:4.
5. Planted—— Rom. 6:5.
6. Washed——Acts 22:16.
V. THOSE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH ARE:
A. Members——I Cor. 12:20, 27.
B. Disciples——Acts 6:1.
C. Saints——Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Phil. 1:1.
D. The saved——Acts 2:47.
E. Priests—— I Per. 2:9; Rev. 1:6.
F. Children of God——I John 3:1-2.
G. Christians———Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28-29; I Pet 4:16.
VI. THE CHURCH IN WORSHIP:
(It is to be done in Spirit and in Truth John 4:24)
A. Christians should partake (eat) the Lord's Supper on the first day of the
week. — Acts 20:7; I Cor. 10:16-17; I Cor. 11:20-30.
B. Christians should sing and make melody in their heart—Eph. 5:19; Col.
3:16.
C. Christians should be a praying people——Luke 18:1; I Thess. 5:17.
D. Christians should teach others the Gospel——Acts 2:42; Mat 28:19-20.
E. Christians should give of their means on the first Day of the week
according as they have been prospered—— I Cor, 16:1-2.
VII. THE CHURCH IS TO HAVE ELDERS IN EACH CONGREGATION.
A. Ordained of God that there should be elders in every church—Acts 14:23;
Titus 1:5.
1. However, these men must be qualified before being appointed
——I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-13.
2. Elders are to be overseers of the congregation——Acts 20:28.
3. They have the oversight——I Per. 5:2.
B. Deacons also work with the church——Acts 6:1-2; I Tim. 3:1; v. 8; Phil.
1:1.
VIII. THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH ARE SIMPLE:
A. The church is to teach the teachings of Christ ——Matt. 28:19-20
B. The church is to teach the Gospel of Christ——Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 1:16.
C. The church is to teach the Holy Scriptures——II Tim. 3:16-17.
D. The church realizes that they cannot change God's commandments or
instructions— Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19.
IX. THE WORK OF THE CHURCH:
A. Preaching the Gospel——I Thess. 1:8; II Tim. 4:1-2.
B. Teaching the Gospel——II Tim. 2: 1-2; Eph. 3:10.
C. Visiting the sick——Matt. 25:34-40.
D. Feeding the hungry— Acts 6:1-5; James 1:27.
E. Caring for the fatherless and widows——Jas. 1:27.
F. Edifying one another——I Cor 14:15-27
X. THE CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL:
A. One must be in the church to be saved——II Tim. 2:10; I John 5:11.
B. The church is the body of Christ——Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18.
C. Christ has only ONE body———Eph. 4:4; I Cor. 12:13, 20.
D. Christ is the Savior of the body, (which is the church)
——Eph. 5:23; Eph. 5:26-27.
E. The Lord adds the saved to the church (which is his body)
—Acts 2:47; Eph. 1:22-23.
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