The Church That Jesus Built

and

The Church of Christ

–David Sain–

The religious world is permeated with confusion and division, with hundreds of religious groups in the United States. Each of them has a distinctive name, and each has some doctrine or practice that distinguishes it from the others.

In such a religious environment, it is easy for one to know about a religious group, yet not really know much about what they teach and believe. In fact, because we often form opinions and draw conclusions from hearsay and second hand information, it is easy for one to base his knowledge of a particular group upon inaccurate and misleading information.

Such is often the case with the Church of Christ. Many people have heard of the Church of Christ, through mass media, or by seeing the words on a church building. Others have become aware of the Church of Christ by being acquainted with someone who is a member of the Church of Christ. And many people, upon hearing about the Church of Christ, have asked, “Who are these people?” “What do they believe?” “What do they teach?” “ How do they worship?” and “What is their historical background?”

My purpose in this writing is to answer some of the questions that are commonly asked about the Church of Christ, with the Bible as the foundation and final source of authority for the answers herein provided.

What is the Origin of the Church of Christ?

The apostle Paul taught that the church was a part of the plans which the Lord made before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:1-4; 3:8-11). In other words, before the Lord spoke this terrestrial ball into existence, before any bird perched on the branch of a tree, and before Adam first walked on the earth, God planned the cross and the church.

Jesus said to Peter, his apostle, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). And all that believe the Bible believe that Jesus did what he said he would do. In accordance with divine prophecies (e.g., Isa. 2:2-3, Dan. 2:44), Jesus built his church. On the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, the church was established, according to the divine record of Acts 2.

Today, by faithfully following the New Testament pattern for the church, the Church of Christ of the twenty-first century is that church that was prophesied and built by Jesus Christ.

Where Are the Headquarters of the Church of Christ,

and Who is the Head of the Church of Christ?

While most denominations have earthly headquarters, such is not the case with the Church of Christ. Universally, the Christ of Christ has no earthly organization. There is no council or convention in which a body of men governs or legislates for all of the churches of Christ, contrary to that which is the case in many denominations.

Two times, the apostle Paul declared that the heavenly Father made Jesus to be head over all things to the church, which is his body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18), and there is no individual who is the earthly head of the church.

The church is pictured as the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13, 27), and that depiction of the church leads to a greater comprehension of the role of the church, under the direction and control of Jesus, the head of the body. In other words, the action of the body should be under the control of the head.

While Jesus Christ is the head of the church and is “over all things” (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23), there is a divinely-authorized plan of organization in the local congregations. According to the New Testament, elders were appointed in every city (Titus 1:5). and were made overseers of the church (Acts 20:28). And the church is taught to obey those who have the rule (Heb. 13:17).

It should be noted that the authority of the elders does not extend beyond the local congregation. There is no body of men that rules or governs over all of the various congregations, or over any group of churches in a given geographical area. Each congregation of the Lord’s church is autonomous.

Also, deacons are a part of the Lord’s church (1 Tim. 3:8-13). The word deacon means a servant, and that is the role of a deacon in the local congregation. The deacon has no authority other than that which is delegated to him by the elders.

The preacher in the Lord’s church is an evangelist – a minister (I Cor. 3:5). He is not the pastor and, as a preacher, does not have any more authority than any other member of the congregation.

How Does One Become a Member of the Church of Christ?

As previously noted, the church’s glorious beginning is recorded in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. There, Luke informed us that the Lord added those who were saved to the church (Acts 2:47).

• How did people become a part of the church? Answer: The Lord added them.

• Whom did the Lord add? Answer: The saved.

• To what were the saved added? Answer: The church.

Since the saved are the ones whom the Lord adds to the church, the very important question to be answered is: who are the saved? Well, a careful and objective study of the New Testament clearly reveals how people are saved from their sins, and become members of the church.

(1) One must hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17).

(2) One must believe in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Also, see Mark 16:15-16.

(3) One must repent from sins (Acts 2:38). Also, see Acts 17:30-31.

(4) One must confess faith in Jesus (Acts 8:37). Also, see Romans 10:9-10.

(5) One must be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Also, see I Peter 3:21.

When one complies with these instructions, he is saved, and, as noted earlier, the Lord adds him to the church (Acts 2:47).

Thus, to answer the question that heads this section, one becomes a member of the Church of Christ by believing and obeying the Gospel, which results in salvation, at which point the Lord adds him to the church. And it should be noted that one does not become a member of the Church of Christ by “joining the church.” Although that phrase is common to the denominations of the religious world, it is foreign to the scriptures. One does not join the church, and members of the church do not “vote” one into the church. Instead, the Lord adds the saved to the church.

What is the Creed of the Church of Christ?

First, let me point out that the term creed usually refers to a set of fundamental religious beliefs. In other words, a creed is a statement of what a particular religious group believes and practices. And, just as there are dozens of churches that are of human origin, but only one church of divine origin, there are dozens of creeds that are of human origin, but only one of divine origin.

So, in answer to the question above, “No, the Church of Christ does not have a human creed, but we do have a divine creed, which is the Bible, the Word of God.” Many churches publish a “discipline,” some a “catechism,” others a “confession of faith,” or a “manual.” But the Church of Christ does not have such a publication. But, why?

Well, the Lord told the apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to bring to their remembrance all that he had taught them (John 14:26), and to guide them into all truth (John 16:13). Therefore, as the apostle Paul affirmed, the words that they spoke were not by the will of man, but by the Holy Spirit (1 Co. 2:12-13, 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

The Bible is inspired of God and completely equips us with all truth that pertains to life and godliness, and thoroughly equips us unto every good work (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore, we do not need to write a creed. And it would be a valid conclusion to say that any creed of human authorship that contains less than God’s Word is not of God, and any creed that goes beyond that which the Bible teaches is likewise not of God. And, if a creed contains exactly what the Bible teaches, it serves no justifiable purpose since we already have the all-sufficient Bible.

How Does the Church of Christ Worship?

Throughout history, in the Patriarchal, Mosaical, and Christian ages, God has made it emphatically clear that not all acts of worship are acceptable unto him. Instead, the Biblical record reveals that the only acts of worship acceptable unto him are those which he has authorized (Gen. 4:3-5/Heb. 11:4; Lev. 10:1-2; 1 Sam. 15:22; Mat. 15:8-9; John 4:23-24). Therefore, the Church of Christ engages only in those acts of worship that are authorized in the New Testament for Christian worship, to wit:

(1) On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-28), eating unleavened bread and drinking fruit of the vine (Matt. 26:16-29), with the bread representing the body of Christ, and the fruit of the vine representing the blood of Christ. The disciples of Christ are instructed to do this in remembrance of Jesus (I Cor. 11:23-29), and the New Testament example of this observance was upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

There is no New Testament command or example that authorizes the church to observe the Lord’s Supper on any other day of the week. Therefore, the Church of Christ partakes of the Lord’s Supper only upon Sunday, the first day of the week.

(2) The New Testament church was taught to make a free-will offering on the first day of the week. Each one was to give according to his prosperity (I Cor. 16:1-2), giving cheerfully and liberally, according to what he had purposed in his heart (II Cor. 9:6-7).

There is no New Testament command or example that authorizes fund-raising methods such as church-sponsored bake-sales or rummage sales. Therefore, the Church of Christ follows the New Testament pattern of free-will offerings upon the first day of the week.

(3) The New Testament church was also a praying people (Acts 2:42; 4:23-31; 12:12; et al). The Lord’s “will” was for men to pray every where (I Tim. 2:8), with “holy” men leading the worship and the women being in subjection to the men (1 Tim. 2:11-12).

There is no New Testament authority for a woman to lead in prayer, or lead in any other capacity when the church is assembled. Neither is there any New Testament authority for a non-Christian (male or female, young or old) to lead the church in any act of worship. Therefore, when the Church of Christ is assembled for worship, all the acts of worship are led by Christian males.

(4) The great commission to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations (Mk. 16:15; Mat. 28:19) was carried out faithfully by the early Christians (Acts 8:1-4, 20:7). A study of worship in the early church shows that preaching was an integral part of their worship assemblies.

In the Church of Christ, we believe that preaching is God’s chosen method of calling men out of the world into righteousness (Rom. 10:13-17; 1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Thes. 4:7), and we believe the Word of God is able to build up the church and cause us to grow spiritually (Acts 20:32; 1 Pet. 2:2). Therefore, the Church of Christ faithfully preaches the Word of God as a part of our worship.

(5) The New Testament church was commanded to sing spiritual songs and make melody in their hearts to the Lord, with the whole congregation involved (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

One of the things first noticed by many people about the Church of Christ is that we do not use of instrumental music in worship. But, why?

Why Does the Church of Christ Not Use Instrumental Music in Worship?

First, allow me to establish what the issue really is in this matter. The real issue of instrumental music in worship is not a question of the beauty of either vocal or instrumental music, nor of our personal likes or dislikes. There are people who seem to think that the Church of Christ does not have instrumental music in worship because we do not like instrumental music–period! That is not true. Most of us have stereos in our houses and in our cars so that we might enjoy good music, at home and away from home. It is not a question of not liking music.

And, the issue is not a question of whether we think we can sing better with or without instrumental music. How we sound should not determine if it is right or wrong.

Furthermore, the issue is not popularity, i.e., how many people use or reject instrumental music in worship. The fact that our peers do or do not use it should not be a factor in our acceptance or rejection of it.

Neither is the issue the sincerity or goodness of those who use or reject instrumental music in worship. Sincerity and goodness within themselves do not make one (or something) right (Prov. 14:12; Matt. 7:21-23).

The real issue in the matter before us is: What is God’s will on the subject? That, and that alone, is the issue.

The New Testament clearly instructs Christians to sing. Paul instructed,

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).

And he commanded,

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).

Paul wrote the Corinthians, “. . . I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also (I Cor. 14:15). James wrote, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms (Jas. 5:13).

Indisputably, the foregoing scriptures clearly teach that Christians are to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. When we do this in worship, we are doing exactly that which God has authorized.

But, where is the scripture that commands instrumental music in Christian worship? It does not exist! Where is the scripture that provides an example of instrumental music in Christian worship? It does not exist! Where is the scripture that authorizes instrumental music in Christian worship by inference? It does not exist!

If we use instrumental music in worship, we do so without authority from God.

There are only two kinds of music known to man: vocal and instrumental. Each is a definite action and can be done independently of the other. Had the Lord instructed us generically to “make music,” we would be free to have vocal or instrumental music, or both vocal and instrumental music in worship. But the Lord’s instruction is not generic. He has specified the kind of music by which he wants us to worship him. He has told us to sing.

Therefore, we have authority from God for vocal music in worship, but we have no authority from God for instrumental music in worship. Let it be understood that this is our simple and deeply-felt reason (and it is reason enough) for rejecting instrumental music in Christian worship. Congregational singing is the only kind of music divinely authorized for Christian worship!

The answer to the question of this section is: the Church of Christ does not engage in the use of instrumental music in worship because there is no authority for the use of instrumental music in Christian worship, and we believe that we must do only that for which we have Biblical authority!

Does the Church of Christ Believe in Water Salvation?

One of the most common misunderstandings about the Church of Christ is what we teach and believe about the relationship of baptism to salvation. For example, many are the people who think that “the Church of Christ believes in water salvation,” and that we do not believe in salvation by grace.

Most religious groups, that teach and believe that Jesus is the Lord and Savior, teach and practice baptism. Consequently, most people in these groups believe that being baptized is something that they ought to do. However, as a careful examination of their faith will show, most people in those religious groups do not believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation. Their conclusion is that baptism is important, but not essential to salvation. They believe that one is saved by grace when he accepts Jesus as his personal savior, and that the act of baptism is an outward expression of inward regeneration.

Such conclusions indicate a misunderstanding of what the scriptures teach about baptism. My personal experiences convince me that many people who misunderstand the truth about baptism are honest and sincere in their beliefs. However, as stated in the previous section, an honest heart and sincere belief do not, within themselves, mean that one is right. As Solomon stated, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Saul of Tarsus was an example of this truth. He stated that he acted in good conscience in all that he did (Acts 23:1), even when he was a persecutor of Christians (Acts 22:4).

So, what does the Bible teach about baptism?

1. The Bible Teaches That Baptism Is Immersion In Water. The apostle Paul taught that the action that one takes in being baptized is in the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. In that context, he wrote,

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

Also, in harmony with that, in his epistle to the Colossians, Paul said that we are “buried with him in baptism” (Col. 2:12). A Biblical example of baptism (i.e., immersion) in water is recorded in Acts 8:35-39. There, it is written that the Ethiopian, after being taught about Jesus, saw water and requested that he be baptized. And Philip, the evangelist, who had taught him about Jesus, went down into the water with him and “baptized him.”

(2) The Bible Teaches That Baptism Is An Action Taken By A Penitent Believer. According to the Scriptures, the proper candidate for baptism is one who believes the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16), who has repented from his sins (Acts 2:36,38), and who has confessed that he believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:35-39).

Obviously, these divinely imposed requirements mean that the practice of baptizing infants is without Biblical authority or divine approval. Infants do not have the mental capability to comprehend and believe the gospel, which, in turn, also means that they are incapable of confessing faith in Jesus Christ, from the heart. Furthermore, infants are not subject to the command to repent from sin, because infants are not guilty of sin, as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:3 and Matthew 19:14.

(3) The Bible Teaches That Baptism Is To Be Done In The Name Of Jesus. The apostle Peter proclaimed,

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Therefore, the candidate for baptism is instructed to have himself baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. To do something in the name of Jesus is to do that which he has authorized, in the manner and for the reasons that are stipulated.

(4) The Bible Teaches That the Purpose of Baptism is to Obtain the Forgiveness of Sins. At this time, the reader is reminded of a point made in the beginning of this section — that most people do not believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation. Most religious people believe that baptism is important, but not essential to salvation. They contend that one must be baptized to “obey God,” but they believe that one is saved before he is baptized.

In light of these things, so commonly believed, this point that Biblical baptism is for the forgiveness of sins cannot be overemphasized. The Biblical truth is that baptism is not something one does after he is saved. Instead, as the apostle Peter declared, it is something that one is to do in order to be saved.

“ . . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

The prepositional phrase “for the remission of sins” in this verse is identical (in the Greek and English) to the words that Jesus used when he said that he shed his blood “for the remission of sins” (Mat. 26:28). In other words, the purpose for which Jesus shed his blood and the purpose for which man is to be baptized are one and the same. Jesus shed his blood so that man could obtain the remission of sins, and, likewise, the purpose of baptism is so that man can obtain the remission of sins.

Another significant scripture that verifies the conclusion that baptism is a command of God that one must obey in order to be saved is Mark 16:15-16. In this text, Jesus decreed,

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).

Considering the words of this text without any preconceived ideas, let us ask, where did Jesus place being “baptized” — before or after salvation? It is undeniable that, according to Mark 16:16, Jesus placed being baptized before salvation, which means that being baptized is required in order for the believer to be saved. In order to say that one can be saved without being baptized or before being baptized, one would have to change the words of Jesus. And surely no one would contend that a doctrine is correct when it changes what Jesus taught.

From these scriptures the following conclusion is logically inescapable — baptism is a command of God that one must obey in order to be saved, and one is not saved until he is baptized for that purpose! Therefore, the Church of Christ teaches that one must be baptized in order to be saved.

Does The Church of Christ Believe That We Earn Our Salvation?

When we contend that baptism is essential to salvation, a common objection to such teaching is that it means that we earn our salvation. The objection might be worded like this, “Baptism is a work. If we are saved by baptism, then we are saved by works, but the Bible teaches that we are saved by grace, not works!”

Indeed, the Bible teaches that “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Make no mistake about it. We do not, and cannot, earn our salvation. God owes us nothing! Salvation is by grace. However, that does not mean that our salvation is unconditional. Instead, the Scriptures clearly teach that obedience is essential to salvation.

Note three examples of such teaching. (1) Jesus taught that the one who shall enter the kingdom of heaven is the one who does the will of the Father which is in heaven (Mat. 7:21). (2) The author of Hebrews identified the one whom Jesus saves as the one who obeys him (Heb. 5:8-9). (3) The apostle Paul gave the sobering warning that the Lord will take vengeance upon all who do not obey the gospel (II Thes. 1:7-9).

However, when we obey the gospel, including our obedience to the command to be baptized, we do not earn our salvation! The “work” that we do in response to a promise or command of God is a work of righteousness, not a work of merit. The merit is in the Lord who commanded the work, and in whom we place our trust as we obey him!

To illustrate, repentance is an act of faith, relying on the Lord to save (Acts 17:30), and confession is an act of faith, relying on the Lord to save (Romans 10:10). Likewise, baptism is an act of faith, relying on the Lord to save (Acts 2:38).

The truth is that the grace of God is appropriated to us when we, by trust in the Lord, do the works that God has commanded!

The Plea of the Church of Christ

Let us make the Word of God our sole guide in religion (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and

(1) Teach what the New Testament church was taught to teach,

(2) Believe what the New Testament church was taught to be believe,

(3) Do what the New Testament church was taught to do, then, we will be the Church of Christ! If not, why not?