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“What is the Church of Christ? #7”
If we could sum up what we have said over the past six articles, what would you say? What have you understood about the facts that we have presented? I would have to say that even among the brethren of the churches of Christ there has been a lack of interest in the work many took in hand to come out from the factionalism of organized religions. The work of restoring original Christianity was with an overwhelming cost of suffering and hardship. Truly Paul plants, Apollos waters, and God always gives the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6) The original church was one that Christ Himself built. (Matthew 16:18) There is only one bride of Christ, which is the church that has been planted by our heavenly Father.
Speaking of planting, Jesus discussed the matter of planting seed in a field that had hard soil, rocks, thorns and good dirt. (Luke 8:4-21) It would do us well to remember what He was really talking about. The seed that was sown was the same no matter where the farmer scattered it. The same seed does different things depending on where it lands. There were four places illustrated in His parable, but the seed is the same. Three of those places resulted in a destructive force on the seed. Only one soil brought the seed into what the farmer had intended. In verse eleven, Jesus simply began to explain the parable, saying, “"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
The word of God sown in the heart of a good and honest person always brings forth a Christian – nothing more and nothing less. It does not bring forth a Pentecostal here and a Baptist there and still another kind in the back. It has been said that they found corn in King Tut's tomb. It would not matter what seed it was; if it was planted it would only bring forth after its kind. If it was corn it would bring forth corn. Likewise, the preaching of the gospel only brings forth Christians. Those Christians are all part of one body that has no schisms. (1 Corinthians 12:25) The Lord's church has no spot or wrinkle or any such thing. (Ephesians 5:27) The church is His body. (Ephesians 1:22-23) His body is the church (Colossians 1:24).
There is continually an effort on the part of religious individuals everywhere to thwart the simplicity of the gospel in order to keep from admitting they are wrong. They look at old Betty, and Grandpa and Grandma, and all those good religious folks. They cannot come to themselves in order to admit that there can only be one church. If Uncle Buck did it that way, then it's good enough. Well, it is not. Eternity hangs in the balance as far as our souls are concerned, and we had better be right. Jesus said that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church. (Matthew 16:18) God's word must be esteemed higher that ones love and affection for his own mother or spouse. "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:37)
The Church of Christ is marked by her doctrine. Doctrine is simply the teaching one adheres to and proclaims as the truth. Hearing the word of God instead of entertainment is what the true church is about. Jesus not only said to take heed what you hear (Mark 4:24), but He also said to take heed how you hear. (Luke 8:18) The apostle stated that he "kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it" (Acts 20:20). True churches of Christ have preachers that preach the word of God without fear of ridicule as to whether or not it sounds negative. There are plenty of preachers willing to preach smooth things to satisfy those itching ears.
Faith in Jesus Christ is what hearing the word of God produces, for "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) According to the New Testament, we are justified by faith in Christ. (Romans 3:28) We are purified by faith. (Acts 15:9) We are sanctified by faith. (Acts 26:18) We walk by faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7) And, we stand by faith. (Romans 11:20) In all of this we are not justified, purified, or sanctified by faith only, which is what denominationalism has been about since the 1500s.
We are also saved by repentance from dead works (Hebrews 6:1), another doctrine of a true church of Christ. There are some that teach that one does not have to repent in order to be justified in the site of God. They say as long as you live a righteous life, God washes away your sin as you walk in the light. However, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30) Confessing Jesus Christ as the Son of God is also as much a part of saved as faith in Christ, for "with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
I have already made the point on obedience to the gospel in order to be saved, justified, purified, etc. "You have purified your souls in obeying the truth…" says the apostle. (1Peter 1:22) "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24) There are about 80 verses of Scripture that have the word "baptize" or "baptism" in them. Most of them discuss the importance of water baptism or immersion in water in order to be saved. Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, Mark 16:16 and many others show how obedience to the gospel is the point at which you have your sins washed away. (Acts 22:16)
How about you? Learn everything about Jesus Christ. Study your New Testament. You will do the same.
