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WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
We are Christians attempting to
go back to the simplicity and purity of the first century church. We take the Bible
alone, and preach the same message, in the same way that the apostles did in the
book of Acts. With the Bible as our guide, and with no human creed to stumble on,
we enthusiastically seek to find and imitate what the original church was like.
Since the church belongs to Christ, you will find no modern-day organizational bureaucracy,
no earthly headquarters. The tie that binds all such congregations around the world
together is the Bible. Each congregation, however, is governed by a group of Elders
selected from among its members. These men meet specific qualifications given in
I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Their task is to care for the congregation's spiritual
needs and keep the focus on God's Word.
Membership in the church is a result of following the Bible's plan to become a Christian.
It is not our place to establish any man-made requirements or ceremonies.
If you seek to obey Christ and receive the salvation offered by Jesus, we stand
ready to assist you and our arms are open to receive you as a child of God.
..."Brothers,
what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all
who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." |
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Acts 2:37-39 (NIV) |
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ARE YOU SAVED?
What is God's Plan?
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Studying the Bible
We must study the Bible in order to find out God's plan. The Bible should be studied
with an open mind. If we believe that it is inspired by God, we should also believe
that He is capable of delivering His Word without error or contradictions, despite
the different languages, writers, translations, geographic locations, and time frame.
If we find something that appears to be a contradiction, we should try to figure
out how "we" are interpreting it incorrectly, and change "our" beliefs to match
His word. |
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2 Timothy 2:15 |
Study to show thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. |
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Hebrews 4:12 |
For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart. |
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Colossians 3:16 |
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom... |
Which Law Are We Under
The Law of Moses was written for the Jews and was only
to last until the time of Christ. In the Law of Moses, the blood of animals was
required to atone for the sins of the people. These sacrifices were temporary. Now,
we have the perfect sacrifice. God's only begotten son, being without sin, offered
Himself as a sacrifice to forgive sins from the time of His death until His return.
When Jesus died on the cross, the temporary Law of Moses was fulfilled and is no
longer necessary. Now we are under the law of Christ (not the Ten Commandments),
found in the New Testament. Christians were never under the Law of Moses.
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Exodus 34:27,28 |
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these
words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel [the Jews]. And he was there
with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water.
And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. |
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Galatians 3:19,16 |
Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, [only] till
the seed should come to whom the promise was made; .... To thy seed, which is Christ. |
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Ephesians 2:14,15 |
He [Christ] is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle
wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the
enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for
to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; |
Hebrews 8:13
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A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old
is ready to vanish away. |
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Galatians 3:24,25 |
The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified
by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under
a schoolmaster |
Authority of Christ's Word
Since all power is given to Jesus and we will be judged
by the Word, we should learn His will for us by studying it diligently.
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Matthew 28:18 |
And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. |
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John 12:48 |
He that rejected me, and receives not my words, hath one
that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day. |
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Colossians 3:17 |
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. |
We Must Understand
The Bible makes it apparent that understanding it is essential
to salvation. In fact, those "without understanding" are listed in the same category
as murderers and homosexuals (Romans 1:24-32). Such people are counted as "worthy
of death" (Romans 1:32).
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Romans 1:31,32 |
...Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them
that do them. |
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Ephesians 5:17 |
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the
Lord is.(NKJV) |
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Matthew 13:19 |
When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it
not, then cometh the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart....
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2 Peter 3:16 |
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. |
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NEXT |
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