WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?

Bob Myhan

What do you think of when you hear someone speak of the church of Christ? Do you think of nothing more than a group of local churches? Do you think of a group of local churches whose members believe the Lord’s Supper must be eaten every Sunday? Do you think of a group of local churches whose members stubbornly refuse to use musical instruments in worship? Do you think of a radical denomination, which teaches it is the only denomination whose members are going to heaven? Just what is the church of Christ? Just what is “the church of Christ”? I am afraid there are many people, both in and out of the church, who cannot give a scriptural answer to this question.

We will begin our study by noticing what the church of Christ is not. Then we will notice what the church of Christ is.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A DENOMINATION OF HUMAN ORIGIN.

It is the Lord's church. Read Matthew 16:13-18. On this occasion Jesus stated that, upon the rock of truth that Peter had just confessed, He would build His church. Look, also, at Acts 20:28. Paul said that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood. Was any humanly organized denomination purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ? Certainly not! By the way, John the Baptist died a very bloody death - he was beheaded - but not one drop of his blood went toward the purchase of the Lord’s church!

The Bible says, in Ephesians 1:22, that God the Father has “put all things under [Jesus’] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.” Which church is this? Surely, it is His church. He is “head over all things to the church,” in that He has the last word regarding all of its activities. Whatever we do, “in word or deed,” we must do “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17), because He has been given “all power…in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).

Answer this question, please. Does any denomination on earth consider all saved people its members? According to God’s word, in Acts 2:47, “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” What church was this? Certainly, it was His church. Who did the Lord say “shall be saved”? “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Therefore, “He that believeth and is baptized” shall be added to the Lord’s church. If this is not the case, why is it not?

Shortly before His death on the cross, Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou has sent me (John 17:20-21).

Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language defines the word, “denomination,” as “a religious group, usually including many local churches.” Since no denomination includes all local churches, denominationalism is totally inconsistent with the prayer of the Lord for unity.

The apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the church at Corinth, condemned the very type of division that would ultimately lead to denominationalism (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE FAMILY OF GOD AND OF CHRIST

Paul wrote to Timothy, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God” (1 Timothy 3:15). While the word, “church,” is used today to refer, either to a denomination or to a place of worship, it was not used in either sense in the first century. While the origin of the English word, “church,” is uncertain, some have suggested that it came from the Greek word kuriokos, meaning, “of or pertaining to the Lord” [e.g., “Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20), and “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10)]. It is used to translate the Greek word, ekklesia [which means, “called out”], where the reference is to those who have been “called out” of the world by the gospel. When Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church,” He was saying, “On the basis of this truth [that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, which Peter had just confessed] I will call out my people.” Thus, those who have been called out of the world, by the gospel, are the family, or house, of God and of Christ. These are also referred to as “the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10), “the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19), and “the whole family in heaven and earth” (Ephesians 3:14,15).

Jesus said, in Mark 10:29,30, “There is no man that hath house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” The point is, of course, that, in the event that we must turn our backs upon our natural families in order to be what God wants us to be, we have a spiritual family, the members of which will be far more concerned about our spiritual needs. When told that His mother and brethren were standing outside the place where He was teaching, and that they desired to speak to Him, Jesus said, “Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:46-50).

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE BODY OF CHRIST [OR ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST]

By “in Christ” we mean “in a right relationship with Christ.” Remember Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17:20,21, which we mentioned earlier? He prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone [the apostles], but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” All believers are “one in” the Father and Son if, and to the extent that, they are united in a right relationship with them. The apostle Paul mentioned, in 2 Timothy 2:10, “the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.” The apostle Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus “is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18). Paul also wrote that Jesus “is head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). Since the body and the church are the same, and Jesus is the savior of the body, then He is the savior of the church. That is, the church is the body of the saved, the totally of those who are in Christ Jesus. The body of Christ is “the fullness of Christ,” so that all those who are “in Christ” are in “the body of Christ.”

All, and only, those in Christ are “new creatures” (2 Corinthians 5:17). One is baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3,4; Galatians 3:27). Therefore, baptism is essential to becoming a new creature.

He that believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:15,16). Therefore, being baptized, as well as believing, is essential to being saved.

“We were all baptized into the one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Therefore, being baptized is essential to being in the one body. Therefore, the one body does not include anyone who has not been baptized.

Individually we are many members, but collectively we are one body [read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27].

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND OF CHRIST

The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven, was “at hand” during the ministries of John and Jesus (Mark 1:14,15; Matthew 3:1,2; 4:17). Those who are “born of water and of the Spirit” are transferred into kingdom of God and of His dear Son (John 3:3-5; Colossians 1:12,13).

The kingdom of Jesus Christ was already set up in the first century (Revelation 1:9). Jesus said He would build His church and would give the apostles the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:18,19). He said some of them would not die before they saw the kingdom come with power (Mark 9:1). When asked about His kingdom Jesus reminded them of the power with which the kingdom would come (Acts 1:4-8). The apostles received power a few days later (Acts 2:1-43).

The church, for the first time is spoken of as in existence (Acts 2:44-47). The kingdom/church of Christ is a spiritual realm (John 18:36). It will be delivered up [not down] when Jesus returns (1 Corinthians 15:23-26).

Dear friend, if you have not been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, you are not in Christ, have not become a new creature, have not been born again, and are not a member of His family, or a part of His spiritual body, or a citizen in His kingdom. Won’t you submit to scriptural baptism, now?