My Electronic Pulpit: Happy Valentine’s Day

My Electronic Pulpit

Welcome to my blog. Within you will find my writings, thoughts, sermons, and other items. You will also find items written by others as well. I hope you find all these items edifying, encouraging, and inspirational. All Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated. Let everything we do and say in word and in deed be for the Glory and Honor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . I alone am responsible for all content for this blog and all postings.

Please feel free to use anything you may find useful or beneficial . For God be the honor and glory.

Who we are in the Lord's church?

We are every-day ordinary people desiring to be faithful Christians. We seek simply to study and practice the only word of God, the Bible. We are not bound by denominational ties, traditions, doctrines, or organizations. We are not a denomination. We have no creeds or confessions of faith; the Bible alone is our source of faith (Romans 10:17) and authority in matters of faith and worship. We desire to practice simple New Testament Christianity. We desire to be the church that Christ built (Matthew 16:18)--the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16). We "speak where the Bible speaks....and are silent where the Bible is silent, with love in all things".
"We are Christians only, but not the only Christians"

Monday, February 15, 2010

Happy Valentine’s Day

Love is one of the most written about, longed for, and misunderstood of our human emotions. That love that two people have and experience for a lifetime is a precious gift from God. It goes way beyond a physical attraction or connection. It is a love “until death do us part”. Someone once summed up this kind of love in a few words:

"Love starts with a smile - Grows with a kiss - Ends with a tear."

Those words may express the tender feelings behind the composition of a beautiful poem by George Matheson, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go." He did not say specifically that he was rejected by the woman he wished to marry, but he expressed his sorrow as he wrote: "I was alone in the manse, the night of my sister's marriage. Something happened to me which is known only to myself and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. The whole work was completed in five minutes." (June 6,1882)

O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee;

I give Thee back the life I owe,

That from Thine ocean depths it's flow

May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

The story behind George Metheson is a classic. Eldest child of 8, he graduated from the University of Edinbourgh with a degree in the classics, logic and philosophy. He was also engaged to be married, but when his fiance learned he was going blind, she broke the engagement. He was totally blind by age 20. He went on to become a pastor. It's yet another reminder that God's love never leaves us, no matter the circumstances we endure on this earth.

This beautiful poem was put to music by Albert L. Peace and is # 334 in our songbook. Tell the one you love “I love you”. God loves you and I do too.

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God's Plan for Salvation and
Eternal Life

For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life,and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:14)

Introduction
In writing this post, all Scripture verses have been taken from the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible, regarding what God has declared about salvation and eternal life. Today’s “professing” Post Modern Christian churches all claim to have an accurate biblical doctrine pertaining to these truths, but their doctrines are all different. They can’t all be right, or wrong. God, who sent His Son Christ Jesus to redeem His people, is the only reliable source of truth. His Word, which is recorded in the Bible, clearly state the steps necessary to salvation and eternal life. Do not put blind faith in today’s religious leaders. The Bible warns us about those that will deliberately attempt to deceive, and lead us away from God and His truth. Some preachers proclaim a smorgasbord type of gospel, where you can choose what you like and refrain from the rest. This is not God’s Way. God’s salvation plan is clearly laid out in the Bible for all those who will seek His truth. Be careful not to make the common mistake of isolating the particular verses of Scripture that support your doctrine, then ignore or attempt to invalidate the rest. Scriptures that indicate faith is necessary for salvation do not nullify those Scriptures, which indicate baptism is also necessary. All Scripture verses pertaining to a doctrine, must agree with that doctrine, in order for the doctrine to be biblically correct.

The Need For Salvation
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)…by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved…(Acts 4:10,12)…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…(Romans 3:23)For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)…Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor theves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…(2 Corinthians 5:10)…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…(1 Timothy 1:15)For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…(1 Timothy 2:5)…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…(Hebrews 9:27)If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.(1 John 1:8)Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.(1 John 3:4)

The Sinners Prayer
A common salvation doctrine taught in Christian churches today, makes the claim that Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, and a sinner only has to ask Jesus into their heart, to become their personal Lord and Savior, and they will be saved. Reciting what has been called “the sinners prayer” or “the prayer of salvation” sometimes performs this. Yet there is not even one example recorded in the New Testament, of a prayer like this being used to convert a person to Christianity. So what then is this teaching based upon? One verse that is often used to support this false doctrine is Revelation 3:20.“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)To accurately understand the correct meaning of this verse, it must be kept in proper context of the passage in which it was written. Revelation chapter 3, verse 14, indicates that verse 20, was part of a letter written to the “angel of the church” in Laodicea. And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. “I know your works, you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:14-20)Strong’s Concordance #1577 defines “church” as; “a calling out, a popular meeting, a religious congregation, an assembly; (a Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both)”. The word “church” is used here to refer to members of the body of Christ. Verse 19 clearly shows us that in verse 20, Christ is calling lukewarm Christians to repentance. This teaching, which claims that salvation can be obtained by simply asking Jesus into your heart, has no biblical foundation.

Belief / Faith
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is comdemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:14-18)For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.(Romans 3:28) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.(Hebrews 11:1)What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe- and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “ Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”- and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:14-26)

Repentance
…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:5)…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…(Acts 2:38)…God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world…(Acts 17:30-31)For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Confess
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is on heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes, and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10)If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.(1 John 4:15)

Baptism
While there are many different methods of baptism in the religious world, only one method conforms to the teaching of Scripture. Baptism is defined in Strong’s Concordance Greek Dictionary #907 and #911 as; “to cleanse by immersing, or submerging, in water; to make fully wet; cover wholly with a fluid”. To sprinkle or pour water upon the head of an infant or new believer, does not coincide with the definition of baptism, and is not consistent with the clear teachings of Scripture. Some preachers teach that baptism is not a requirement of salvation, or that baptism is something that happens after salvation as an act of obedience. Still others teach that baptism is an outward sign of the inward grace, or just a witness to others. These reasons for being baptized are not found in the Bible, therefore must be considered false doctrines. The following verses reveal the truth about baptism, and how it pertains to salvation and eternal life. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Matthew 28:19)Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned.(Mark 16:16) …”Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear it's sound, but you do not know where it comes from and where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3-8)…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…(Acts 2:38)And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. (Acts 22:16) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.(Romans 6:3-9) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, new has come.(2 Corinthians 5:17)For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.(Galatians 3:27)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…(Ephesians 5:25-26)See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:8-14)But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclamed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Baptism which corresponds to this, now saves you-not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…(1Peter 3:18-21)

Born Again?
Anyone who believes what Jesus said in John 3:3-12 about the requirement of being “born-again” must then ask himself two questions. First, what does it mean to be born again? And second, how do I become born again? When searching for answers to these questions, we must remember that anything beyond a biblically supported answer is speculation. Furthermore, the false teaching which asserts that a person can become “born-again” simply by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into their heart and asking Him to become their personal Lord and Savior is not found anywhere in the Bible, not even once! This is a false doctrine, which is leading multitudes astray. Study the following verses and consider the correlation between the new life that is received through baptism, and the necessity of being born again, which is described in John 3:3-8.Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with himin order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.(Romans 6:3-9) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us…(Colossians 2:12-14)We become united with Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection, through baptism. The spiritual regeneration described in the above passages is clearly conditional upon baptism. Removing baptism from God’s salvation plan leaves the repentant convert clothed in sin, and dead in their transgressions. What God has declared concerning grace, does not at all invalidate what He has declared concerning baptism.For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)Some have argued against the necessity of baptism by quoting Ephesians 2:8-9. Look closely, and be sure to understand what this passage of Scripture is saying. This has been used to claim that we are saved by faith alone, but is that what is said here? No, it is not! This passage says that we are saved by grace. God’s grace is a free gift that we do not deserve, and cannot earn. This passage of Scripture teaches us that we are saved through faith, but it does not say through faith alone. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.(Romans 3:27-28)This passage in Romans has been used to claim that baptism is a good work of The Law, and therefore cannot be a necessary part of God’s salvation plan. In both Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 3:27-28, we see that we cannot earn our salvation through good works of God’s Law. Although the question is, “Is baptism a good work of God’s Law?” Consider Titus 3:4-7 for further clarification.But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)Titus 3:4-7 shows us that we are not saved by our righteous deeds, but rather, that we are saved by the washing of regeneration, and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we must conclude that the washing of regeneration, and renewing by the Holy Spirit, is not a righteous deed. What then is the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit? For a better understanding, look at the following definitions from Strong’s Concordance. Strong’s #3067 “washing” reads: a bath, i.e. (fig.) baptism: - washing. Strong’s #3824 “regeneration” reads: (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (fig.) spiritual renovation; spec. Messianic restoration: - regeneration. Strong’s #342 “renewing” reads: renovation: - renewing.Another verse that indicates that Christ washes away our sins when we are baptized is Ephesians 5:25-26. While the context of this portion of Scripture pertains to the relationship between husbands and wives, Christ uses His relationship with His bride, the church, as an example for us to follow.“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her; that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…” (Ephesians 5:25-26)The definition of the word “washing” as found in Strong’s Concordance Greek Dictionary #3067, clearly indicates that water baptism is used by Christ to achieve cleansing and sanctification. The Scriptures do not teach us that baptism is a work of The Law. The teaching that claims baptism is a work of the Law is a false doctrine and cannot be supported by Scripture. The actual act of being baptized is one of submission, when the convert allows himself to be immersed in water. The Holy Spirit clearly and exclusively accomplishes the washing, regeneration, and renewing. The spiritual rebirth that transforms the repentant sinner into Christ is by grace, through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism.And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.(Acts 22:16)
Acts 2:1-41 covers Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. Verse 37 captures the crowd’s response. “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” Peters message brought awareness and conviction to those people who had just witnessed, and possibly participated in the murder of their Messiah, and they cry out, “what shall we do?” Peter’s answer was clear to those people just as it should be to us today,“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Vs. 38)

Contradiction
At first glance it may appear that some verses of Scripture contradict each other.…with the mouth one confesses, and is saved…(Romans 10:10)…a repentance that leads to salvation without regret…(2 Corinthians 7:10)…by grace you have been saved through faith…(Ephesians 2:8)…He saved us…by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit… (Titus 3:5)…baptism... now saves you…(1 Peter 3:21)Which is it? We may lack wisdom and understanding but God would not contradict Himself. All Scripture is valid, accurate, and true. Believing through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism, are all essential parts of God’s salvation plan. All verses of Scripture pertaining to a salvation doctrine must harmonize with that doctrine in order for the doctrine to be biblically correct. Remember, it is a tragic mistake to single out particular verses of Scripture that only mention faith in regard to salvation, and pit it against the Scriptures that point out the necessity of baptism. People that do this are placing God into a debate with Himself. All Scripture is true!The sum of your word is truth…(Psalm 119:160)All Scripture is breathed out by God…(2 Timothy 3:16)

What About The Thief On The Cross
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 23, verses 39-43, we read the story of the two criminals that were crucified with Christ.One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!’ And he said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in paradise”.(Luke 23:39-43)Could the thief on the cross be saved if he was never baptized according to God’s New Covenant salvation plan?For where a covenant (will) is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. (Hebrews 9:16-17)Baptism is one requirement of God’s New Covenant salvation plan, which according to the Bible is where the sinner is forgiven, regenerated, and receives new life. It is important to see that this baptism was established under the New Covenant, and was not valid or required under the Old Covenant. Jesus promised the thief entrance into paradise while under the Old Covenant. The New Covenant had not yet been established because Christ was still alive. Since the New Covenant was not yet valid, the thief did not need to meet any of the New Covenant requirements of salvation, including baptism.

Receiving Salvation And Eternal Life
Christ Jesus is the Savior. He alone does the saving. Believing in Him through faith, turning away from and repenting of our sins, confessing Him as Lord, and being baptized in His name, are the New Covenant salvation requirements He has set before us. We must come to Christ His way, by the salvation plan He has established. We must be careful not to base the security of our salvation upon an emotional religious experience, or some euphoric feeling. Our security must rest upon the solid foundation found in the truth of God’s Word, not upon a man made church doctrine, or some religious leaders teaching.

Beware Of The False Teacher!
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves…Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Everyone then who hears these words of mine, and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine, and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat against that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:13-15, 21-27)For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8) Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be recieved with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1,3)For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.(2 Timothy 4:3-4)

I encourage you to be like the wise man, and let your foundation be Christ Jesus alone, and the pure truth of His Word, contained only in His Book, the Holy Bible.

Top Ten Questions About the Church of Christ

#10 – WHERE DID THE CHURCH OF CHRIST COME FROM?

The Church of Christ in America appeared as a renewal movement during the Second Great Awakening, a sweeping religious revival centered at Cane Ridge, Kentucky in 1801. A Presbyterian clergyman, Barton W. Stone, had organized these revival meetings in response to the immorality and spiritual deadness that characterized the western frontier of the new nation. These meetings drew nearly twenty thousand people to the Kentucky woods where a massive revival swept through the area for days. This kicked-off the Second Great Awakening in America, which produced huge growth in Baptist and Methodist churches and also gave birth to new groups such as the Cumberland Presbyterians, the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ and the Church of Christ. As revival swept across America, clergymen like Barton Stone, Thomas and Alexander Campbell (Scottish Presbyterians), James O. Kelly (Methodist) and John Raccoon Smith (Baptist), among others, began to search for a new model for the church in America. This new model became known as the “Restoration Movement,” which emphasized several basics, such as (1) de-emphasizing denominational differences and being “Christians only,” (2) looking to the Bible only, instead of denominational manuals, to establish policy for worship and Christian living, and (3) attempting to restore the spirit and simple practices of Christianity depicted in the New Testament. Most modern Churches of Christ still believe in these ideals and attempt to live up to this high calling.

# 9 - “WHY DON’T YOU USE MUSIC IN YOUR WORSHIP?”

We do use music, but we don’t use musical instruments to accompany our singing. While many of our friends in other churches (even some Churches of Christ) use instruments, most of our congregations don’t for several simple reasons. Early Christianity included two groups of people: Jews with a background of instrumental music (see Psalm 150) and pagan Gentiles who also worshipped with musical instruments. Yet when the church was established in about 33 A.D., those early Christians worshipped without such instruments. According to Dr. F.W Mattox, a scholar of early church history, musical instruments weren’t used until the fifth century, and organ music didn’t become part of Christian worship until the eighth century. Even today the majority of Christian groups worldwide still sing without instruments, or acappella (literally meaning of the chapel or in the way of the church.) So it seems logical, considering our goal of restoring a New Testament type Christian worship, that acappella singing would fit that model. Besides, the only musical instrument God ever created is the human voice; man created all the rest. Perhaps the purest form of musical worship on earth is found in human voices.

# 8- “AREN’T YOU THE ONES WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?”

No, we definitely believe that God inspired every word of the Old Testament. Even the New Testament says, “For everything written in the past was written to teach us...” (Romans 15:4). Without the Old Testament revelation, we couldn’t understand the New Testament. But the Old Testament isn’t our covenant with God. As Christians, we’re under the new covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13). That’s why Christians don’t offer animal sacrifices in worship, stone adulterers to death, abstain from pork, or keep other regulations demanded by the old covenant.

# 7- “HOW DOES A PERSON JOIN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?”

By simply becoming a Christian. Just as in the New Testament, we have no special rules for joining our fellowship and no votes are taken to screen potential members. When one accepts and obeys the gospel, Christ adds him or her to the universal, worldwide church (Acts 2:47), and then that believer joins a local group of disciples to continue his or her growth and service to Jesus (Acts 10:26).

#6- “WHY ARE YOU SOMETIMES CALLED ‘CAMPBELLlTES’?”

In the early 1800’s two men, Thomas Campbell and Alexander Campbell (father & son), came to America. These two Presbyterian clergymen became leaders in the religious idealism that sprang up after the Cane Ridge revival, and became involved in the Restoration Movement. They believed that Christianity had become too institutionalized, divided, formalized, and denominational. They left their denominations and rallied around the Bible as their only religious guide. Their intent was to bypass the confusion of denominational differences and go back to the simple New Testament forms of worship and church life. Since the Campbells were two of the main intellectual leaders of this movement, and since Churches of Christ are descendants of the movement, some people have called us “Campbellites.” However, Churches of Christ insist on wearing only the name of Christ and not the partisan names of human beings.

#5- “WHAT DENOMINATION ARE YOU?”

What makes a church a denomination? Usually the fact that it has a national organization, a headquarters here on earth, a hierarchy of clergy, a handbook or creedal statement of belief (in addition to the Bible), and various committees and groups that operate above and outside the local congregation, while making policy for the local churches to follow. Because of our beginnings in the Restoration Movement, Churches of Christ have attempted to minimize these denominational trappings. We prefer to operate as local self-governing congregations answerable mainly to Christ. While we cooperate with each other, and often with other Christian groups, we desire to be what one of our founders summed up in his statement: “We’re Christians only, but not the only Christians.”

#4- “WHY DO YOU EMPHASIZE BAPTISM SO MUCH?”

Because the Bible does; the New Testament mentions baptism 51 times. Every conversion to Christ recorded in the book of Acts ended in a water baptism. And every New Testament writer considered baptism an essential part of a believer’s response to Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote that the gospel, which saves us, is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ on our behalf - to atone for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4). He also wrote that water baptism is a faith-inspired re-enactment of that gospel. It’s a symbolic death, reflected by burial in water (instead of dirt) and a symbolic resurrection acted out by rising from the water (Romans 6:1-7). Christ considered it so important that not only was he baptized but he included this teaching in his marching orders as he sent his apostles out to make more disciples (Mark 16:15-16).

#3- “WHY DO YOU TAKE THE BIBLE SO LITERALLY?”

In any form of communication, some statements are literal and some aren’t. A stop sign on the street corner sends a message: “STOP.” It’s to be taken literally. But when a car at that stop sign has “Mustang” written on it, we know that’s a symbolic statement - the car isn’t literally a horse. In our approach to Biblical interpretation, we try to separate the literal and symbolic by using a few common sense rules: What did the Biblical statement mean to those who originally heard it? What was the context? What does it mean for us today? What was the writer’s intent, to be symbolic or literal? Those life-or-death statements in the Bible (“if you do not believe that I am (he), you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24)) we take at face value and teach them accordingly.

#2- “WHY DO YOU HAVE COMMUNION EVERY SUNDAY?”

Because of the nature of the Communion. Jesus said that when we celebrate this feast, he eats it with us! (Mark 14:25.) Each time we have Communion, we participate symbolically in the blood and body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16). We also show our unity as a body, remember his sacrifice, and preach his death and resurrection (1 Cor. 11:17-34). The Communion service is one of the most important reasons we meet on Sunday. Paul and his companions thought it so important that they waited seven days in one town so they could assemble with the church and celebrate the Communion meal (Acts 20:6-7).

#1- ‘DON’T YOU TEACH YOU’RE THE ONLY ONES GOING TO HEAVEN?”

Most religious groups have a few misguided people who think they’re the only ones going to heaven. Churches of Christ are no different. But membership in a church can’t save anyone; Christ's church is an assembly of the already saved. One can be a member of the best church on earth and still miss heaven. So what saves us and gets us to heaven? Jesus does. The gospel (good news) is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4.) It’s God’s action through Christ that saves us, not membership in a church. When you stand before Christ in the judgment, he won’t ask to see your church membership card, but he will ask, “Do I know you?” And the only way to know Jesus is through his gospel – believing that he is God’s Son (literally God in flesh,) that he is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, that he died and rose again on our behalf to erase our sins, and that he is now undisputed Lord of all. Once a person accepts that gospel from the heart, places his or her faith in Jesus to save him from hell and put him in heaven, repents of his past, and is baptized, he moves into the Christian life - the life of the saved (Acts 2:22-41.) So the only ones who are going to heaven are those who’ve been truly reborn spiritually. As Jesus put it, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3.)