A number of years ago I had the opportunity to be engaged in a Bible study with some men who were members of various churches. One of them was a member of the Church of Christ. I began to ask Bible questions of those present. The answers given by the man from the Church of Christ seemed to differ from the others in that he would not answer with "this is what the Church of Christ believes . . .", and then he would allow me to read what God taught in the Scriptures. This really impressed me-to see a person appeal to the Scriptures for all his answers. Later I was to find out why he made us read the Bible to find the Lord's teaching.

The Scriptures - Our Only Hope of Eternity

The God we worship is so powerful in that when He spoke, the universe came into existence.(1) This Creator chose to communicate with the human race through the only preservable means- the written form(2) and He promised that His Word would last forever(3). Since it is impossible for Him to lie(4) we know that when we read the Bible today, it is the Lord communicating His will for us. In fact, anything taught or practiced by man in the field of religion outside of what the Bible teaches is a corrupted teaching(5). Since the Bible alone offers all we need to give us eternal life and to live godly lives(6) to go beyond its teachings will result in judgement(7).

Is the Church Clearly Described In the Bible?

I was amazed to find that God's foreknowledge led Him to look forward to the establishment of the church- even before the earth was created(8). God's scheme of redemption is clearly revealed in Revelation 13:8 where He tells of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.(9) In the Old Testament, the Lord begins to reveal that He would establish a new covenant(10) and that this law would go forth from Jerusalem11 and that its ruler would be His Son(12). Daniel also stated that in the days of the Roman Empire that the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never pass away(13). In the New Testament, this kingdom is revealed as the church(14). Paul would later refer to the church as the body of Christ(15). He describes the church in terms we can understand using the human body as an example. We as humans have a head and we have a body. The head makes the decisioons telling the body what to do. Jesus is the head of the church and He governs and controls what this body of people should do(16).

Why Is The Church So Important?

The church was in the mind of God as He allowed His own Son to die on the cross(17). In Acts 20:28, it says that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood. The Hebrew writer explains the mental torment Jesus encountered the night He was betrayed(18). Listen to the prophet Isaiah describe the appearance of Jesus as He hung on the cross, "Just as there were many who were appalled at Him--His appearance was sso disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness."(19) I really cannot see why so many make light of the church when they can see that God gave His own Son for it(20). Paul later states that Jesus promises to save only the church(21).

How Can We Identify The Church Of The Bible?

Any church claiming to follow the Scriptures only should be able to give book, chapter, and verse to confirm that they are a member of the church described in the Bible. We have already read that Jesus purchased the church with His blood which means the church could not have been established prior to His death. After He raised from the dead, He told His disciples to remain in Jerusalem so that they could be instructed concerning the church and conversion(22). On the first Pentecost after He raised, the apostles began to unfold the message of Jesus' death and resurrection(23). Those who had earlier cried, "crucify Him" then asked what they could do to be saved(24). Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."(25) Any church claiming to be the church of the Bible should trace its roots back to the first Pentecost after Jesus' death and should ask one to respond as Peter did over 1900 years ago.

God's Organization For The Church

When the church was first established, the Lord set apostles in it, they had to be men who had witnessed Jesus' resurrection(26). They were responsible for introducing the gospel and information on the church. Paul stated that the church consisted of bishops (also called pasters or elders), deacons, evangelists, and teachers(27). The church in its infancy had apostles and prophets to protect the hearers from false' teachers(28). They were given the ability to perform miracles to confirm their teachings came directly from God(29). Today, however, we have God's written word, the Bbible, and thus no longer have apostles, prophets or miracles which passed away in the first century(30). The qualifications for the elders is described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. These men assume the responsibility for the souls of the church(31) and are instructed to act as a spiritual guide to the Christians(32). The deacons serve in physical areas such as benevolence or caring for the elderly as described in Acts 6:1 and following. Their qualications are listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The preacher or evangelist may serve as a pulpit minister or one who shares the gospel in the home(33). Teachers would of course teach on any age level as described in Titus 2:3-15. Any church claiming to be the church of the Bible must follow the organization described in God's Word.

God's Simple Worship Plan

The Lord has arranged for Christians to meet every Sunday to remember Christ's death and resurrection by partaking of the Lord's Supper(34). It is interesting that in the secular writings of Justin Martyr that this practice continued week by week--even into the second century, Apology Antoninus, page 67. Yet today, men following the doctrines and commandments of men will take it once a month or quarter and will justify their practice by saying that to take the Lord's Supper every week will cause it to loose its meaning. It makes one wonder how often a person making a statement like this approaches God in prayer. Would praying every day cause it to loose it significance? In addition to the Lord's Supper, the assembly met for prayer and singing.(35) Historical research has produced evidence that no instrument was introduced into worship until after 900 A.D. I appreciate so much an eldership that will not allow an unauthorized form of music to creep into God's pattern of worship. Some have argued that it does not say that you can't worship with the instrument. Nadab and Abihu also used that same argument when they offered fire from a strange source.(36) They changed their minds though--instantly-- God's Word warns us not to go beyond what is written in His Word.(37) Also, the Lord's church heard a lesson from the Bible and contributed monitarily to the church(38) each Lord's day. Their worship did not end with a Sunday morning service but they continued to serve God throughout the week.(39)

A Changed Life Style

If a person claims to be a Christian as described in the Bible, there should be a marked change in his attitude and actions.(40) The church at Colossae was so excited about their life in Christ that they were sharing the gospel with their lost neighbors.(41)

Being A Christian Only

The Scriptures both in prophecy(42) and its fulfillment(43) tell that once the Gentiles would see God's righteousness that they would be called by a new name given by the Lord's own mouth. That name "Christian" is proudly worn by those who want to be the church of the Bible.(44) Man made names would later appear but not with God's approval.(45) Christians are also referred to as saints(46), brethren(47), or children of God(48). Descriptive terms, for the church are the church of God(49), body of Christ(50), house of God(51), or church of Christ(52).

Is It The Church of the Bible

Any church claiming to be the church of the Bible must be able to find its identifying characteristics within the pages of God's Word. No creed books, manuals, catechisms or set of by-laws should be necessary to identify it. The New Testament alone was its only creed. Nor should an earthly headquarters ever exist, for each church described in the New Testament was the highest order designed by the Lord. In Spain, Eastern Turkey, South America and other locations small groups of Christians have been found following the pattern for the church and the only thing they had that made them identical was a Bible in their respective language. Therefore, any group who follows just the Scriptures in worship, the gospel message, the plan of salvation, and organization, and organization can proudly say "I am a member of the church of the Bible."

You Can't "Join" The Church

Even though today a person may join a club or a denominational group, he cannot join the church of the Bible. When he makes a response to the gospel the Lord automatically adds him to His church(53). But he cannot add an unbeliever(54), an unrepented person(55), one who has not confessed Him(56), or an unimmersed individual(57) to His church. If you would like to be a part of an undenominational group that is humbly trying to be the church one reads about in the Scriptures, then contact the Lord's church in your area. Let's restore the church of Christ as we see it unfolded in the Bible. If I can help write to me, I care.

1. Psalm 148:3-5
2. Psalm 12:6, 7
3. Isaiah 40:8
4. Hebrews 6:18
5. 1 Peter 1:22, 23
6. 2 Peter 1:3
7. John 12:48-50
8. Ephesians 1:4-10; 3:8, 9
9. I Peter 1:18-20
10. Jeremiah 31:31-34
11. Isaiah 2:1-4
12. Isaiah 9:6, 7
13. Daniel 2:44
14. Matthew 16:18, 19; Col. 1:13, 14
15. Ephesians 1:22, 23
16. Matthew 28:18
17. Isaiah 53:4
18. Hebrews 5:7
19. Isaiah 52:14
20. Ephesians 5:25
21. Ephesians 5:23
22. Luke 24:46-49
23. Acts 2:22-36
24. Acts 2:37
25. Acts 2:38
26. Acts 1:22
27. Philippians 1:1; Ephesians 4:11
28. Ephesians 4:14-16
29. Hebrews 2:3, 4
30. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10
31. Hebrews 13:17
32. 1 Peter 5:1-4
33. 2 Timothy 4:2-5
34. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
35. 1 Corinthians 14:15, 16
36. Leviticus 10:1, 2
37. 1 Corinthians 4:6
38. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2
39. Romans 12:1, 2
40. Galations 5:19-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
41. Colossians 1:3-6
42. Isaiah 62:2
43. Acts 11:26
44. 1 Peter 4:16
45. 1 Corinthians 1:10-15
46. 1 Corinthians 1:2
47. Galations 6:1
48. Galations 3:26
49. Acts 20:28
50. Colossians 1:18
51. 1 Timothy 3:15
52. Romans 16:16
53. Acts 2:41, 47

Copyright© 1981 -- Bob Danklefsen