WHO ARE WE?

“Who was at the door?” you may have asked. In case you are wondering who we are and what we represent, I would like to give you a brief explanation. Let me begin by telling you who we are not. We are not Jehovah’s Witnesses or Seventh Day Adventists. We are not Baptists, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, or Mormons. We are not part of any Catholic or Protestant body nor are we members of any alliance, council, or union of religious bodies. We are not a cult, or part of any denomination.

However, we are Christians (Acts 11:26). We strive to glorify God in that holy name (I Peter 4:16; James 2:7). We refuse to wear the names of men or the doctrines of men. We do not wear the names of nations or cities. We honour Christ by wearing His name only. We are Christians just like the ones you can read about in the New Testament.

The church to which we belong is the one you can read about in the New Testament. It is not a building, but a body of baptized believers. It was built by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18). It was bought with His blood (Acts 20:28). Therefore, we represent no one but Jesus Christ. Jesus built one church. It began nearly 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem (Acts 2). If Jesus built one church, you may be wondering where all the thousands of other churches have come from. The only answer is that they were started by men. Jesus said: “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13).

Jesus Christ is the builder, purchaser, and founder of the one church that we read about in the New Testament. He is also its foundation. “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 3:11). He is the chief cornerstone of the church (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Jesus prayed that all believers in Him would be united. “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 hast sent me” (John 17: 20, 21). Many people do not believe in Jesus today because of all the divisions among those who claim to be His followers. These divisions are known as “denominations”. They are condemned in the New Testament. “Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Corinthians 1:10). Divisions are also known as “seditions” ad “heresies” and are condemned as works of the flesh which will keep people out of Heaven (Galatians 5:19-21).

We can only be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on the cross (I Peter 1:18,19). It only can wash away our sins (Revelation 1:5). Since Jesus purchased His church with His blood, we must belong to His church to be saved. If a person can be saved outside of the church of Christ, then he can be saved without the blood of Jesus. Those who are saved are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:36-47). One does not join the church, but the Lord adds him when he obeys the gospel and is thereby cleansed by the blood of Jesus (Romans 6:16-18).

In the New Testament, we have been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3). We have complete instructions for living the Christian life. We are told how we are to worship to please God. We can learn how to conduct the work of the church from the New Testament. We need no creed book, manual, or book of church discipline beside the Bible (I Timothy 3:14, 15). Most denominations have some book besides the Bible that they use to tell them what to believe and how to conduct their affairs, but the Bible alone is sufficient (II Timothy 3:16, 17).

Perhaps you are asking, “What is the name of this church?” Since Christ built the church, it belongs to him (Matthew 16:18). Therefore, it is the church of Christ. The groups or congregations of Christians which meet at various places are simply known as “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). The church is described in the New Testament as a body, house, kingdom, etc. It is also called the “ church of God” (I Corinthians 1:2). Any of these are correct designations for the Lord’s one true church.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We hope you will take time to read the other articles which follow. Be sure to check everything you read by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11,I Thessalonians 5:21). Everything we believe, teach, and practice must be according to the Bible, God’s Holy Word (Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 4:4; II John 9; Revelation 22:18, 19).