Some FAQs About
The Church of Christ
1. Isn't the Church of Christ just another another denomination?
2. What is your creed?
3. What do you believe?
4. What does it mean to be “just a Christian”?
5. What must I do to become only a Christian?
Isn't the Church of Christ Just Another Denomination?
A denomination is one part of a DIVIDED whole.
Money is an example of how the word "denomination" is used. Dollar bills in their various denominations (e.g., ones, fives, tens, twenties, fifties, and hundred dollar bills) are divided parts.
We are Christians (and only Christians) because that is what we find in the New Testament (Acts 11:26).
Denominations DIVIDE Christ through their differing doctrines and creeds concerning salvation and worship, and their names (most of which are not found in the New Testament).
The apostle Paul wrote, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ... Is Christ divided?" (1Corinthians 1:10,13).
We belong to Jesus Christ who is the “head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).
What is your creed?
We have no creed. Creeds are written by men and imply that God’s word is insufficient to supply all our spiritual needs. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
What do you believe?
The apostle Paul wrote that there is “one faith” (Ephesians 4:5). Jude wrote, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (verse 3).
When Paul and the apostles and other men preached — such as Philip the evangelist, Acts 21:8 — they preached one gospel that leads to one faith. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).
Paul preached the same things everywhere he went — “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (1Corinthians 4:17).
For example, when giving orders to the church meeting in Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote to them informing them of what he had ordered the churches meeting in Galatia: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also” (1 Corinthians 16:1).
What does it mean to be “just a Christian”?
In Acts 11:26 we read, “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
Just a Christian means being nothing other than that which we find in the New Testament.
As seeds produce after their own kind — thus watermelon seeds produce watermelons and corn seed produces corn — so the seed which is the word of God (Luke 8:11) produces only Christians.
What must I do to become a Christian only?
Too many people see that Bible as nothing more than a jumble of information. In reaction to that misperception, some try to reduce the entire Bible to one verse . . . like John 3:16.
John 3:16 is a great verse, but it’s not the only verse found in the New Testament.
The Necessity for Faith
John 6:27-29
“Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” Then said they unto him, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
John 20:30-31
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
The Necessity for Confession
Romans 10:8-10
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Necessity for Repentance
Acts 26:19-20
I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Acts 2:38-41
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized …
The Necessity for Water Baptism
It matters that you are baptized and how you are baptized for there is but one baptism.
Ephesians 4:4-5
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
John 3:5-7
Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of 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. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ‘Ye must be born again.’”
Titus 3:5-7
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Bible does not teach once saved, always saved. The obediently faithful believer can have complete security (1 John 3:18-24).
To be a Christian only . . . we must all . . .
1. Be born again into the family of God (John 3:3-5; Matthew 28:18-20).
2. Grow and mature into the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16; 2Peter 3:18).
3. Love those in your spiritual family (1Peter 1:22; John 13:34-35).
4. Find your special service in the body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8).
5. Be equipped to share the good news of your salvation (2Timothy 2:1-2).
6. Worship and glorify God in His Son (John 4:24; Matthew 5:14-16).
7. Love and serve your fellowman (Galatians 6:10).
8. Be faithful to God until death (Revelation 2:10).