Is your church HIS Church?
This information is provided freely to ALL in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
With or without Jesus Eternity is Forever
Introduction
Is your church HIS Church? This is a question that every individual who loves our Lord Jesus should carefully and critically consider.
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus provides a clear warning, “Enter by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
The following is a summation of information provided in the Holy Scriptures regarding HIS Church.
Scriptural Description of His Church
The Bible clearly indicates that
HIS Church is not a building; it is a group of individuals or the Body of
Christ, of which our Lord Jesus is the Head and its Savior. It is referred
to as a Church, not many churches.
EPHESIANS
1:22-23
And hath put
all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] THE HEAD OVER ALL
[THINGS] TO THE
CHURCH,
WHICH IS HIS
BODY, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
EPHESIANS 5:23
For the husband
is the head of the wife, even as CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: and HE IS
THE SAVIOR OF
THE BODY.
MATTHEW 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
HIS Church is group of individuals; the Lord has saved from their sins and
has added to the Church or the Body of Christ.
ACTS 2
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: AND THE SAME DAY THERE WERE ADDED [UNTO THEM] ABOUT THREE THOUSAND SOULS.
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. AND THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS SHOULD BE SAVED.
Paul did not build HIS CHURCH.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:13
13 Is CHRIST DIVIDED? was Paul crucified for you? or WERE YE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF PAUL?
His Church was established at a Specific Time and Place.
In Genesis 12:2-3, God promised Abraham and that through his seed all families (nations) of the earth would be blessed.
In, Galatians 3:8, the Apostle Paul writes, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
In, Galatians 3:16, Paul adds “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” In this passage thousands of years later, we find the promise to bless the nations fulfilled in the personage of Jesus Christ, which is further confirmed in Matthew 1:1.
In verses 3 thru 5 of the third chapter of Ephesians, Paul reveals that the mystery of Christ was not known unto other generations. In Ephesians 3:10-11, The Apostle states that it was in the eternal purpose of God that through the church would be made known the manifold wisdom of God.
Numerous references were made in the Old Testament to the coming of HIS Church.
DANIEL 2:44
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never
be destroyed:
Isaiah states in
Chapter 2:2-3, that when the law and the word of the Lord went forth from
JERUSALEM, the house of the Lord would establish and all nations would flow
into it. In Zechariah
1:16, it the Lord make it clear, speaking through His prophet, that His
house or church would be built in Jerusalem “Therefore thus saith the LORD;
I am returned to JERUSALEM with mercies: MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT,”
In Mark 9:1,
Jesus enlighten his Apostles in regard to the coming of His kingdom or
church, “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here,
which shall not taste of death, TILL THEY HAVE SEEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD (His
church) come with power.” (Power provided to the Apostles by the Holy
Spirit.)
According to the
record of the meeting of Jesus and His Apostles after his resurrection from
the dead, in LUKE 24:44-47, Jesus said “These [are] the words which I spake
unto you, while I was yet with you, THAT ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, WHICH
WERE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES, AND [IN] THE PROPHETS, AND [IN] THE
PSALMS, CONCERNING ME.”
Then opened he
their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said
unto them, “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to
rise from the dead the third day: AND THAT REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS
SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.”
We learn in Acts
1:2 through 9 that this meeting occurred 40 days after the resurrection of
Jesus Christ, that he revealed details regarding the kingdom of God. Jesus
instructed them "Not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of
the Father".
In verse 8, He said, "But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is
come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and
Judah and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth".
Verse 9 tells us
“when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight.”
In verse 12, we
are told “THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET,
WHICH IS FROM JERUSALEM A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY.” This account is also
recorded in Luke 24:48-53.
It is clear that His Church or Kingdom began in Jerusalem.
Beginning in the first verse of Acts Chapter 2, we are told that ten days later (the day of Pentecost was 50 days after the resurrection of Christ), all Apostles were together on the day of Pentecost and suddenly a sound from Heaven, like a rushing mighty wind and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other languages.
Acts 2:5 ”And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:6 “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”
The Apostle Peter then preached the first and possibly the greatest Gospel sermon ever, on the life, death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Luke relates in verse 37 that when assembly heard this, “they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?”
Peter answered in verse 38 ” Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
We learn in verse 41 that “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.”
In verse 47, we discover that the church continued to grow, "Praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to THE CHURCH daily such as should be saved".
This was the time in history when the Church of our Lord began (Bible scholars differ on the actual year, estimates range from 29 AD to 33 AD).
This we do know, based upon the Scriptural account, that HIS Church started on the first Pentecost day following the resurrection of Christ and ten days after ascension His to Heaven, with a Membership of three thousand Souls.
This fact is confirmed by fact that this is the first time in the New Testament that the CHURCH is spoken of as being in existence.
Based solely upon the Word of God, we know when and where the spiritual Church or the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior began.
Pentecost marked the very beginning of the reign of Christ over His kingdom or His Church in its operational form.
MATTHEW 15:9
But
in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of
men.
As an
all-knowing God he could foresee the numerous divisions that would take
place in modern times.
In Matthew
7:13-14, Jesus stated directly and firmly that the vast majority of all
people are going to spend eternity as the angels of Satan in the everlasting
fires of Hell.
These verses make it plain that there are only two roads to eternity.
The broad and most popular way, which leads to destruction or eternal
punishment and the NARROW WAY that leads to the perpetual joys of Heaven.
It is an
ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY that every man and women who endeavoring to live
Christian life is HOPING that he or she will among the few who find the
narrow way.
But,
it will take more than HOPE.
NOW IS THE TIME
to critically evaluate if you are on the narrow way.
Consider the following questions
Do your beliefs,
practices and traditions have the POWER and AUTHORITY of the Word of God
behind them?
Can you take the
doctrines of your religion or denomination, beginning with its name and
point to a passage in the Bible, in clear support of each brief, practice or
tradition?
Some mistakenly
believe that the form of worship makes no difference. Paul reports serious
concerns regarding this issue in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “NOW THE SPIRIT EXPRESSLY
SAYS THAT IN LATTER TIMES SOME WILL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy,
having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,”
Paul continues
in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND
DOCTRINE, but according to their own desires, because they have itching
ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; And They Will Turn Their
Ears Away From The Truth, And Be Turned Aside To Fables.”
In 2 Corinthians
11:13-15 Paul issues a further warning “FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES,
Deceitful Workers, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST. And
no marvel: For Satan Himself Is Transformed Into An Angel Of Light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their work”
Jesus warned in
regard to false teachers
“Ye
Shall Know Them By Their Fruits.”
(Matthew 7:16)
Does it Really Matter?
It
matters to those who wish to walk in the light along the Narrow Way that
leads to Eternal Life and Joy, to strictly obey the commandments of Jesus
and to be pleasing to God.
It
matters to those who are concerned regarding the stern Biblical Injunctions
against ADDING TO WORSHIP.
IT MATTERS!
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
(Matthew 7:16)
Mark 7:9
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Revelation 22:18-19
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
1 Corinthians 4:6
that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written
2 John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
In the first century there was only One Church. Satan, the evil Prince of the World, has caused the original Church built by the hands of Jesus Christ to be divided into thousands of religious sects of today.
Conclusions
Since Jesus is the savior of the Body and the Body is the Church.
Those outside of THE ONE TRUE CHURCH that Jesus built WILL NOT BE SAVED.
HIS
CHURCH was
established, in Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, ten days after ascension
His to Heaven. Any Church that was established at a different time in
history or at a different place cannot be
THE ONE TRUE CHURCH that Christ
built. This includes all man-made denominations of today.
Those who are not a part of HIS Church we read about in the Bible,
but substitute a man-made organization instead HAVE NO PROMISE OF SALVATION.
Jesus built only One TRUE Church and only those worshipping, as defined in
the Holy Bible have any Hope of Heaven.
2 JOHN 1:9
Whosoever Transgresseth,
And Abideth Not In The Doctrine Of Christ, Hath Not God. HE THAT ABIDETH IN
THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HE HATH BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON.
HIS Church
His Church is the Church of Christ, which was the name of HIS ONE TRUE Church in the first century. Thus the great Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 16:16, "The churches of Christ salute you".
The Beliefs of the Church of Christ
The pure and simple Doctrine of the Church of Christ is based a careful study of God’s Word which reveals the clearly the specific principles of HIS Church as follows:
Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth.
MATTHEW 28
18 And Jesus came and spake unto
them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
We
will be judged by the words of Jesus
JOHN 12
48
He that rejecteth me,
and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have
spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Words spoken by Jesus were not spoken on His own authority, but He spoke
only what God instructed Him to speak.
JOHN 12
49
For I have not spoken
of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I
should say, and what I should speak.
50
And I know that his
commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the
Father said unto me, so I speak.
God
in His mercy has shown us the way to eternal life. It is up to US to
determine HOW to follow the narrow way, which leads to eternal life.
MATTHEW 7
13
Enter ye in at the
strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14
Because strait [is] the
gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it.
The
Holy Spirit revealed the Word of God
1CORINTHIANS 2
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among
them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes
of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in
a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world
unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this
world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord
of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed [them]
unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things
of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God
knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the
things that are freely given to us of God.
EPHESIANS 3
1 For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the
dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made
known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made
known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and
prophets by the Spirit;
The
Holy Spirit revealed all truth to the writers of the scriptures
JOHN 16
12
I have yet many things
to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13
Howbeit when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and
he will shew you things to come.
Since ALL TRUTH was revealed to them, no additional TRUTH could be revealed
after their death. Therefore we can know with certainty that anything
written or spoken by men that are not present in the scriptures is FALSE.
MATTHEW 7
15
Beware of
false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves.
GALATIANS 1
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
There is only One Plan of Salvation and One Church.
EPHESIANS 4
4 [There is] one body, and one
Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who
[is] above all, and through all, and in you all.
I Timothy 3:15
15 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, the pillar and ground of the truth.
COLOSSIANS 1
13 Who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear
Son:
14 In whom we have redemption
through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
COLOSSIANS 1
18 And he is the head of the body,
the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all
[things] he might have the preeminence.
The members of
the Church of Christ accept the Bible as written and therefore “We only
speak where the Bible speaks and remain completely silent where the Bible is
silent and allow the Scriptures to guide us as to what God demands we do.”
The Most Important Question
Which will You Choose?
There are millions of choices in this world, but in the HEREAFTER there will only be TWO ALTERNATIVES.
Choice Number One
Is to be among the few who have submitted to His Will, labored in the Lord’s work and accepted their redemption. Heaven is beyond our wildest imaginings or dreams. The beauty, wonders, splendor, majesty, grandeur, magnificence, brilliance and stately dignity of Heaven simply cannot be adequately described in the language of humans. Love and the Light of God will fill it and endless happiness, peace and joy will abound. Jesus promised in Revelation 2:7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. The only way to experience Heaven is to be among the souls that have been saved from everlasting damnation.
Choice Number Two
To be in the much larger group who failed to obey or did NOT worship in spirit and in truth in accordance with the teachings of the Bible? Will YOU be standing worst of humanity? The larger group will be punished in a second death in a never ending eternal Hell. Will you remember this commentary?
When you hear the Jesus say, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41), or “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8), or how will you answer the question of Jesus “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33)
Many people do not even want to think about the concept of forever or everlasting. This concept is difficult for many to comprehend. Some like to think of forever as a circle or never ending. Others look at the night sky and try to imagine where it begins and ends. It is the opinion of many that the universe is like eternity or unending. The fact is that God has always been and will always be.
Please take a few minutes of quiet time and consider intensely the concepts of eternity and continuous creaseless retribution.
Life is too Short and time without end or eternity is simply too long and the everlasting punishment in the fires of Hell too terrifying to make any mistakes.
Then make a
choice, before it is too late.
Once you pass
away from this Life you have lost the Golden opportunity to have the Hope of
Heaven. If you fail to accept God's Grace and Love, by becoming His
faithful servant,
you
have selected Hell and to spend eternity as a angel of Satan, in everlasting
Fire, by default.
God has provided a Way
God desires that everyone in the world would follow His Plan of Salvation and then remain faithful; “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
When we properly follow God’s Plan of Salvation and are baptized, our sins are washed away; “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16) At that very moment, you are saved.
All that remains is to follow the narrow way and remain faithful to the end.
What shall I Do? I have already been baptized.
The baptism you received may not have been scriptural and therefore had no force or effect. God foresaw that this would occur and provided a solution. In the book of Acts, we have a clear example. Certain disciples had been properly baptized by John the Baptist by immersion, but were not baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, as they were under the Old law at the time of their original baptism. Paul instructed them to be baptized a second time, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
Acts 19:3-5
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
What could it harm to be baptized again, if you did not properly understand the purpose of baptism the first time?
Why would anyone risk the loss of salvation?
Now is the TIME to SEARCH the HOLY SCRIPTURES to confirm our convictions and to find the Narrow Way, which will lead you to a Glorious Crown of Eternal Life
Hear the Gospel.
"How shall they call on him whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14)
Believe.
"And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:6)
Repent of Past Sins.
"The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent." (Acts 17:30)
Confess Jesus as Lord.
"Behold here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou believeth with all thy heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37)
Be Baptized for the Remission of Sins.
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
Live a Christian Life.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;" (1 Peter 2:9)
If we do just what our Lord Jesus commanded, we know that our salvation is certain.
Take Personal Control of Spiritual Life; come with us as we go back to the
Bible, back to Christ and his Church
Sources of further immediate Assistance
Telephone the Minister of your local
Church of Christ and tell him you
have visited this website and as a result, that you realize that you need to
make some changes. That you have decided to take personal control of your
Spiritual Life and wish to meet with him as soon as possible.
The telephone number(s) are listed in the white pages under Church of Christ.
The Minister and the Elders of that Church of Christ stand ready to assist you in learning the TRUTH, in any way possible. You are invited to make a complete investigation of the doctrine of Christ or any part thereof and they would be delighted to personally discuss any point or answer any question.
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JOHN 17:17
Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth
This web site is sponsored by
Diplomats for
Christ
James W. Goddard, Ph.D.
A Diplomat at large for Christ and
an active Member of the Eufaula Church of Christ
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74432
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This web site was written and designed by James W. Goddard, Ph.D., an active member of the Eufaula Church of Christ