what we believe
Do You Have Eternal Life?
1 John 5:11-12 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”
Without Jesus we can have no peace, in this world or the next.
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We are all separated from God:
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory (the perfect holiness) of God” (Rom. 3:23).
All of us fall short of God’s standards.
Habakkuk 1:13a Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, And Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor.
So what are we to do? If our sins have separated us from God, and they certainly have, what can bridge that gap?
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Jesus Christ is the only way to bridge that gap:
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 4:25 He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust (that’s you and me!), in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.
Jesus died for me, and He died for you! He accepted the punishment for our sins and yours.
Only He could do this for us, and He willingly became the mediator who can bridge the gap between each of us and the holiness of God. Salvation can be yours!
Since He is the one who bridged this gap for us by His sacrifice, He is the only way to God. He makes the rules, not us. Salvation is ours when we accept this mediation he offers on His terms.
How do we accept this offer?
2,000 years ago Peter, an apostle of Jesus, preached a powerful sermon to those who had been involved in crucifying Jesus. When they heard Peter’s message, they were pierced to the heart, convicted of their sin, aware of how unworthy they were before God, convinced that Jesus Christ was the son of God, sent to redeem us all. You may read Peter’s sermon for yourself in Acts, chapter 2.
Seeking forgiveness, they asked Peter “What must we do to be saved?” Peter replied to them:
“Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins…” Acts 2:38
A few years later, the apostle (messenger from God) Paul, writing to the Christians in Rome, reminded them that:
‘All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death, therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3,4
In Galations 3:27, we learn again that all who are baptized into Christ are actually clothed with Christ- this means it is no longer our sinful, impure, selves that God sees- but the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imparted to those who, believing and trusting in Jesus, seeking to receive His salvation, are baptized.
Baptism is part of God’s plan of salvation. We find no mention of something called “The Sinner’s Prayer” in the word of God.
Who makes the rules, sinful mankind, or the divine Creator?
The gift of God’s salvation is to be received on His terms, honoring the conditions He sets. Let’s not be guilty of arrogantly setting aside God’s design for one of our own.
What does baptism mean?
The word baptize comes from the Greek word “baptizo” and literally means, “to dip, to immerse, to plunge.”
The word baptism never referred to sprinkling. “Immersion” is how the first Christians defined the word, and we see no reason to alter the definition. Immersion was the practice of the church in apostolic times.
We desire to be as much like the church Jesus established in the first century as we can be, so we baptize the same way they did, by immersion in water.
God Himself chose this practice and we aspire to be obedient to the doctrine of God rather than the traditions of men.
Only immersion conforms to the descriptions of baptism as given by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5, where he speaks of it as a burial and resurrection.
(adapted from Who are the churches of Christ and what do they believe in? By Batsell Barrett Baxter, online at: http://church-of-christ.org/who.html#baptism)
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Why is it important to meet with other believers?
God has reconciled us to Himself through the work of Jesus on the cross. This was not the end, but the beginning of our new lives as Christians. We have an ongoing need for spiritual growth and faith as we continue in our relationship with God.
Part of that new walk includes following God’s plan for community. God desires that in addition to our relationship with Him, we have loving fellowship with other believers.
Every individual, young, old, married, single, cheerful, grumpy, friendly, shy, etc, EVERY one of us, has a purpose in the kingdom of God. Part of that design God has for us is for us to encourage one another and exhort one another daily, to be encouraged and exhorted by others in turn. Without such community, there is a danger that we will grow weak in our faith or stagnate. Without the fellowship of other believers, we might be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13).
We have been called out of the world into a community of believers. Jesus said:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34,35)
Would you believe that somebody loved you if he or she never wanted to spend time with you? One way to show your love for your fellow believers is to meet with them. If you don’t love your fellow believers, you need to get to know them better!
Relationships
Christ promises to be with us when even two or three are gathered together in His name (Matthew 18:20). Fellowship with Christ and other believers involves feeding on the Word together. Sometimes it means eating meals together. (Acts 2:46).
It’s important to be an active, involved part of a church family.
Community
God offers comfort to the lonely; He offers family.
“God sets the solitary in families.” (Psalm 68:6).
The natural family is an institution of God. (Colossians 3:18- 21). Because of sin, many families fall short of God’s design, but we can compensate for that.
Upon your baptism, God added you His church, a wonderful family – His family –
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24,25).
The hands and feet of Jesus
Ephesians 1:22,23 refers to the church thus: “the church, which is His body.”
When you were baptized into Christ and He became Lord of your life, you became part of the body of Christ. You have a part to play in Christ’s body. Your gifts and talents complement those of others.
1 Corinthians 12:12-28:
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body .And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.(KJV)
For even as the body is one and {yet} has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not {a part} of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less {a part} of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not {a part} of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less {a part} of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those {members} of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly {members come to} have more abundant seemliness, whereas our seemly {members} have no need {of it.} But God has {so} composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that {member} which lacked, that there should be no division in the body, but {that} the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if {one} member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. (NAS)
Are we like the first believers?
And they were continally devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
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Simple New Testament worship
The pomp and ceremony of the Old Testament were shadows, hazy images of the glory that was to come. That glory is the New Covenant, of which Christ is the founder and center- the cornerstone.
Christ has come and instituted this new covenant, and our focus now should be wholly upon Him—the reality- not upon the ceremonies and traditions instituted by mankind.
The simple unadorned worship of the gospel era brings us into the presence of the greater temple—Jesus Christ—as we sing songs of worship and encouragement, hear the word of God, listen to the preaching, and partake in communion.
We lift our voices in praise to God
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15)
Christians are told to speak “to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).
When the music of the heart is expressed through lips that confess the Lord’s name, there is no need for supporting instruments. There is no example of a musical instrument being used in the worship and gatherings of the church for the first several hundred years after God instituted the church here on earth.
When we sing without a musical instrument we are not dependant upon raising the funds to pay for the instruments, upon the skill of any one member of the church who can play an instrument, or upon our location.
The church of the first century used no instruments- neither did the church in the second, third, fourth, or fifth centuries.
We find it in keeping with the direction of God to love our brethren and to put others ahead of our own interests, and one way of doing this is to not impose extrabiblical practices upon our brethren.
Communion or The Lord’s Supper
Just like the church in the first century, which is the model given to us by Christ, we take communion, or the Lord’s Supper, together on the first day of very week.
This is a memorial of Christ’s sufferings and death on our behalf (1 Cor 11:26).
Communion is also a reminder of the prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor 11:26).
Communion is enjoined upon all believers “until He comes”.
Luke 22:15-20:
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (KJV)
And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. “And when He had taken a cup {and} given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes. “And when He had taken {some} bread {and} given thanks, He broke {it,} and gave {it} to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. “And in the same way {He took} the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. (NAS)
Matt 26:26-28:
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.(KJV)
And while they were eating, Jesus took {some} bread, and after a blessing, He broke {it} and gave {it} to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave {it} to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.(NAS)
Acts 20:7
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.(KJV)
And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul {began} talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.(NAS)
Preaching
2 Tim. 4:2
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Prayer
Prayer held a place of prominence in the assemblies of the first century church, and we desire to model ourselves upon that simple and pure example of New Testament Christianity.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men… Therefore I desire that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:1,8).
“Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13