By Seth Myers
Did you know there are over 30,000 various “Christian” “churches” in the world today? Did you know that—in the New Testament (NT)—there is only ONE church (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 12:12,13,20; et al.)? That leads to this eternally important question:
HOW DO I KNOW
WHICH CHURCH IS THE CHURCH?
In the New Testament—especially in the book of Acts
and the epistles of Paul (Romans – 2 Timothy)—we can
read of the various characteristics of THE church that
belongs to Christ:- Its Teachings
- Its Practices
- Its Pattern of Worship
- Its Organization
- Its Government
A great key is found in Acts 2:42:
“And they
continued steadfastly IN THE APOSTLES’ TEACHING…”
Likewise:
“Now I beseech
you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you all SPEAK THE SAME THING and that
there be NO DIVISIONS among you…” (1 Cor. 1:10).
“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received FROM US” (2 Thess. 3:6).
“If anyone does not obey what WE say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thess. 3:14).
“If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are A COMMAND OF THE LORD” (1 Cor. 14:37).
The only way any church can be THE church which THE
Creator purchased with THE blood of THE Son of THE God
is if it “continue[s] steadfastly in the apostles’
teaching.” A “denomination” (i.e., “division”) is born
when men stop “continu[ing] steadfastly in the
apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). Thus, any church that
is not “continu[ing] steadfastly in the apostles’
teaching” is NOT Christ’s church, but is just another
“self-made religion” (Col. 2:23)—and no self-made
religion has ever gotten a single soul to heaven (cf.
Matt. 23:15).“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received FROM US” (2 Thess. 3:6).
“If anyone does not obey what WE say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thess. 3:14).
“If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are A COMMAND OF THE LORD” (1 Cor. 14:37).
The only way a church can be THE church which THE Creator purchased with THE blood of THE Son of THE God is if it “continue[s] steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching.” …any church that is not [doing that] is just another “self-made religion” (Col. 2:23)…
Study the New Testament and read about Christ’s only church: if YOUR church varies, in any capacity from THAT church, I urge you to get out, and find one that operates strictly and solely according to the pattern found in the New Testament, with nothing added or subtracted—i.e., one that is “in Christ” (Gal. 2:6) and “of Christ” (Rom. 16:16).
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, DOES NOT HAVE GOD.
Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 JOHN 9)
- Seth Myers preaches for the Highway Church of Christ in Sullivan, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://hwycoc.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment