Back to Basics The church of Christ Plain Bible teaching removes confusion resulting from the errors of men. Material adapted from a short article by Joe Price – Back to Basics, August 2008

The church of Christ belongs to Christ Because Christ built the church (Matthew 16:16-18) Men have built many churches, all claiming to belong to Christ. In contrast to the many denominations of men, the New Testament church belongs to Jesus. The church belongs to Christ because: Christ built the church. (Matthew 16:16-18), “Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17 Jesus answered and said to him, " Blessed are you, Simon Bar- Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. The church does not belong to us to do with as we see fit.

The church of Christ belongs to Christ Because Christ built the church (Matthew 16:16-18) Because Christ died for the church (Acts 20:28) The church of Christ belongs to Christ. (b) Christ died for the church. The church was purchased with the blood of the Son of God, shed as the redemptive price for the sins of the word (Acts 20:28), “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

The church of Christ belongs to Christ Because Christ built the church (Matthew 16:16-18) Because Christ died for the church (Acts 20:28) Because Christ is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18) The church of Christ belongs to Christ. (c) Christ is the head of his church. No vicar, no president, no king or queen possesses authority in or over the church of Christ; His authority over the church is complete (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 may have the preeminence.”

The church of Christ belongs to Christ Because Christ built the church (Matthew 16:16-18) Because Christ died for the church (Acts 20:28) Because Christ is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18) Because Christ is the Savior of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23) The church of Christ belongs to Christ (d) Christ is the Savior of the church. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ, and he only saves His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” The church of Christ belongs to Christ; the denominations belong to the men who built them and rule them.

The church of Christ is composed of those who are saved in Christ ekklesia – an assembly of called out ones The church of Christ is composed of those who are saved in Christ. The church is not a club to join, a business to operate or a social organization to administer a social agenda. “Church” translates the Greek word ekklesia meaning an assembly of called out ones. The gospel calls sinners out of the darkness of sin into the marvelous light of God’s Son, (cf. 1 Peter 2:9-10).

The church of Christ is composed of those who are saved in Christ ekklesia – an assembly of called out ones His church is the assembly of the saved (Hebrews 12:22-23) The church of Christ is composed of those who are saved in Christ. The church of Christ is the assembly of the saved; God’s people on earth whose citizenship is in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23), “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect”

The church of Christ is composed of those who are saved in Christ ekklesia – an assembly of called out ones His church is the assembly of the saved (Hebrews 12:22-23) God adds individuals to His church. It is composed of people, not institutions. (Acts 2:47) (Acts 2:47), “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

There is only one church of Christ Christ built one church, not many! (cf. Matthew 16:16-18) There is only one church of Christ. Jesus plainly said “I will build My church” – not, “I will build My churches.” (Matthew 16:16-18), “Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17 Jesus answered and said to him, " Blessed are you, Simon Bar- Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

There is only one church of Christ Christ built one church, not many! (cf. Matthew 16:16-18) There is but one body (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4) There is only one church of Christ. Considered universally, all the saved (all Christians) constitute one body, the church of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23), “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 4:4), “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling”

There is only one church of Christ Christ built one church, not many! (cf. Matthew 16:16-18) There is but one body (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4) Considered locally — independent congregations (Romans 16:16) There is only one church of Christ. Considered locally, Christians gather in different places to form independent congregations. Thus, we read of the “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), “Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.” Each congregation has its own organization and is fully equipped to do its own work without the oversight or sponsorship of another church (Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2-3; Eph. 4:11-16).

The Lord adds you to His church when you are saved from your sins The murderers of Jesus heard the gospel and believed (Acts 2:36-37) The Lord adds you to the church of Christ when you are saved from your sins. The murderers of Jesus heard the gospel call and believed Jesus to be “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36-37), “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

The Lord adds you to His church when you are saved from your sins The murderers of Jesus heard the gospel and believed (Acts 2:36-37) They were told to repent and be baptized, and were added when they did (Acts 2:38, 40-41) The Lord adds you to the church of Christ when you are saved from your sins. They were told to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”, and about 3,000 who did so were added together (Acts 2:38), “Then Peter said to them, "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.” (Acts 2: 40-41), “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”

The church of Christ exists today! The Lord will add you to His church when you believe, if you will repent, and be baptized for the remission of your sins! The church began on the day of Pentecost and the Christians continued to grow in faith and service to Christ. The church of Christ exists today. The Lord will add you to His church when you will believe, repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:37-38, 47).