THE RESTORATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LORD'S CHURCH OR THE CHURCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH? COULD WE FIND THIS NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IN OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY?
Thank God many people are still asking, "Which church is the right church? Which church is the one that we can find in the Bible?"
Unfortunately, there are many different answers coming from people about the above two questions.
Without God's Word we will be unable to answer the questions correctly. We will not be able to identify the New Testament body of Christ.
There are many people today who are not looking for the marks that identify the church of Christ. They simply desire what a religious group can do for them.
The world is confused by the multiplicity of religious organizations which wear the name of "churches."
I am now going to assume that you are sincerely looking for Truth; looking for the real item, and not for the pleasure to be entertained or satisfied in some worldly fashion.
Where does one begin in their search for Truth? We begin in the Bible and we finish in the Bible!
The question again is, how can we know which church is the right church? And does it really make any difference about the church to which a man or woman belongs?
We must remember that honesty and sincerity alone is not enough to get one into heaven. That is not enough to acquire faith and trust in God. There is something else. It is called The Word of God.
You see, honest and sincere people have been known to believe and teach conflicting religious doctrines. Religious people have been known to teach false religious doctrines.
Let's stay in the Word of God for the answers for our salvation!
JESUS ESTABLISHED ONLY ONE CHURCH--HIS CHURCH
1. One of the identifying marks of Christ's church is that He built it.
John the Baptist, John Calvin, the apostles of Christ, the Popes, or anyone else did not establish The Church of the New Testament.
Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
This Scripture teaches at least 5 things:
a.Jesus alone would build His church
b.Christ will build his church in the future and not during His present ministry).
c.There would be only One church
d.The church would be victorious over hades.
e. His church would be built on a solid bedrock (the Greek meaning here for "rock")
QUESTIONAIRE ABOUT MATTHEW 16:18
1. Would Jesus build His church alone? Yes No
2.Was Jesus going to build His church during his present ministry? Yes No
3.Would Jesus build one of many churches? Yes No
4. Would Christ's Church be a wimpy, defeated church? Yes No
5. Would Jesus' church be built on the a disciple or apostles such as Peter or Paul? Yes No
THE NEW TESTAMENT OR LORD'S CHURCH GREW THROUGH EVANGELISM OR THE MAKING OF DISCIPLES THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
There are some members and leaders of the Churches of Christ who believe that the church will grow when:
1. Changes are made by the beautification of the church building and its surrounding property, soft pillow-like pews, new thick carpet, power point screen and expensive pa system, etc.,or
2. Changes are made when we hire a minister with his PH.D in Theology, or
3. Praise teams (a new name applied by the some Churches of Christ for a standing chorus) can sing and entertain for the church in its singing.
4. The church hires a pulpit preacher, a young minister, a family life minister, and an outreach minister, or
5. The church sponsors for the community entertainment groups and events, or
6. The church endorses and uses mechanical instruments of music in their worship, or
7. The church allows anyone to place membership in response to the invitation of the sermon, or
8. The church gives out food, money, or some form of assistance to the poor or needy without ever offering them the Gospel of Salvation.
There are many other theological tactics that have replaced true evangelism and the making of disciples. They have become excuses for not doing what Christ commanded.
"Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" Acts 2:47
When can God add to the church those who are being saved?
First His disciples must "go!"
Where? Into all the world!
Do what? Make disciples-baptize them-teach them all the Scriptures of Christ Matthew 28:18-20
