4141 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61102
STATE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
What is Distinctive About The church of Christ?
(from “What is the church of Christ?” by B.J. Clarke)
It Has A Distinctive Pattern
Whereas manmade churches follow “the doctrines and commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9), the Lord’s church follows “the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9). The first century Christians were not adherents to the Law of Moses, for Jesus had nailed it to the cross (Col. 2:14). The old covenant was replaced by a new covenant, a better covenant with better promises (Heb. 8:6-13; 9:15-17). The church of Christ in Jerusalem was guided and governed by the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42). The things that Paul taught the Corinthian church were said to be “the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). The church was not then, nor should it be now, loyal to the creeds, manuals and catechisms of uninspired men. The motto of 1 Peter 4:11, if practiced consistently by the religious world, would lead to the practice of distinctive New Testament Christianity.
It Has A Distinctive Plan Of Salvation
The plan of salvation, preached by the early church, is not at all difficult to determine. A combination of the following passages teaches that men needed to hear the Word of God (John 6:44-45; Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:37), believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only Saviour (John 8:24; Acts 4:12), repent of sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess Christ (Acts 8:35-37; 1 Tim. 6:12), and be immersed in water in order to be forgiven by the blood of Christ and enter the church of Christ (1 Pet. 3:20-21; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41,47).
In spite of the abundantly clear teaching of the New Testament on the matter of how to be saved, the religious world heralds a vastly different message. For example, multitudes are instructed to pray “the sinner’s prayer,” asking Jesus to come into their heart to save them from their sins. Such a prayer is in direct opposition to the revealed will of God. The fabled “sinner’s prayer” is a concoction of the doctrines and commandments of men, and cannot be substantiated with book, chapter and verse. Where is the verse in the New Testament where an inspired preacher ever encouraged a sinner to say the sinner’s prayer in order to be saved?
For complete article click “What is the church of Christ?”