Christ & His Church

You should know that--

• God is the giver of life (Acts 17:25)
• God is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)
• God has expressed His love toward us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 3:16)
• Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
• Jesus will wash you from your sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5) when you are baptized (Acts 22:16)

  You should know that the Bible is--

• inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16)
• not just a work of men (2 Peter 1:20-21)
• truly the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
• able to save your soul (James 1:21)
• a light to guide you (Psalm 119:105)
• the standard by which you will be judged (John 12:48)
• truth (Psalm 119:160; John 8:32; 17:17)

  You should know that truth is--

• knowable (John 8:31-32)
• able to make you free (John 8:31-32)
• more valuable than anything else (Proverbs 23:23)
• what Jesus came to show us (John 1:17; 14:6)
• what Jesus came to bear witness of (John 18:37)
• What has been fully revealed in the Bible (John 16:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Jude 3)

  You should know that the New Testament is the standard by which we shall all be judged.

• "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18)

• "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48)

  You should know that Jesus Christ Himself

• built the church (Matthew 16:18)
• bled for the church (Acts 20:28)
• loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)
• called the church His (Matthew 16:18)
• is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18, 24)
• added people to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14)
• will save the church (Ephesians 5:23)

  You should know that the New Testament teaches that the church is called--

• the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24)
• the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32; Revelation 3:12; 19: 6-9; 21:2, 9)
• the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13)
• the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15)
• the church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23)
• the church of the Lord (Acts 20:28)
• the church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2)
• the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16)
• the church (Ephesians 3:10)

  You should know that the church was--

• built by Jesus (Matthew 16:13-18)
• built on Jesus Christ who is the only foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)
• not built on Paul, Apollos, Peter, or any other man (1 Corinthians 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:20-22)
• established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47)

  You should know that those whom Jesus has added to the church are called--

• members (1 Corinthians 12:27)
• disciples (Acts 6:1)
• believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15)
• saints (Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1)
• priests (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6)
• children of God (1 John 3:1-2)
• Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16)

  You should know that the New Testament speaks of--

• one family of God (Ephesians 3:15)
• one kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13-14)
• one bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-7)
• one body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4)
• one church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:4)

  You should know that the early church had no human government but was guided by--

• the word of God, the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:1-4; Galatians 1:6-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
• elders (also referred to as bishops, overseers, pastors, shepherds, presbyters); their work is to oversee and feed the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
• deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
• evangelists (preachers); they are to teach and preach God's word (1 & 2 Timothy)

  You should know that to become part of the church, you must--

• believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 8:24; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Hebrews 11:6)
• repent of your sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
• confess the deity of Christ (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37-38)
• be baptized (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16; Colossians 2:11ff; Galatians 3:24ff; 1 Peter 3:21)
• walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-7)

  You should know that your obedience to God is--

• the only acceptable response to God's grace (Matthew 7:24-27--one must hear and do)
• necessary for your salvation (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:8-9)
• the opposite is also true: disobedience will cause you to be lost (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

  You should know that baptism requires--

• water (Acts 8:36; 10:47; John 3:23)
• going to water (Acts 8:36; Matthew 3:5-6)
• a burial (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12)
• a planting (Romans 6:5)
• a washing (Acts 22:16; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 10:22)
• a birth (John 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22-25)
• a raising out of the water (Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12)
• a coming out of the water (Acts 8:39)

  You should know that by baptism--

• your sins are washed away (Acts 22:16)
• you are saved from sins (1 Peter 3:20-21)
• you have remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
• you get into Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:27)
• you get into the church (Acts 2:37-47)
• you put on Christ (Galatians 3:27)
• you walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 3:1)
• you obey Christ (John 14:15; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; Hebrews 5:8-9)

  You should know that the faithful church--

• worships in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)
• meets on the first day of the week (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
• worships with a cappella singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
• prays (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• edifies one another (Ephesians 4:16)
• takes the Lord's supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:20-31; 16:1-2)
• gives as they have prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:7)

  You should know that this church--

• exists today in your community
• is not a denomination, just Christ's church
• still follows the pattern of the New Testament
• is free from the dictates of human authority

  You can be a part of the church that belongs to Jesus Christ. You can be just a Christian--nothing more or less! We encourage you to search the Scriptures with an honest, loving and obedient heart. Remember Jesus' words, "If you love me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

  Jesus Himself was the perfect example of submitting to the will of the Heavenly Father: ". . .though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:8-9). He suffered for you because He loves you--will you follow Him?

  For more information call or visit the
  South Seminole Church of Christ
  5410 Lake Howell Road
  Winter Park, FL 32792
  (407) 657-0657
  E-Mail: garysummers@spiritualperspectives.org