060823 Things You Should Know About Christ & His Church...

Things You Should Know about Christ & His Church

- Gary Summers

 

You should know that…

God is the giver of life (Acts 17:25)

God is the source of every good and perfect gift (Jas. 1:17)

God has expressed His love toward us (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 Jn.3:16)

Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

Jesus will wash you from your sins in His own blood (Rev. 1:5) when you are baptized (Acts 22:16)

 

You should know that the Bible is…

Inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16)

Not just a work of men (2 Pet. 1:20-21)

Truly the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13)

Able to save your soul (Jas. 1:21)

A light to guide you (Psa. 119:105)

The standard by which you will be judged (Jn. 12:48)

Truth (Psa. 119:160; Jn. 8:32; 17:17)

 

You should know that truth is…

Knowable (Jn. 8:31-32)

Able to make you free (Jn. 8:31-32)

More valuable than anything else (Prov. 23:23)

What Jesus came to show us (Jn. 1:17; 14:6)

What Jesus came to bear witness of (Jn. 18:37)

What has been fully revealed in the Bible (Jn. 16:12-13; 2 Pet. 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" (Matt. 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" (Jn. 12:48)

 

You should know that Jesus Christ Himself…

Built the church (Matt. 16:18)

Bled for the church (Acts 20:28)

Loved the church (Eph. 5:25)

Called the church His (Matt. 16:18)

Is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; Col. 1:18, 24)

Added people to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14)

Will save the church (Eph. 5:23)

 

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

The body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24)

The temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16)

The bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22-32; Rev. 3:12; 19: 6-9; 21:2, 9)

The kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13)

The house of God (1 Tim. 3:15)

The church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23)

The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28)

The church of God (1 Cor. 1:2)

The churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16)

The church (Eph. 3:10)

 

You should know that the church was…

Built by Jesus (Matt. 16:13-18)

Built on Jesus Christ who is the only foundation (1 Cor. 3:11)

Not built on Paul, Apollos, Peter, or any other man (1 Cor. 1:12-13; Eph. 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 Cor. 12:27)

Disciples (Acts 6:1)

Believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Cor. 6:15)

Saints (Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Philip. 1:1)

Priests (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6)

Children of God (1 Jn. 3:1-2)

Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16)

 

You should know that the New Testament speaks of…

One family of God (Eph. 3:15)

One kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13-14)

One bride of Christ (Rom. 7:1-7)

One body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4)

One church of Christ (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4)

 

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

The word of God, the gospel (2 Cor. 11:1-4; Gal. 1:6-10; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:3-4;

2 Tim. 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 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

Deacons (1 Tim. 3:8-13)

Evangelists (preachers); they are to teach and preach God's word (1 & 2 Tim.)

 

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

Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Jn. 8:24; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Heb. 11:6)

Repent of your sins (Lk. 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)

Confess the deity of Christ (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37-38)

Be baptized (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16; Col. 2:11ff;

Gal. 3:24ff; 1 Pet. 3:21)

Walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-7)

 

You should know that your obedience to God is…

The only acceptable response to God's grace (Matt. 7:24-27- one must hear and do)

Necessary for your salvation (Jn. 14:15; Heb. 5:8-9)

The opposite is also true: disobedience will cause you to be lost (2 Thess. 1:7-9)

 

You should know that baptism requires…

Water (Acts 8:36; 10:47; Jn. 3:23)

Going to water (Acts 8:36; Matt. 3:5-6)

A burial (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12)

A planting (Rom. 6:5)

A washing (Acts 22:16; Eph. 5:26; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 10:22)

A birth (Jn. 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:22-25)

A raising out of the water (Rom. 6:1-4; Col. 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 Pet. 3:20-21)

You have remission of sins (Acts 2:38)

You get into Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:27)

You get into the church (Acts 2:37-47)

You put on Christ (Gal. 3:27)

You walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 3:1)

You obey Christ (Jn. 14:15; Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; Heb. 5:8-9)

 

You should know that the faithful church…

Worships in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24)

Meets on the first day of the week (Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2)

Worships with acappella singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)

Prays (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:17)

Edifies one another (Eph. 4:16)

Takes the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:24-26;

1 Cor. 11:20-31; 16:1-2)

Gives as they have prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 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" (Jn. 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" (Heb. 5:8-9).

He suffered for you because He loves you - will you follow Him?

 

Edited by H.C.

For Further Study…

https://searchingfortruth.org/