Why we need the "Church Of Christ"
WHEN PEOPLE HEAR about the teaching that one needs to join the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) in order to be saved, some become confused, others irritated, and there are even those who become infuriated. They doubt the fact that membership in the Church of Christ is needed for one’s worship to be worthy before God. They claim that one can serve God in the religion of his choice. Others even believe that membership in one particular religious organization is unnecessary, but doing good to fellowmen and fearing God are sufficient for him to be worthy before God.
The teaching of the Church of Christ with regard to the indispensability of the Church in God’s plan for salvation should not surprise anyone. A closer examination of the Bible would reveal that the early Christians were made worthy before God not by the apparent zealousness they showed in their former religions nor through their dedication in what seemed to be good to them, but through their calling and membership in the Church of Christ.
APOSTLE PAUL WAS APPOINTED
An example of one who was taken out from false beliefs and was called to serve God in the true religion is Apostle Paul. We should understand that during his time, there already were established religions or ways of serving God. And before being called by God through Christ into the true religion, he already upheld the religious beliefs of Judaism. In fact, He himself testified that he was zealous in his service to God in his former religion:
“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.”
(Reference: Acts 22:3 New King James Version)
Apostle Paul was a Pharisee, and when it came to following the law of Moses, he was blameless:
“Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is the law, blameless.”
(Reference: Philip. 3:5-6 Ibid.)
Apostle Paul was so zealous in his former religion that He even persecuted the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ or the members of the Church of Christ (Philip. 3:5-6; Gal. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:14; Gal. 1:22).
Aside from his zealousness in his former religion, he held a respectable position in society and was held in high esteem by his fellowmen. He was a learned man, an expert of the law given by God to Moses, and was taught by a renowned teacher, Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Aside from these, he was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25- 28) and a member of the Sanhedrin, a high Jewish council (Acts 26:10).
If we follow the mentality of some, Apostle Paul should have been worthy to receive God’s blessings since he served the Lord in his own religion and showed great devotion in his service. But in spite of all these things, God called him through the Lord Jesus Christ and appointed him to the true service of the Lord:
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.”
(Reference: I Tim. 1:12 New International Version)
Through Apostle Paul’s statement, we can say that before He was appointed to serve God through Christ, his deep devotion and his works in his former religion were not worthy before the Lord.
When Apostle Paul was called to serve God, he was placed in the Church and in the ministry as an apostle (I Cor. 12:28; 1 Tim. 1:12). Hence, even though Apostle Paul was considered blameless concerning his observance of the law of Moses and was devoted in his service to God, there was still a need for God to call him and place him in the true Church established by Christ.
When Apostle Paul was called to serve God, he was placed in the Church and in the ministry as an apostle (I Cor. 12:28; 1 Tim. 1:12). Hence, even though Apostle Paul was considered blameless concerning his observance of the law of Moses and was devoted in his service to God, there was still a need for God to call him and place him in the true Church established by Christ.
THE GENTILES WERE CALLED INTO THE CHURCH
This calling of people from false religions to the true Church was not limited to Apostle Paul. The Gentiles who were once far from God and had no hope for salvation (I Pt. 2:10; Eph. 2:11-12) became fellow heirs with the first members of the Church of Christ, the Jews, and partakers of the promise through membership in the body:
“The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God’s blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus.”
(Reference: Eph. 3:6 Today’s English Version, Emphasis Mine)
This body is the Church headed by Christ or the Church of Christ (Col. 1:18; Acts 20:28 Lamsa; Rom. 16:16). Thus, through their membership in the Church of Christ, the Gentiles who were converted to the Christian faith were considered worthy of God’s blessing.
WHY IS MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST NECESSARY?
The aforementioned examples show the need for one to join the Church of Christ in serving God and receiving His blessings. But why is membership in the Church of Christ necessary to attain God’s blessings? First of all, one must understand that man must return to God because his sins have separated him from God:
“It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.”
(Reference: Isa. 59:2 TEV, Emphasis Mine)
And because man was separated from God, man became God’s enemy:
“At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought.”
(Reference: Col. 1:21 TEV, Emphasis Mine)
Being God’s enemy, man is considered far from God, and hence, must be brought near to the Creator. This, however, can only be achieved through the means taught by the Bible. Apostle Paul teaches the way by which man can be brought near to God:
“But now, in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
(Reference: Eph. 2:13 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
The means by which man can be brought near to God is through the redemptive blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Only through His blood can one be purged from sin and be given the right to serve the living God (Heb. 9:22, 14).
Contrary to popular belief, however, not all churches or religions were redeemed by the blood of Christ. Apostle Paul teaches that it is only the Church of Christ that was purchased or redeemed by Christ’s precious blood:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Reference: Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation, Emphasis Mine)
Christ purchased or redeemed only one Church―the Church of Christ. This is why the Church of Christ is vital in man’s salvation and why the servants of God in the Christian era needed to be taken out from their former religions and placed in the true Church.
Hence, one should not be surprised or infuriated at the teaching that the Church of Christ is the only means for man to be saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. While others are of the opinion that serving God in any church and in―any way just as long as one serves God―would make him worthy of God’s blessing and salvation, the Holy Scriptures teaches otherwise. The Bible clearly teaches that the only way for a person to have the right to serve God, be accepted by Him, and be worthy of His blessings and salvation is by joining and remaining in the Church redeemed by Christ―the Church of Christ.
IN CONCLUSION
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WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of Christ and His apostles as they were taught in the first-century Church Of Christ. These teachings presented here is the path that leads to eternal life for all on that appointed day of Judgment:
The Truth About Salvation
CHRISTIANITY IS A RELIGION with over 2.4 billion followers worldwide. It is composed of diverse faiths with thousands of denominations, such as Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Adventist—the list goes on. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that there are over 45,000 denominations globally, with more than 200 in the United States alone. Each denomination has its own unique set of beliefs and doctrines, especially when it comes to how one can achieve salvation. Do any of these religions truly teach the proper way of salvation?
Reach Out
If you wish to acquire a deeper understanding of our Church Doctrines and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to direct you to one of our local resident ministers in your vicinity. Kindly include any queries you may have so that we may forward your inquiry in advance. Thank you.
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“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)