The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at New Georgia

Tim Johnson, editor

 February 18, 2001

 
In This Issue:
"Some Things
You Should 
Know"

 

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Some Things You Should Know

 
You should know that, in Bible times, the church is called:

  • The temple of God - I Cor. 3:16

  • The bride of Christ - Eph. 5:22-32
  • The body of Christ - Col. 1:18-24; Eph. 1:22-23
  • The kingdom of God's Son - Col. 1:13
  • The house of God - I Tim. 3:15
  • The church of God - I Cor. 1:2
  • The church of the firstborn - Heb. 12:23
  • The church of the Lord - Acts 20:28
  • The churches of Christ - Rom. 16:16

 
You should know that the church is:

  • Built by Jesus Christ - Matt. 16:13-18

  • Purchased by the blood of Christ - Acts 20:28
  • Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation - I Cor. 3:11
  • Not built on Peter, Paul or any other man - I Cor. 1:12-13
  • Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord who saves them - Acts 2:47

 
You should know that members of the church are called:

  • Members of Christ - I Cor. 12:27; 6:15; Rom. 12:4-5.

  • Disciples of Christ - Acts 6:1,7; 11:26
  • Believers - Acts 5:14; II Cor. 6:15
  • Saints - Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Phil. 1:1
  • Priests - I Pet. 2:5.9; Rev. 1:6
  • Children of God - Gal. 3:26-27; I John 3:1-2

 
You should know that the local church has:

  • Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock - I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Pet. 5:1-4

  • Deacons, who serve the church - I Tim. 3:8-13; Phil. 1:1
  • Evangelists (preachers, ministers), who teach and proclaim the word of God - Eph. 4:11l I Tim. 4:13-16; II Tim. 4:1-5
  • Members, who love the Lord and each other - Phil. 2:1-5
  • Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith shared - Jude 3; Gal. 5:1

 
You should know that the Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Loved the church - Eph. 5:25

  • Shed His blood for the church - Acts 20:28
  • Established the church - Matt. 16:18
  • Added saved people to the church - Acts 2:47
  • Is the head of the church - Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23
  • Will save the church - Acts 2:47

 
You should know that man did not:

  • Purpose the church - Eph. 3:10-11

  • Purchase the church - Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25
  • Name its members - Isa. 56:5; 62:2; Acts 11:26; I Pet. 4:16
  • Add people to the church - Acts 2:47; I Cor. 12:18
  • Give the church its doctrine - Gal. 1:8-11; II John 9-11

 

You should know that, to enter the church, you must:

  • Believe in Jesus Christ - Heb. 11:6, John 8:24; Acts 16:31

  • Repent of your sins - Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30
  • Confess your faith in Jesus - Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10
  • Be baptized - Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16

 
You should know that baptism requires:

  • Much water - John 3:23; Acts 10:47

  • Going down into the water - Acts 8:36-38
  • A burial in water - Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12
  • A resurrection - Acts 8:39; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12
  • A birth - John 3:3-5; Rom. 6:3-6
  • A washing - Acts 22:16

 
You should know that, by baptism:

  • You are saved from sins - Mk. 16:16; I Pet. 3:21

  • You have remission of sins - Acts 2:38
  • Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ - Acts 22:16; Heb. 9:22; 10:22; I Pet. 3:21
  • You enter into the church - I Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41,47
  • You put on Christ and become a Child of God - Gal. 3:26-27
  • You walk in newness of life - Rom. 6:3-6
  • You are born again, a new creature - Rom. 6:3-4; II Cor. 5:17
  • You obey Christ - Mk. 16-15-16; Acts 10:48; II Thess. 1:7-9

 
You should know that the faithful church will:

  • Worship in spirit and in truth - John 4:23-24

  • Meet on the first day of the week - Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25
  • Pray - James 5:16; Acts 2:42; I Tim. 2:1-2; I Thess. 5:17
  • Sing, making melody with the heart - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
  • Partake of the Lord's Supper on the first day of each week - Acts 2:32; 20:7; Matt. 26:26-30; I Cor. 11:20-32
  • Give liberally and cheerfully on the first day of each week - I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 8:1-5; 9:6-8

 
You should know that, in the New Testament, there was:

  • One family of God - Eph. 3:15; I Tim. 3:15

  • One kingdom of Christ - Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13-14
  • One body of Christ - Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:22-32
  • One bride of Christ - Rom. 7:1-7; Eph. 5:22-32
  • One church of Christ - Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4-6

 
You should know that the same church today:

  • Is guided by the same word - I Pet. 22-25; II Tim. 3:16-17

  • Contends for the one faith - Jude 3; Eph. 4:5
  • Pleads for unity of all believers - John 17:20-21; Eph. 4:4-6
  • Is not a denomination - I Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:1-6