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December 04, 2024
Peace Publishers LLC. Resources in fifteen categories for self-instruction, classes, sermons, and conferences. An original 21st Century Commentary on Revelation is being added. Site administrator and publisher in English and Spanish: Homer Dewayne Shappley, evangelist and author of 2,500-plus documents in both languages. Oversight: Cairo, Tennesse Church of Christ.
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"Transferred" after baptism to the "kingdom" of God. Colossians 1:13
"Added" to the "church." Acts 2:47
The above massive, flat-top Table Mountain of South Africa seen over Lion's Head Peak is selected to symbolize the great, solid spiritual foundation upon which the Lord Jesus Christ built his own church. It is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ himself as the cornerstone. In him, the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God." Ephesians 2:18-20
"On this ROCK I will BUILD
MY CHURCH."
Thus affirmed Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Matthew 16:18
We cordially invite you to learn about…
The Church Christ Built.
The OLDEST
The ORIGINAL
Dear reader, when you contemplate the profusion of churches and religions that exist today, do you feel somewhat concerned, confused, or discouraged?
The one that received apostolic instruction and is under the "new covenant" of Christ.
Do you ask yourself which one of them, if any, preaches “the whole truth” of God?
"On this rock I will build my church." An affirmation and promise kept to the letter.
Do you perhaps repeat a common saying: “They are all good; they are all looking for the same thing,” but never become a steady, faithful member of any?
If you do belong to a church, do you hear teachings or observe practices that appear not to harmonize with the Bible? Do contentions, divisions, and competitions between diverse religious institutions cause your spirit to grieve?
Are you offended by the rampant commercialization of the gospel, worship, and ministerial offices? The frequent and terrible sexual scandals in religious circles? The hypocrisy clouding the reputation of not a few men, women, and young people who profess to follow Christ?
Unquestionably, your concerns or criticisms are justified, for the Christianity of our Age is divided into thousands of groups by an infinite number of opposing beliefs and practices. Compounding that religious chaos, abuses and follies that distance people from God continually multiply in the clergy, as well as among regular members.
But, beloved soul, you who have a thirst for God, for the truth, for life eternal, the fault is not that of Jesus Christ! Do you agree?
For he founded only one church, not multiple groups of Christians, different in doctrine and practice. He said, emphatically:
“I will build my church.” Matthew 16:18. “…CHURCH.” One. Singular, and not plural. Do you concur?
With reference to the UNITY of his followers, Christ’s prayer for all of us is the following:
“… that they may all be one… that they may become completely one.” John 17:20-23
The Holy Spirit also repeatedly exhorts all of us, as believers, to be perfectly united.
"Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose”. 1 Corinthians 1:10
God hates division, classifying it as a work of the flesh.
Proverbs 6:16-19; Galatians 5:19-21; Titus 3:10-11
With respect to moral and spiritual purity, Christ describes the church that pleases him:
He “…loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27.
Would you like to learn about a church that is not a “Christian” organization created by religious leaders?
The one that is the same as the church Christ established in Jerusalem, on Pentecost, ten days after his ascension? Acts 2
Would you think it impossible it could exist right here in the 21st Century? Why “impossible”? The divine model for bringing it into existence today, just as it was conceived in the mind of God, is revealed, in every detail, in the Bible.
By faithfully following the model, loyal ministers of the Lord who act as able spiritual architects (1 Corinthians 3:10), can raise up, in any place or time, the same church founded by Christ –divine and pure, whole and sound, united in love.
Precious soul engendered by God (Hebrews 12:9), although you may not have known such a church until this moment, thousands of congregations have already been established around the earthly globe by “competent… ministers of the new covenant.” 2 Corinthians 3:6
This church, putting distance between itself and religious divisionism, has the firm purpose of being an exact replica of the original church in doctrine, practice, and spiritual life.
Kindly, we invite you to examine it impartially, comparing it with the “holy temple in the Lord” the apostles present by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:22
A Biblical Name
We call ourselves “Christians” (Acts 11:26), not adding adjectives that would differentiate us, or separate us into denominations.
Congregations identify themselves as “churches of Christ,” a biblical nomenclature.
“All the churches of Christ greet you.” Romans 16:16
Some believers in ancient Corinth said: “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
The apostle Paul asked them: “Has Christ been divided?”
He reproved them strongly, calling them “merely human.” 1 Corinthians 1:12-13; 3:1-6
Dutifully warned, we do not say “Pastor Peter’s church,” or any such name, nor do we follow any man whatsoever.
An Infallible Creed
Our “creed,” or “rule of faith,” is the Bible, the only book given by God to humanity.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 16:13-15
Creeds authorized by ecumenical councils, catechisms, manuals or disciplines of faith and order: Are not all of them creations of fallible men? Do they not reinforce and preserve the religious entities that authorize them?
We prefer to speak as “one speaking the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11), strongly determined to implement the “saying: Nothing beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6) in the Bible.
We do not live by “the old written code” given through Moses on Mount Sinai (Romans 7:4-6), but submit ourselves to “Christ’s law” (1 Corinthians 9:21), which is “the perfect law, the law of liberty.” James 1:25; 2:12
How We Worship the "only true and living God"
If you visit us –and we surely hope you will- you will observe the orderliness of our worship services, indispensable trait of worshipers who take care to worship “in truth and in Spirit” (John 4:23-24), doing “all things… decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40
Disorderly behavior, emotional outbursts or ecstatic displays are not tolerated, nor is more than one member permitted to speak at the same time. These are rules of the Holy Spirit we respect. Ephesians 4:31; 1 Corinthians 14:27
Faithful men of good reputation direct worship.
Regarding the roll of Christian women, the Holy Spirit has established the following:
“As in all the churches of the saints, women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says.” 1 Corinthians 14:33-34
“I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.” 1 Timothy 2:12-14
Let it be observed that this regulation rests on two considerations stated explicitly, neither of which have to do with culture:
“For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” 1 Timothy 2:12-14
Thus, it is that in worship services of the church of Christ women do not direct or preach. God has assigned them other ministries equally important, according to 1 Timothy 5:14, Titus 2:3-5 and other texts.
How We Pray to God
We pray to the Father only in the name of his Son,
Jesus Christ.
“For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all.” 1 Timothy 2:5
One man alone directs public prayer in an audible voice, keeping silent the rest of the praying members, but being very attentive. They make the prayer their own by concentrating on it and affirming it, once it is concluded, by saying a sincere “Amen.” 1 Corinthians 14:16-17
When many pray in an audible voice at the same time, the result is confusion, that not being pleasing to God, “for God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33
We Sing, without Playing Musical Instruments
Our “Christian music” is acapella, that is, by voices only, without the accompaniment of a piano, organ, guitars, wind, or percussion instruments.
Is there any sound more beautiful than that of the instrument created by God himself: The human voice consecrated to the singing of hymns and psalms? Two absolutely fantastic vocal cords capable of such pleasing tones, harmony, volume, and range!
Historically, the use of musical instruments in praise to God is a phenomenon of modern times. “Contemporary Christian music” has evolved into a tremendous, worldwide, multibillion-dollar, entertainment business.
In our meeting places, musical instruments shine by their absence. Why not acquire them and play them?
One of the principal reasons has to do with the complete abolition of the “regulations of worship” of the “first covenant,” the Old Covenant given through Moses. Hebrews 9:1
Not only the abolition of burnt offerings and ablutions, but also of the levitical priesthood, tithes, incense, Sabbath-keeping, unclean meats, and musical instruments.
This doctrine is taught with admirable clarity in 2 Corin-thians 3:6-17; Hebrews 9:1-23; 7:12; Colossians 2:14-16 and many similar texts.
Once the Christian Age was initiated on Pentecost of the year 30 a. d. (Acts 2), the church received a “better covenant” than the “first covenant,” of which Moses was the mediator. Hebrews 8:6-13
The changes are not just cosmetic but radical, resulting in the creation of “one new humanity in place of the two.” Ephesians 2:14-16. This “one new humanity” is the “church of the Lord.”
The “better covenant” takes her, and all that is related to her, to a superior plane of higher spirituality.
Christians are to be “living stones,” to “be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,” and not animal or material ones. 1 Peter 2:4-9
We are to “continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Hebrews 13:15
“…our paschal lamb” is “Christ,” and not a physical, earthly lamb. 1 Corinthians 5:7
The Lord’s Supper is spiritual, not literal. 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
In a word, under the New Testament, everything has changed! By what reasoning would religious music be made an exception?
Musical instruments are not spiritual, and, therefore, do not harmonize with worship “in spirit” that the church built by Christ offers up. John 4:24
“…with gratitude in your hearts SING psalms, hymns, and SPIRITUAL songs to God,” exhorts the apostle Paul. Colossians 3:16
“…SING psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs among yourselves, SINGING and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.” Ephesians 5:19
Did you take notice of the adjective “SPIRITUAL?”
They say that “religious lyrics” set to rock, rap, hip-hop, light jazz, salsa, and other types of popular, secular music is “Christian music,” even “spiritual.”
But, in reality, it is neither “Christian” nor “spiritual” in the pure, Bible sense; rather essentially worldly, pleasing the mind, heart, and body of the natural man or woman, rather than edifying the spiritual man and woman according to God’s plan.
We like to praise the Lord by means of “spiritual songs.”
We encourage you to consecrate your own voice to him, singing in your heart and “with understanding.” 1 Corinthians 14:15
How We Finance Our Works
“Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay aside in store as God hath prospered him.” 1 Corinthians 16:2
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
“…according to your means,” “…according to what one has –not according to what one does not have.” 2 Corinthians 8:11-12
These are the new guidelines of “Christ’s law,” contrasting strongly with tithes, first fruits, wave offerings, etc., of the Old Covenant of Sinai.
In the church under the “new covenant,” we carry out extensive works, both benevolent and evangelistic, support thousands of preachers and construct our own meeting places, doing all of it by means of voluntary offerings.
We do not make the “spiritual house” of Christ, the church, into a “marketplace” (John 2:13-17), or “den of robbers” (Matthew 21:12-13), through carrying on businesses in the name of the church, or in its facilities (pyramid type businesses like Amway; also bingo, raffles, the sale of religious images and other articles, foods, drinks, etc.).
The apostle Peter warned: “And in their
greed, they will exploit you with deceptive
words,” a prophecy being widely fulfilled in the present time. 2 Peter 2:1-3
We are not among those who are fulfilling it.
Neither do we demand the tithe of anyone, for the laws on tithing were abrogated when Christ abolished the levitical priesthood, introducing a new priesthood composed of all faithful Christians.
How We Celebrate the Lord's Supper Every Sunday
In our worship services conducted the
first day of each week, members of the
church of Christ commemorate the
sacrificial death of Jesus by eating
unleavened bread and drinking the juice
of the fruit of the vine, elements
representing the body and
blood of the Lord
Our practice follows that of the primitive church. The first Christians “devoted themselves… to the breaking of bread,” that is, to partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Acts 2:42.
“…devoted themselves…” indicates frequent breaking of the bread. When? How often?
Acts 20:7 teaches us the Christians in Troas partook of the Lord’s Supper on Sundays. “On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread…”
Clearly, the chief purpose of their meeting on Sundays was to eat the Lord’s Supper.
The texts of 1 Corinthians 10:16-22 and 11:17-34 focus on the sublime significance of the Supper, setting down guidelines for its correct celebration.
According to what Christ says, the Supper should not only be central in worship but is also indispensable for eternal salvation.
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day." John 6:53-54
Of course, only faithful members of the church have the right to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
How We Are Organized
Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders… in each church.” Acts 14:23
Paul reminded the evangelist Titus:
“I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you…” Titus 1:5
The congregations in Jerusalem (Acts 15:4), Ephesus (Acts 20:17-28) and Philippi (Philippians 1:1) were administered by a plurality of elders, also called bishops or pastors.
Requirements to be a bishop (elder, pastor) are detailed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-11 and
1 Peter 5:1-5.
This organization authorized by God for his church is the same one our congregations seek to implement, thereby avoiding dictatorial type control by only one man.
How to Be Added to the Church Jesus Christ Built
Beloved reader, you also can enjoy countless spiritual blessings by becoming a member of the church Christ himself established. In order to obtain them, it is necessary to obey what he commanded in
Mark 16:16.
"The one who believes and is baptized will be saved…”
There are two explicit commands in these words: Believe and be baptized.
The apostles taught the same on the day of Pentecost.
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven…” Acts 2:38
When you take these steps of believing, repenting and being baptized, Christ adds you to his church.
“And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
Then, devoting yourself to “the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42), and also walking in “holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14), you will be prepared at all times for the Second Coming of Christ in glory.
So then, why do you wait? Save yourself today from this perverse generation!
Rise up and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16), so that you may receive “the gift of the Holy Spirit” and delight in the “times of refreshing” that “come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19-20
Become a faithful, active member of a congregation governed by the norms of the New Testament. Persevering to the end, you will be given the crown of immortality.
As for us, we are at your service. Please call upon us for any assistance you may need in obeying the gospel. God bless and guide you.
Text and Document Composition by the author Homer Dewayne Shappley. All rights reserved. The only restrictions on the use of this document are that it not be sold in any format and that its origin be properly identified.
Category: New Family
This document in SPANISH
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