By
'church of Christ' we mean the church that Jesus built (Matthew 16:18), also
called 'the body of Christ' (Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18,24).
Christ's church is unique, one of a kind, incomparable.
The
foundation of the church is unique: "For no other foundation can anyone lay
than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Christ
is "the only begotten Son of God" (John 1:14,18; 3:16,18; Hebrews 1:5;
1 John 4:9). He is one Shepherd of one flock (John 10:16). "He is the head
of the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22,23). "Christ
is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body" (Ephesians 5:23).
"There
is one body" (Ephesians 4:4). "We, being many, are one body in Christ,
and individually members of one another" (Romans 12:5). We are reconciled
to God "in one body through the cross" (Ephesians 2:16). "For we,
being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one
bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17). "For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13). The one body has
"one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:5,6).
The
church of Christ has a unique identity with unchangeable distinguishing marks.
A
diamond can be identified on the basis of unique characteristics. Diamond is the
hardest known material. It consists of pure carbon, but not all carbon is
diamond. The carbon atoms in diamond form a crystal lattice with each atom
connected to four other atoms. Diamond is hard because these bonds are short and
strong. Diamond is a good electrical insulator, has the lowest coefficient of
expansion, and is the best thermal conductor at room temperature. Diamond is
transparent in the whole spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared and has a
refractive index of 2.42 for yellow light with a wavelength of 589 nanometers.
Diamonds repel water, but attract grease. They are not harmed by acids and
bases, but are attacked by some salts such as melted potassium nitrate.
The
average person cannot recognize diamond with certainty because he lacks
knowledge. Someone who has the required knowledge, can recognize diamond beyond
any doubt.
The
church of Christ can also be identified on the basis of unique characteristics
described in the holy Scriptures. The average person cannot tell the difference
between the church of Christ and an imitation because he lacks knowledge.
Someone who has the required knowledge, who knows the revealed characteristics,
can identify the church of Christ with certainty.
The
church is unique, one of a kind.
Christ's church is indivisible, not susceptible to subdivision.
Jesus
said: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and
every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25).
When
Jesus prayed for His apostles, He said: "I do not pray for these alone, but
also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be
one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I
have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in
Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You
have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (John 17:20-23).
The
church is indivisible. Paul asked "Is Christ divided?" (1 Corinthians
1:13). "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Like the atoms of diamond, members of
Christ's body are solidly joined together.
Followers
of Christ may have nothing to do with 'subdivisions' in Christendom, groups that
sail under the flag of some human founder, doctrine or institution. When a
religious group claims to be a 'subdivision' among Christians, by definition
they cannot possibly be the church of Christ. Whoever establishes, maintains or
participates in such a denomination, is in rebellion against Christ who prayed
for unity. We must shun people who cause division through departures from the
original doctrine: "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause
divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid
them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own
belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the
simple" (Romans 16:17,18). "These are sensual persons, who cause
divisions, not having the Spirit" (Judas 19).
The
church of Christ is indivisible. Christians must take their stand only as the
church of Christ.
Christ's church is exclusive, set apart, sanctified.
The
church of Christ is by definition the church that is of Christ, in
contrast with all denominations, groups and associations that are not of
Christ.
The
church of God has been purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). Jesus
"gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and
purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus
2:14). "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
God's
people must separate and sanctify themselves: "Do not be unequally yoked
together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with
lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has
Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what
agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living
God. As God has said:
'I will dwell in them And walk among them.
I will be their God, And they shall be My people.'
Therefore 'Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.
I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty'" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
God's
people do not remain in 'Babylon', a representation of false religion.
"Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you
receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).
The
church is exclusive in the good sense of the word. This exclusiveness is based
on God's word, not on human judgment. Salvation by grace is offered to all
people (Mark 16:15,16; Matthew 28:19; Revelation 22:17), but there are
conditions: "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).
A
person is added to the church by God Himself. We read about the establishment of
the church: "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and
that day about three thousand souls were added to them" (Acts 2:41). Peter
had commanded: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Only those who
believe, repent and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins, are added to the
church. "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being
saved" (Acts 2:47). The church consists of those who are saved, who have
been added by God Himself.
This
is not simply 'joining a group'. It involves a spiritual cleansing, a rebirth, a
new creation, a new citizenship. "Since you have purified your souls in
obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one
another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible
seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides
forever" (1 Peter 1:22,23). "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is
a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "For our citizenship is in heaven"
(Philippians 3:20).
Those
who have not fulfilled the revealed conditions, are not added to the church and
are not accepted into the fellowship. "For many are called, but few are
chosen" (Matthew 22:14). Only those who have been sanctified by the blood
of Christ, belong to the church.
About
the church at Jerusalem we read further: "And they were all with one accord
in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people
esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord,
multitudes of both men and women" (Acts 5:12-14).
The
church is exclusive. One cannot simply 'join'. One must be added by the Lord.
Christians
who walk disorderly, are excluded from the fellowship. "But we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every
brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he
received from us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6). "But now I have written to
you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or
covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not
even to eat with such a person" (1 Corinthians 5:11). "Therefore
'put away from yourselves the evil person'" (1 Corinthians 5:13).
Someone
who teaches false doctrine is also avoided: "Now I urge you, brethren, note
those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you
learned, and avoid them" (Romans 16:17). "Whoever transgresses and
does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the
doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and
does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11).
John
writes about some who had gone astray: "They went out from us, but they
were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us;
but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of
us" (1 John 2:19).
The
church is exclusive on the basis of revealed conditions. Paul explained to the
Corinthians: "For there must also be factions among you, that those who are
approved may be recognized among you" (1 Corinthians 11:19). When people
turn away from God's word in their lives or doctrine, they are not approved,
they separate themselves from the fellowship.
The
church of Christ is unique, indivisible and exclusive on the basis of God's
word.
Christ's church is real, substantial, visible.
The
church has an observable presence and identity. Paul wrote letters to the church
of God at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1). He sent greetings from
churches of Christ (Romans 16:16). Were these churches invisible?
Some
claim that the church of Christ is only an ideal that can never be accomplished
in reality. They speak about an "invisible church of Christ" that
supposedly consists of the true believers in the various denominations, and
about a "visible church" that according to them can never be more than
a human, historical and cultural phenomenon.
This
false proposition is used as an excuse for the perpetuation of denominations --
based on human traditions and teachings -- that are not equivalent to the church
of Christ.
Stones
are sold for loaves with the claim that real bread is invisible! Hungry souls
must break their teeth on stones because real loaves do not exist. Paste is
palmed off with the claim that real diamonds do not exist, that diamond is only
an 'ideal'.
The
church is precisely Christ's visible presence on earth! Christians are living,
functioning, performing, active members of the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-6; 1
Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 3:30).
The
church also shares in the suffering of Christ. Paul persecuted the church of God
(1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13). Did he persecute an invisible church?
Paul
said to Timothy: "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you
shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to
conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:14,15). Through what is
written we can known how we must conduct ourselves substantially and observably
in the church. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth because we have
God's word in our heart and mouth. "The word is near you, in your mouth and
in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach)" (Romans 10:8).
We may not be impious like Esau "who for one morsel of food sold his birthright" (Hebrews 12:16). The church of Christ is one body: unique, indivisible, exclusive and real. Let us be thankful for this matchless church, and like Paul, continue to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:10,11).
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How Can We Identify the True Church?