You should know that in Bible times, the church is called—
- The temple of God. 1 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. 1 Tim. 3:15
- The church of God 1 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. 1 Cor. 3:11
- Not built on Peter, Paul, or any other man. 1 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. 1 Cor. 12:27; 6:15; Rom. 12:4-5
- Disciples of Christ. Acts 6:1, 7; 11:26
- Believers. Acts 5:14; 2 Cor. 6:15
- Saints. Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Phil. 1:1
- Priests. 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6
- Children of God. Gal. 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2
- Christians. Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16
- Brethren. Romans 10:1; Colossians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2:1; Philippians 1:14; 3:1, 13; James 5:19.
You should know that the local church has—
- Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock. 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-4
- Deacons, who serve the church. 1 Tim. 3:8-13; Phil. 1:1
- Evangelists (preachers, ministers), who teach and proclaim the word of God. Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 4:13-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5
- Members, who love the Lord and each other; and who serve Jesus. Phil. 2:1-4
- Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith they 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; Eph. 5:23.
You should know that man did not—
- Purpose or plan the church. Eph. 3:10-11
- Purchase the church. Acts 20:2; Eph. 5:25
- Name its members. Isa. 56:5; 62:2; Ac. 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16
- Add people to the church. Acts 2:47
- Give the church its doctrine. Gal. 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11.
You should know that, to enter the church, you must—
- Hear the word of God, the gospel. Rom. 10:17; John 8:47; Luke 8:18, 21; Acts 3:22-23
- Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. 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 (that Jesus is the son of God). Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37
- Be baptized. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21.
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; Heb. 10:22.
You should know that by (through the process of) baptism—
- You are saved from sins. Mark 16:16; 1 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; 1 Pet. 3:21
- You enter into the church. 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41, 47
- You enter into Christ. Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:3-4
- You put on Christ and become a child of God. Gal. 3:26-27
- You are born again, a new creature. Rom. 6:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:17
- You walk in newness of life. Rom. 6:3-4
- You obey Christ. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 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; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 1 Thes. 5:17
- Sing, make melody with the heart. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
- Eat the Lord’s Supper on the first day of each week. Acts 2:42; 20:7; Matt. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 11:20-32
- Give, liberally and cheerfully. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:6-8.
You should know that in New Testament times there was—
- One family (house) of God. Eph. 3:15; 1 Tim. 3:15
- One kingdom of Christ. Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13-14
- One body of Christ. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4
- One bride of Christ. Rom. 7:1-7; Eph. 5:23-32
- One church of Christ. Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:2-23; 4:4-6.
You should know that the same church today—
- Is guided by the same word of God. 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 2 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. 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:1-6
- Is faithful to Christ. Luke 6:46; Rev. 2:10; Mark 8:38
- Wears the name of Christ. Rom. 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16.
You should know that you can be a member of this church—
- By doing what people did 2000 years ago. Acts 2:36-47
- Without being in any denomination. Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:10-13.
You should know that a child of God—
- Can be lost. 1 Cor. 9:27; 10:12; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 3:12-19; James 5:19-20
- But, is given a law of pardon. Acts 8:22; James 5:16
- Is constantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God. 1 Pet. 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10.
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