“What Is The church Of Christ?” (#1)

Jarrod Jacobs

                   When I talk to folks and tell them about the Caneyville church of Christ, there may be some who wonder about the church of Christ and the principles for which it stands. Those who are not familiar with the church revealed in Scripture (Rom. 16:16) generally have many questions. This is good, and I am always glad to answer Bible questions (I Pet. 3:15) and to study God’s word with others. Perhaps you have questions about the church of Christ; what we do and why we do it. I hope this writing will help you. Let us look into the Scriptures and see a description of the church of Christ.

                   First, the church of Christ is not a building. Rather it is a Heavenly institution made up of people who have surrendered their lives to Christ, i.e. Christians (Acts 2:38-42, 11:26). The church was established by Christ (Matt. 16:18), and purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28; Matt. 26:28). Because this is true, the church belongs to Christ (Rom. 16:16), and Christ is the head of the church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22).

                   The church of Christ (individual Christians the world over), has no earthly organization. It is simply saved people who are added to the church by God (Acts 2:47) and thus are in a relationship with God and one another (I Cor. 12:12-20). They are called living stones in a spiritual building (I Pet. 2:5). Christians are those who have been “called out of darkness and into his marvelous light” (I Pet. 2:9)

                   At the same time, Christians living in certain geographic locations form local churches. This is what happened in New Testament days, and we read about several local churches and their work. Some local churches mentioned are the church at Corinth (I Cor. 1:2; Acts 18:1-8), the local churches in Galatia (Gal. 1:2), Colossae (Col. 1:2), Ephesus (Eph. 1:1; Acts 19:1-7), Rome (Rom. 16:5, 16), etc.

                   While the church of Christ in the universal sense (all Christians the world over), has no earthly organization, a local congregation, in order to be Scripturally organized, is to be organized with elders, deacons, and saints (Phil. 1:1). The qualifications for the elders and deacons are found in I Timothy 3:1-7, 8-13 and Titus 1:5-9. The qualifications for saints are to hear God’s word, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, repent of sins, confess faith in Christ and be baptized (Rom. 10:17; Jn. 8:24; Acts 17:30; Matt. 10:32; Mk. 16:16). Please notice that man defines “saint” much differently than God does. When reading the New Testament, it is made clear that a saint is simply a Christian (Rom. 1:7; Col. 1:2; Eph. 1:1)!

                   In addition to this, the local church has work to do. Though some churches are bigger in size, and others smaller, every congregation of God’s people can do what God expects. Each church has a work to evangelize, or spread the gospel message, both locally and world wide (I Thess. 1:8; I Tim. 3:15). God says the church has to work to edify (spiritually build up) its saints (Eph. 4:12; I Thess. 5:11). A third aspect of a local church’s work is to show benevolence to its saints (I Tim. 5:9-10, 16). This is work that can be accomplished daily.

                   “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” After having been imprisoned and threatened by the Sanhedrin for preaching the gospel of Christ, the apostles’ response was that they would obey God rather than men. What bravery and what boldness! What attitude do we have when facing those who do not want to hear the truth? How will we act when friends, family, and others want us to “tone it down” and not be so “judgmental” in their way of thinking? Regardless of what others say, we need to obey God rather than men. When the day comes that being a Christian is illegal, we must still obey God rather than men, just as the apostles did in the first century! Where is our allegiance?

- Jarrod Jacobs

“I Am Not Bothering Anyone!”

Jarrod Jacobs

Often we find folks who justify their sinful behavior by saying, “I am not bothering anyone.” This excuse may sound thoughtful, but it is not. In fact, it is quite selfish to justify sin by saying, “I am not bothering anyone.” When we go to the Bible and study the nature of sin, we learn that when we commit sin, any sin, we “bother” others!

Let us begin by noting that when we sin, we have “bothered” the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Remember, sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2). Therefore, sin demands a sacrifice if we are to be reconciled to God (II Cor. 5:18-20). Friend, it is our sin that nailed Christ to the cross! Christ came to this world so that He could die (Jn. 18:37). From Genesis 3:15 to the end of the Bible, we see our Lord Christ as the sacrifice for our sins (Rev. 13:8)! At the same time, we read in the Bible about the degree of love possessed by God. He loves man so much that He gave His only begotten Son as the supreme sacrifice (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; I Jn. 4:9-10). Finally, sin affected the Holy Spirit, for He inspired men to preach and to write about sin and salvation from every aspect (Jn. 16:8-13; II Pet. 1:20-21; etc.). Therefore, let us not say that when we sin, we are not “bothering” anyone! The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit will disagree with that statement!

The statement, “I am not bothering anyone” is a misnomer, for our sins often “bother” others! When we sin, our sins affect the lives of our parents (Prov. 10:1, 29:15). Though we may not always recognize it, it is the truth! Further, some sins will affect our spouses, and our children. This would include, but is not limited to, such sins as fornication, abuse, drunkenness, and similar sins (I Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21)! In addition to this, there are some sins (ex: theft, murder, lying, etc.) that can result in society (through taxes) paying for our housing and food for a time (i.e., prison)! Let this stand as more evidence that our sins “bother” others. At times, our sins can affect not only friends, but also strangers.

Yet, if it could be proven that there is not a sin which “bothers” Deity, nor any person on earth, remember that sin has an effect upon the one who has committed it! Sin is compared to a stain (Isa. 1:18), to disease (Isa. 1:5-6), to a heavy burden (Ps. 38:3-6), filth (II Pet. 2:21-22), and debt (Matt. 6:12-14). Sin will result in spiritual death (Jas. 1:15; Rom. 6:23)! Knowing that this is the case, who can believe that man can engage in sinful activities, but “bother no one”? It’s impossible!

The truth is that our sins have an effect upon Deity, upon self, and upon all mankind. “For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself” (Rom. 14:7). Let’s stop offering excuses for sin. Rather, let us admit our sin, repent of it, and live as God wants us to live (Acts 17:30; Jn. 14:15)! In so doing, we can have a positive effect upon ourselves and others, influencing folks for good and not evil (Matt. 5:16; Col. 3:17).

“Have You Not Read?”

Jarrod Jacobs

Within the pages of the New Testament, we find Jesus asking folks the question: “Have you not read?” This question was asked by the Lord on three separate occasions in the New Testament. On all three occasions, He asked this question in response to the Pharisees and Sadducees when they tried to trap Him in His words (Matt. 12:3, 5, 19:4, 22:31; Mk. 12:10, 26; Lk. 6:3).

I think it would be good for us to ask ourselves that same question. In light of the fact that we live in a free nation that grants all of its citizens an education; and in light of the fact that we have open and public access to the greatest book in the world, have we not read it, yet? The apostle Paul told Timothy, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (I Tim. 4:13). Could we say we are doing this? If we aren’t reading the Bible, what has been our excuse for not reading it? From Old to New Testaments, there is great emphasis placed upon the reading and studying of Scripture (Ex. 24:7; Deut. 17:19, 31:11; Josh. 8:34-35; Neh. 8:3, 8, 18; Eph. 3:4; Col. 4:16; Rev 1:3; etc.). Because such reading and studying is emphasized by God, it begs the question of whether or not we are obedient to the Lord’s will? How are we doing? Are we in the habit of a regular, systematic reading of God’s word? If not, why not? How can we claim any relationship with God at all if we are not even reading His word?

Why ought we spend time reading the Bible when we could be reading the newspaper, or a magazine, or other materials instead? Put simply, it is because when we read the Bible, we are allowing our minds to access the very words that were “breathed-out” (inspired) by God (II Tim. 3:16-17). These words are written with the express purpose of thoroughly furnishing us to every good work, giving us wisdom, and cleansing our way, to name just a few things the word can do (II Tim. 3:16-17; Ps. 119:98-100, 9, 11). No other work can make this claim and be telling the truth. In connection with this, when reading the Bible, we are allowed access to the very mind of God, because it is His revelation which has been “breathed-out” when we read the word (I Cor. 2:7-16; II Pet. 1:20-21)!

It is this same written word that is described as a sword (Eph. 6:18), and a fire, and a hammer (Jer. 23:29). In fact, when we study about the spiritual armor that Christians must wear (Eph. 6:13-18), we will find that every piece has a connection with the written word!

So, why read the Bible? How could we not? How can we deprive ourselves of the spiritual knowledge and strength that God has provided? Yet, it is done day by day by the masses of people on earth! (Hosea 4:6)

Friends, how are you answering this most important question? How regular and systematic are we in reading the Scriptures? If we are not doing this, then why not? What excuse do we think God will accept from us for not reading His word?

Calling On The Name Of The Lord

Jarrod Jacobs

I am sure that our readers have heard people say words to the effect, “If you are not a Christian, all you need to do is call upon the name of the Lord, and you can be saved.” Some will teach that in order to be saved, you must say, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner,” or similar things. Such teaching is a misapplication of what is said in Romans 10:13. There, the apostle Paul wrote, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” What does it mean to call on the name of the Lord? Let us read the context of Romans 10 and find out.

 “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:13-17).

Please notice that after the apostle Paul says we must call upon the name of the Lord to be saved, he asks a series of questions that point out what it means to call upon the name of the Lord. In order to call upon the name of the Lord, we must: 1) hear the gospel, 2) believe the gospel, and 3) obey the gospel! Therefore, calling upon the name of the Lord is a comprehensive thing, not simply saying the name, “Lord.” In Acts 2:21 we read the same phrase. Here, Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32. Peter shows that the events happening at this time on the day of Pentecost were a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (v. 16). At this time, he said, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

What did he mean? Were they commanded to simply say, “Lord”? No! They were told to “hear these words” (Acts 2:22). Peter then proves that Jesus truly is the Son of God (v. 23-35), and said, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). To “know for certain” is to believe. When the people asked what they needed to do to be forgiven of murdering the Son of God, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins .... Then they that gladly received his word were baptized...” (Acts 2:38-41).

Therefore, when one calls upon the name of the Lord, he is simply obeying God’s plan of salvation to hear God’s word, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, repent and be baptized! Is this not simple? Of course, it is! Let this article be an encouragement to people to call upon the name of the Lord as the Bible directs before it is too late (II Pet. 3:9)!