What is the Church of Christ

The Church of Christ is a New Testament Church

The New Testament is the only place to which we can turn to learn about the Church of Christ. We recall that the church is described as the eternal purpose of God (Eph. 3: 9 - 11). It is obviously very important. It is necessary, therefore, that we are educated by the New Testament and not by the ideas of men. The New Testament teaches us what the church is, and what the church should be today, according to the plan of God. First, the church was built and purchased by Christ (Matt. 16: 18; Acts 20: 28). No one has the right to start a church as a divinely approved institution (cf. 1 Cor. 1: 10 - 13). Christ, the Son of God, is the only one qualified to establish His church (cf. Eph. 4: 4; 1: 22 - 23). The "Church of Christ” is not a denominational title that describes a religious institution established by men. Rather, it is the collective reference to the people of God in the world — people who follow the New Testament teaching regarding salvation and the Christian life. Being saved is the way to membership in the Lord’s church (Acts 2: 47). There should be no mistake as to the method by which salvation may be realized. A person must have faith in Jesus as the Son of God (Jn 20: 30 - 31; Jn. 8: 24), repent of sin (Acts 17: 30), confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10: 9, 10) and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2: 38; 22: 16). The New Testament gives a clear picture of what the church was under the leadership of the Lord’s apostles. The church’s origin was divine; it continues to be subject to the authority of Christ.

Should it not be the same today — simply, the Church of Christ?