WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?
by Garland M. Robinson

        The church of Christ is not a man-made denomination as are the scores of "churches" listed in the telephone book. It is undenominational. Unlike denominations of men, the church of Christ (the Lord's church) dates back to Pentecost 33 A.D. when Peter and the other apostles preached the first gospel sermon. About 3,000 repented and were baptized that day "for remission of sins" and were added by the Lord to his body the church (Acts 2:38,41,47). Men and women have become members of the church the same way since the first century.
        The church of Christ is the CALLED OUT. Its members have been delivered from the power of darkness (the sin and lust of the world), and translated into the kingdom (church) of God's dear Son (Colossians 1:13). It is a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:9). We, therefore, are to walk worthy of it (Ephesians 4:1) so that we might stand approved of God (2 Peter 1:10). The calling is not as denominations teach, a miraculous, spiritual calling or urging. God calls all men through the preaching of the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). When men hear, believe, repent, confess Christ, and are baptized, they become members of God's eternal kingdom, the church.
        The church of Christ is the BODY OF CHRIST. God "...hath put all things under his (Jesus) feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body..." (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). The Lord only has "one body" (Ephesians 4:4) and it is not made up of all the denominations. There are many members "yet but one body" (1 Corinthians 12:20). The many members are individual people, not denominations. Only those in the one body will be saved for Jesus is "the saviour of the body" (Eph. 5:23). It is by water baptism that one enters the body. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13).
        The church of Christ is the "HOUSE OF GOD, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19). We are "sons of God" (Phil. 2:15).
        Are you in the body of Christ, the house of God? Have you been called out of the world to live a new life in Christ? Obey the Gospel that you may be God's own possession (1 Peter 2:9).