A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF OUR PLEA
By Dennis R. Smith
The church of Christ is a body of believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They are convinced that the “seed of the kingdom is the word of God” (Luke 8:11) and that a reproduction of the New Testament church can be accomplished in modern times simply by planting the seed of the kingdom. This is done through an examination of the scriptures and application of its glorious passages to the lives of the members. To that end, there are many things which must be considered:
(1) What was the church called in New Testament times? (Rom. 16:16)
(2) How was it organized ? (1st Tim. 3, Titus 1, 1st Cor. 12:28)
(3) In what kind of public worship did they participate ? (Acts 20:7, 1st Cor. 16:1-2, Eph. 5:19)
(4) How importantly did they consider the word of God ? (John 12:48, Rev. 22:18-19)
(5) To whom did their first love belong? (Rev. 2:4, Matt. 22:37, 6:33)
(6) What was their purpose upon the earth? (Matt. 28:19-20, Luke 19:10)
(7) What was their hope after death? (John 14:1-3)
These are but a few of the things upon which we build our faith, but in the main, it is built upon the words of the bible as a “lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path” (Psa. 119:105). (To be continued)
The church of Christ, scripturally and spiritually speaking, is the body of Christ. Notice the following passages:
"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:19-23; See also Col. 1:17-18). In simple language this means that when one understands and accepts these words as being true, it gives a completely different picture of most people's concept of the church. In other words when we disgrace the church, we are disgracing Jesus Christ. When we respond to the teaching of the scriptures concerning the terms of admission into the church, we are responding to the will of Jesus Christ. This line of thought applies in all that the bible teaches concerning the church. We cannot separate Christ from the church and be pleasing unto him. If we believe the bible, we must believe this also. Another thing: If salvation lies in Jesus (John 14:6), then it is secured and maintained by the church which the bible says "IS HIS BODY."
The church of Christ, which is the body of Christ, is not to be construed as the building where its members meet to worship (1st Cor. 11:20). Therefore, since the church of Christ is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23 - Col. 1:18), then its members should maintain a spirit of love and compassion on others as did Jesus when at the tomb of Lazarus he “wept” in support of the two sisters, Mary and Martha (John 11:35). In keeping with the instructions of Romans 12:15 they learn to “rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. ” Of course this is just one of many things which each member should learn about their responsibility as a part of the body of Christ. The holy scriptures, according to 2nd Timothy 2:15, are to be fervently studied in order for the members to “understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:17). Even if I knew them space does not allow that I should mention all things which its members should know and practice. However, I will mention a few more: The sick and the needy as well as the care of the widows and orphans were high priorities with our Heavenly Father (Matt. 25:35-46: James 1:27; Gal. 6:10). I suppose if there would be just one or two scriptures which would serve as the sum of Christian duties it would be the following: “As you would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise (Luke 6:31). Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:37).