Church of Christ Beliefs

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____________________________________________ Beliefs & Practices ____________________________________________ The New Testament is our creed for our convictions and practices. This is simply showing what the Scriptures teach. God: We are convinced that God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit are all one God, three persons, deity, and are not created since God is eternal (Gen. 1:26, 3:22, Matt. 28:19, Luke 3:22, Acts 10:37-38, Rom. 8:9-11, 9:5). We are convinced that God created the world in six literal days (Exo. 20:11). The Scriptures: We know that the Scriptures are inspired (God’s breath) and are the all-sufficient authority for beliefs and practices (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 1 Tim. 5:18). The Scriptures are able to make the person of God complete and equipped for every good work. We do not believe in extra revelations or illuminations from the Spirit since the Bible does not speak of such and the Spirit revealed all things to the Apostles and prophets (John 14:26, 16:12-13, Eph. 3:3-5). All the revelation and illumination that we receive from the Spirit is through the Scriptures to us. We observe the principle of excluding all practices added to God's commands (1 Cor. 4:6, 2 John 9). We obey only New Testament commands and not the Old Testament including the 10 commandments, which are obsolete (Heb. 8:7-13, 2 Cor. 3:13ff). The Way of Salvation: We are convinced by Scripture of the necessity for one to hear, believe, repent, confess, be immersed, and live faithfully (Rom. 10:17, 9-10, Rom. 6:3-6). We know that immersion in water in the name of the Lord is the exact point of salvation for which one receives the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16). We know that baptism is only for believers and not for infants (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38). We understand that we are saved by grace and not by our works (Eph. 2:8-9), but works such as faith and baptism are essential to go to Heaven (Jam. 2:24, Heb. 5:9). We are convinced that everyone has free will (1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Pet. 3:9). The Church: We are convinced that the Church of Christ by any and all Scriptural names to be the Church that Christ bought with His blood and cleansed her by the washing of water (Acts 20:28, Eph. 5:26). We are convinced to strive for God's ideal that each church be pastored not by preachers but by elders, who are true pastors (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-3). We also are convinced that churches are to be self-governed since there is no mention of hierarchy in the Scriptures. The Church is God's greatest institution, and God also instituted the home and the civil government (Matt. 16:18, 19:5, 1 Pet. 2:13-17). We understand that all congregations following the Scriptures in worship, government, salvation, evangelism, and service in love are churches of Christ, while each congregation is not perfect being made up of imperfect people. The Church of Christ is not a sect or denomination (division) of believers in Christ (Eph. 4:4, 1:22-23, 1 Cor. 1:10). Denominating the Church is wrong and an abomination (Gal. 5:19-21, Prov. 6:19, Rom. 16:17). Denominations err and divide among one another on the authority of Scripture, worship, government, salvation, evangelism, and benevolence. Morality: We are convinced that we must love our neighbor as our self. The "abortion" of a human "fetus" is the murder of a human life and it is an abomination to God (Proverb 6:17). Pre-marital sexual relations and all extra-marital sexual relations including homosexuality are sexually immoral, "fornication" (Heb. 13:4). There is no such thing as "same-sex marriage" and polygamy is against God's ideal for marriage (Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:5, Eph. 5:31). Those who practice sexual immorality will not inherit the kingdom of God and will suffer the punishment of eternal fire (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:5, Col. 3:5-6, Jude 1:7, Rev. 21:8). Marriage after Divorce: We are convinced that only the innocent person of a divorce may marry again when the other spouse has been sexually immoral (Matt. 5:32, 19:9). We understand that separation of spouses is sometimes necessary for reasons other than sexual immorality though those separated are commanded not to marry anyone else since they can only return to one another (1 Cor. 7:10-15). Worship and the Assembly: We are convinced that worship is to be in and outside of the Assembly, but not all of life. We are convinced that the purposes of the Assembly are to worship God and to edify one another in fellowship. Our conviction is that the Assembly ideally established by Christ has 5 regular acts being the Lord’s Supper, prayer, singing, preaching (reading), and collection (1 Cor. 4:17, 11:17-34, 14:15, 1 Cor. 16:1-2). The Lord’s Supper is to be on every Lord's Day, first day of the week, consisting of unleavened bread and unleavened fruit of the grapevine (Matt. 26:26-29). Prayer is to be directed to God and God alone in Christ's name (Eph. 5:20). Singing is congregational (Acts 4:24, Rom. 15:6) and excludes all other forms of proxy music like instrumental music and body percussion (1 Cor. 14:15, Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16). Preaching is to be Scripturally based, understandable, and edifying (1 Pet. 4:11, 1 Cor. 14:26). The collection should be done with a cheerful heart (2 Cor. 9:7). In assembly, God has given men the birth right to teach in the Assembly with women in submission while both men and women are one in Christ (1 Cor. 14:34, 1 Tim. 2:12, Gal. 3:28). The End Times: We are convinced that the Church is a part of God’s eternal purpose and that it is the Kingdom and Nation of Christ on earth (Eph. 3:10-11, John 18:36, 1 Pet. 2:9, Col. 1:13, Heb. 12:28). Also, we understand that we are living during the millennial reign of saints with Christ [or just after the millennial reign], but before the 2^nd coming of Christ (Rev. 20). Afterlife: We are convinced that there are only two destinations in the afterlife, Heaven and Hell, following our death on earth (Matt. 25:46). We are convinced that those obedient to the Gospel will have eternal life in Heaven (Heb. 5:9). We are convinced that those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel will have an eternal punishment in Hell (2 Thes. 1:7-9, Jude 1:7).

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Beliefs & Practices

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The New Testament is our creed for our convictions and practices. This is simply showing what the Scriptures teach.

God:

We are convinced that God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit are all one God, three persons, deity, and are not created since God is eternal (Gen. 1:26, 3:22, Matt. 28:19, Luke 3:22, Acts 10:37-38, Rom. 8:9-11, 9:5). We are convinced that God created the world in six literal days (Exo. 20:11).

The Scriptures:

We know that the Scriptures are inspired (God’s breath) and are the all-sufficient authority for beliefs and practices (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 1 Tim. 5:18). The Scriptures are able to make the person of God complete and equipped for every good work. We do not believe in extra revelations or illuminations from the Spirit since the Bible does not speak of such and the Spirit revealed all things to the Apostles and prophets (John 14:26, 16:12-13, Eph. 3:3-5). All the revelation and illumination that we receive from the Spirit is through the Scriptures to us. We observe the principle of excluding all practices added to God's commands (1 Cor. 4:6, 2 John 9). We obey only New Testament commands and not the Old Testament including the 10 commandments, which are obsolete (Heb. 8:7-13, 2 Cor. 3:13ff).

The Way of Salvation:

We are convinced by Scripture of the necessity for one to hear, believe, repent, confess, be immersed, and live faithfully (Rom. 10:17, 9-10, Rom. 6:3-6). We know that immersion in water in the name of the Lord is the exact point of salvation for which one receives the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16). We know that baptism is only for believers and not for infants (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38). We understand that we are saved by grace and not by our works (Eph. 2:8-9), but works such as faith and baptism are essential to go to Heaven (Jam. 2:24, Heb. 5:9). We are convinced that everyone has free will (1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Pet. 3:9).

The Church:

We are convinced that the Church of Christ by any and all Scriptural names to be the Church that Christ bought with His blood and cleansed her by the washing of water (Acts 20:28, Eph. 5:26). We are convinced to strive for God's ideal that each church be pastored not by preachers but by elders, who are true pastors (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-3). We also are convinced that churches are to be self-governed since there is no mention of hierarchy in the Scriptures. The Church is God's greatest institution, and God also instituted the home and the civil government (Matt. 16:18, 19:5, 1 Pet. 2:13-17). We understand that all congregations following the Scriptures in worship, government, salvation, evangelism, and service in love are churches of Christ, while each congregation is not perfect being made up of imperfect people. The Church of Christ is not a sect or denomination (division) of believers in Christ (Eph. 4:4, 1:22-23, 1 Cor. 1:10). Denominating the Church is wrong and an abomination (Gal. 5:19-21, Prov. 6:19, Rom. 16:17). Denominations err and divide among one another on the authority of Scripture, worship, government, salvation, evangelism, and benevolence.

Morality:

We are convinced that we must love our neighbor as our self. The "abortion" of a human "fetus" is the murder of a human life and it is an abomination to God (Proverb 6:17). Pre-marital sexual relations and all extra-marital sexual relations including homosexuality are sexually immoral, "fornication" (Heb. 13:4). There is no such thing as "same-sex marriage" and polygamy is against God's ideal for marriage (Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:5, Eph. 5:31). Those who practice sexual immorality will not inherit the kingdom of God and will suffer the punishment of eternal fire (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:5, Col. 3:5-6, Jude 1:7, Rev. 21:8).

Marriage after Divorce:

We are convinced that only the innocent person of a divorce may marry again when the other spouse has been sexually immoral (Matt. 5:32, 19:9). We understand that separation of spouses is sometimes necessary for reasons other than sexual immorality though those separated are commanded not to marry anyone else since they can only return to one another (1 Cor. 7:10-15).

Worship and the Assembly:

We are convinced that worship is to be in and outside of the Assembly, but not all of life. We are convinced that the purposes of the Assembly are to worship God and to edify one another in fellowship. Our conviction is that the Assembly ideally established by Christ has 5 regular acts being the Lord’s Supper, prayer, singing, preaching (reading), and collection (1 Cor. 4:17, 11:17-34, 14:15, 1 Cor. 16:1-2). The Lord’s Supper is to be on every Lord's Day, first day of the week, consisting of unleavened bread and unleavened fruit of the grapevine (Matt. 26:26-29). Prayer is to be directed to God and God alone in Christ's name (Eph. 5:20). Singing is congregational (Acts 4:24, Rom. 15:6) and excludes all other forms of proxy music like instrumental music and body percussion (1 Cor. 14:15, Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16). Preaching is to be Scripturally based, understandable, and edifying (1 Pet. 4:11, 1 Cor. 14:26). The collection should be done with a cheerful heart (2 Cor. 9:7). In assembly, God has given men the birth right to teach in the Assembly with women in submission while both men and women are one in Christ (1 Cor. 14:34, 1 Tim. 2:12, Gal. 3:28).

The End Times:

We are convinced that the Church is a part of God’s eternal purpose and that it is the Kingdom and Nation of Christ on earth (Eph. 3:10-11, John 18:36, 1 Pet. 2:9, Col. 1:13, Heb. 12:28). Also, we understand that we are living during the millennial reign of saints with Christ [or just after the millennial reign], but before the 2^nd coming of Christ (Rev. 20).

Afterlife:

We are convinced that there are only two destinations in the afterlife, Heaven and Hell, following our death on earth (Matt. 25:46). We are convinced that those obedient to the Gospel will have eternal life in Heaven (Heb. 5:9). We are convinced that those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel will have an eternal punishment in Hell (2 Thes. 1:7-9, Jude 1:7).