The Church of Christ IS NOT Out Dated

Joseph D. Chase

Some people prejudge Christianity because it was established in the ancient past. These people make a grievous error in dismissing the power found in Christ and His church. Look at what is offered in the religion of Christ.

Salvation

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

When God sent Christ into the world He sent salvation through his name (Titus 2:11). Men can find salvation only IN Christ:

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10).

Having purchased the church with His only blood (Acts 20:28), there is now "No Condemnation IN Christ" (Rom. 8:1). If we could but see there is no better place to go than to the Lord. Nothing man has come to offer for satisfaction in life surpasses the "Joy of Heaven."

Being In Christ is to be In the Church

The apostle Paul taught us that we are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27). We are called in "ONE BODY" (Col. 3:15), the "ONE BODY" is the church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23). God adds to the church those who are baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38; 47). There are no saved people outside of the church.

The Church Belongs To Christ

Jesus promised His followers before He died that He would build HIS church (Matt. 16:18). We see that it happened on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of the Lord (Acts 2).

The church Jesus built was to be eternal (Dan. 2:44ff; Matt. 16:18ff). That church exists today for the benefit of all who will enter it. Anyone willing to obey the gospel can become a child of God and be added to the church. That person then becomes a part of the church, a part of God's purpose on the earth (Eph. 2:10).

In our world many are offended by the idea that there is but one church or one body. However, the argument they have isn't with me or anyone on earth. They must argue with God. For He is the one who made it that way.

Today, we have to preach the headship of Christ (Col. 1:18) is over His church. He is the savior of His body (Eph. 5:23). His blood purchased the one church (Acts 20:28). Christ gave Himself for His church (Eph. 5:25). Those who are subject to Christ do so by being in His church (Eph 5:25). Christ loved His bride the church (Eph. 5:25).

Some may believe the church of Christ to be out of date, no longer politically correct or pleasing to the modern world. Yet, we know that it has never been any of those things. Christ never lived to please men but rather God. Why would we cheapen His truth to make it palatable to the masses?