Being Just a Christian

You can be just a Christian! Does this sound strange? With thousands of religious bodies in our country, it might appear impossible to be a Christian without being part of a denomination. It is not only possible, but there are actually thousands of "Christians only" in this and other nations.

The churches of ChristWho are these people who seek to be only Christians? The congregations of which they are a part are usually known as the "churches of Christ". The this term is not used in a denominational sense, but is intended to denote their desire to belong to Christ’s Church. The Bible says, "All the churches of Christ greet you." (Romans 16:16). However, it is just as correct to describe the church of which we read in the Bible as "the church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:2), "the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27), or "the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). These and similar Biblical phrases are nor proper names, but descriptive expressions which show how the church is related to Christ and His Father.

A Distinctive PleaWe have a distinctive plea. Of course, in many ways we agree with others striving to follow Christ. We believe in the divine inspiration of the entire Bible, and that it is sufficient to guide us in all matters of faith; in the death of Jesus Christ, and His atonement for our sins; and that after death all men will be rewarded or punished in another life for the way they have lived here. And with all people of real religious conviction we insist that moral principles of Jesus are absolute truths to be exemplified in the personal righteousness of the child of God.

The Bible OnlyHowever, we not only believe that the scriptures are inspired, but also convicted that the New Testament must be our ONLY guide in religious faith. God’s Word frequently warns us against changing the divine message (See Galatians 1:6-9). We, therefore, have no creed or catechism to present, but accept Christ as our only creed and the Bible as our only guidebook. In this way we are prevented by an erroneous creed from accepting any teachings except which may be learned from God’s Word.

Restoration Rather than ReformationIt is obvious to thinking people that the religious world is badly divided. Great leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin sought to correct erroneous teachings and practices. But the reformers often started at different points and thus arrived at different conclusions. Division rather than unity has resulted.

We, on the other hand, plead for the restoration of apostolic Christianity, rather than a reformation of existing religious bodies. Since all agree that the early church was right, we should also be able to agree that we cannot be wrong if wee succeed in reproducing that church today in every essential part. While many things have changed in the twentieth century, the teachings of Jesus and His apostles have not. Truth is absolute and unchangeable. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17) and can save today as surely as in the first century, if applied in the same way. "The truth will make you free", (John 8:32).

Should you visit the congregation you will find it worshipping God as did the early disciples --- "in spirit and truth," (John 4:24). You will observe that it partakes of the Lord’s supper, or communion, every Sunday. This is because we are following the example of the early Christians who assembled every first day of the week to "break bread" (Acts 20:7). Likewise, in every other way the church seeks to reproduce New Testament Christianity --- in organization, in work, and in other area of teaching.

How To Be Just a ChristianIn few places is there so much disagreement as in answering the Bible question, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). Here again, we must reply by going to the scriptures for the answer. The Bible teaches that Christ shed His blood for our sins (Matthew 26:28), and that without it we cannot be saved (Hebrews 9:22). But what does Jesus require of us to "know assuredly" or believe that Jesus is "both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36, Matthew 10:32). When these people on the day of Pentecost then asked for further information, they were told, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38). The Bible teaches that there is only one baptism today (Ephesians 4:5), and that baptism is by immersion in water (Acts 8:36-39), in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Today we teach (as did the apostles then) that for Christ’s blood to remove our sins we must as believers in Him repent, confess our faith, and be baptized. As we are thus saved from our sins, the Lord adds us to His body, the church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). "For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13) the saved, then, are in the body (or church) of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23); one cannot be saved and be outside the body.

The early disciples were Christians only. Although we live 1900 years later, we too can be Christians only if we will follow the same teachings given to these first followers of Jesus Christ. Christ said, "The seed is the Word of God" (Luke 8:11). Just as surely as a planted acorn will produce only an oak, so God’s Work will produce Christians and nothing more. We invite your earnest consideration to this plea and a thorough investigation of the practices of the first century church.

Our goal is to worship God and live our lives as closely as possible to the New testament pattern in the Bible "Speaking where the Bible speaks, silent where the Bible is silent.". If this is your goal also, or if you have any questions, or would like to thoroughly study what God’s Word, the Bible, has to say about these subjects (or any other), You are intuited to attend the Sunday morning worship service of a congregation near you, or call us and we can arrange for a private study in person, by mail, e-mail, or on the internet.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOUFollowing the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement. Please e-mail me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.