What Is The Church Of Christ? Jason Carter

Let's start with a word study: Church = "The company of all Christians regarded as a spiritual body." Of = "Derived or coming from; originating at or from" or "Belonging or connected to:" Christ = "The Messiah, as foretold by the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures" or "Jesus." Thus, the "church of Christ" is "the company of all Christians regarded as a spiritual body, originating from or belonging to the Messiah, who is Jesus." The church of Christ is not a denomination made by man, but it is the church that was promised by the Lord (Matt. 16:18). No denomination can make that claim, as all denominations were formed by men centuries after the Lord ascended into heaven. Only the church that originated from Jesus Himself is acceptable. Man does not have the authority to decide how one becomes a member of the Lord's church. That authority rests solely with the Lord Himself. In Acts 2:47, we are told, "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Peter didn't do it; Andrew didn't do it; John didn't do it; the Lord did it. Those who repented and were baptized by the Lord's authority (Acts 2:38, 41) were those whom the Lord added to His church (Acts 2:47). It is the only way revealed in the Scriptures.

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