I once received a letter from a Houston area resident with specific questions about the church of Christ. The man, a member of one of the large denominations, stated that his Sunday class had been studying different religions, and that some specific remarks had been made about the church of Christ, which prompted him to write to me. His questions were similar to those which have been asked by many through the years about the church of Christ. He wanted to know if the church of Christ claims to be the one true church, and if only those in the church of Christ will be saved.

The gentleman then asked: "If you do indeed believe that only members of the church of Christ are going to heaven, could you show me in scripture where you find this, and can you give us documented proof that Jesus Christ established your church?" The man closed his letter to me with these words: "Please do respond." My response to his letter is included here. As of this time, I have not received any reply from him. However, I pray that he and the others in his class studied my response with an open mind, and with a determination to accept only what the New Testament teaches about the church, as well as all other matters.

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Dear_____________

Thank you for your interest in knowing more about the church of Christ. I am happy to respond to your questions, and I would be willing to discuss in more detail any Bible matters with you or your class.

In response to your question about salvation and the church, we simply accept what the Bible teaches on this, and all other subjects. In Matthew 16:18,19 Jesus promised to build His church, which He also referred to as the kingdom. The church (kingdom) was established on the first Pentecost day following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Some 3,000 souls became followers of Christ on that day by believing in Christ, by repenting of their sins, by confessing Jesus as the Christ, and by being buried in baptism for the remission of sins. This simple and essential plan of salvation, which is clearly taught in the New Testament, made them Christians, nothing more and nothing less, and they were added to the Lord’s church on that day.

As we read the entirety of the New Testament, we find that all who became Christians did so by following the one plan for salvation already mentioned, and they were all members of the same church. Denominationalism did not exist, and has never been approved by God. As you stated in your letter, denominationalism, or Protestantism, came into existence at a much later time as an outgrowth of the Reformation. Jesus, in his last hours on the earth, prayed for the unity of all believers, as recorded in John 17. He prayed that we would all be "one" as He and God are one (John 17:21) . Denominationalism cannot achieve the unity for which Christ prayed. We cannot be "one" while teaching and practicing different doctrines concerning matters that affect our eternal destiny. Certainly to be united as God and Christ are united, we must agree on all essential spiritual matters. Salvation and the church are certainly among those essential matters. Are God and Christ "one" in doctrine? Of course they are. Therefore, we must agree to unite in that same manner. We cannot simply "agree to disagree."

The doctrine of God and Christ concerning the church is clear in the New Testament. There was one church established on Pentecost in Acts 2, in fulfillment of Christ’s promise in Matthew 16:18,19 . It was not a denomination. It was the church of Christ, also referred to simply as the church (1 Corinthians 11:18) ; as "the church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:2 ; 11:22) ; and as "the church of Christ" (Romans 16:16) . The reference in Romans is plural (churches of Christ) because Paul was referring to more than one congregation as he wrote. We wear the name "church of Christ" because it is among the Scriptural designations found in the New Testament for the church, and because it glorifies Christ as the head of the church.

In Ephesians, an epistle that emphasizes the church, we find clear teaching on the nature of this all-important institution. In Ephesians 1:22,23 , we learn that Christ is the head of the church, which is called His body. Thus, there is one head, but how many bodies? In Ephesians 4:4 , we learn from inspiration that there is but one body, just as there is one Lord, one God, etc. Then, in Ephesians 5:23 , we find that the saved must be in that body, which is the church established by Christ. This is clear Bible teaching.

An important question remains. How can that body exist today? The answer lies in following the New Testament pattern for the church clearly revealed in the Scriptures. Jesus established His church with a clear pattern for every aspect of it, including its work, worship, and organization. When we duplicate that New Testament pattern today, we have the same church that began in the first century. When a seed of corn is planted, it produces corn regardless of the time factor involved, and when one plants the pure Word of God, it produces the same crop in any generation—Christians, and Christians only.

The Protestant Reformation to which you refer was an effort to reform the Catholic Church, rather than to restore the church of the first century. The effort resulted in the formation of denominations, a further division in religious faith and practice. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 , condemned the very concept of denominationalism, which has its roots in elevating men and their doctrines, rather than in being content to simply follow Christ. However, the restoration movement is vastly different from reformation efforts. In the restoration movement, men did not merely seek to reform existing religious institutions, but to restore the New Testament church. It is this restoration plea which has resulted in countless, sincere seekers of truth laying aside the creeds and traditions of men, and coming back to the New Testament for authority in all things. Such a return to truth is necessary to please God and to answer the Lord’s prayer for the unity of all believers.

We simply plead with good people everywhere to unite on the one foundation, Jesus Christ, and His teachings. Belief alone, apart from obedience to the commands of the gospel cannot save. The New Testament clearly teaches that it is salvation by grace through our obedient faith that brings remission of sins. That obedient faith involves our belief in Christ (John 8:24) , our repentance from sin (Luke 13:3,5) ; our confession of Jesus as the Christ (Romans 10:9,10) ; and our burial in baptism for the forgiveness of sins

(Mark 16:16) . Then, we are added to the church of the New Testament, created anew in Christ, and we must continue doing the works which God has ordained (Ephesians 2:10) .

As members of His body, the church, we are promised eternal salvation if we remain faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10) . Works of merit, or works of the former Law of Moses cannot save. However, all works are not eliminated. Ephesians 2:10 and James 2:24 , along with the entire teaching of the New Testament, make that point very clear to the Bible student who is "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15) . We must be subject to the authority of the New Testament alone in all things, because that is the Law under which we serve, and by which we will be judged at the last day.

Thank you again for writing. I hope the answers given and the Scriptures cited will be helpful to you as you study the Word of God.

Sincerely,

Jim Dearman

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Perhaps this response will also be helpful to you, the reader, in answering your questions about the church of the New Testament. We pray you will be like the Bereans of old "… in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11) .

Denominationalism has been present with us for such a long time that many sincere people have accepted it as an arrangement which they believe must be pleasing to God. However, from the Scriptures, we learn that the division which characterizes the religious world is not pleasing to the Lord. Jesus desires that we all be one, just as He and the Father are one (John 17:21) .

We close this message as the gentlemen ended his letter: "Please do respond." Respond to the plea to lay aside all creeds and traditions of men, and to return to the Scriptures as the only standard of faith and practice.

Call on us if you have further questions about the church we read about in the New Testament. We would be delighted to study God’s Word with you, as we all strive to please the Father by doing His Will. It is our fervent desire to follow the admonition of Scripture: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17) .