"Christ's Church...NOT MAN'S!"

The New Testament is the only place to turn to learn about the church that Christ built. We should remember that the church is described in Ephesians 3:9-11 as 'the eternal purpose of God.'

'The Church' in every generation is obviously very important. It is absolutely necessary that we are educated by the New Testament and not by the ideas of men no matter how many degrees they may have.

The New Testament teaches us what 'The Church' is and what 'The Church' should be, according to God.
First of all The New Testament teaches that 'The Church' was built and purchased by Christ. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28)

No one has the right to start a church as a divinely approved institution (1 Cor. 1:10-13). Only Christ, the Son of God, is qualified, and He has already established His church. Read Ephesians 4:4 and chapter 1:22-23.

After religious division became real in the church at Corinth, Paul asked some very probing questions in 1 Corinthians 1:13; "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"

'The Church' belongs to Christ on the basis of these gospel truths. He died for it. He built it. He lays down requirements that allow us to belong to Him. 'The Church' belongs to Christ. He is the head of 'The Church.' (Col. 1:18) On that basis, only HE can add others to it. (Acts 2)

Second, 'The Church' that belongs to Christ began on the day of Pentecost as we see in Acts chapter 2. Religious groups originated in Rome, Zurich, London, or any other place but Jerusalem, are ones that started in the wrong places.
'The Lord's Church' was founded by Christ through the preaching of the apostles in Jerusalem, as spoken by Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 2:2-4).

When the gospel was preached by Paul and other preachers as well, there were no different denominations as we know them today.

Whenever the pure gospel of Christ was taught, just as it was preached for the first time in Jerusalem, the result was simply Christians who belonged to Christ; collectively the church of Christ as people obeyed God through the gospel.

If there was no congregation of 'The Lord's Church' in your hometown, and you started to simply teach others about the death of Christ, the benefits of His death, and the requirements of the New Testament to have the forgiveness of sins and God's Holy Spirit, you would not be setting up a denomination.

Rather, you would be following the New Testament pattern, and those who obey the gospel would be added by Christ as members of 'The Lord's Church.'
'The Church' of Christ would then exist in your hometown, and the New Testament alone would be its guide for worship and teaching others.

Third, only divinely appointed names were worn by the church. Names like Church of Christ (Romans 16:16) and Church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2) are biblical names that describe 'The Church' as belonging to Christ and God.

'The Church' of Christ is not a denominational title that describes a religious institution established by men. Rather, it is the reference of God concerning those who follow the New Testament teaching when it comes to 'The Church.'

Fourth, being saved in accordance to God's Word is the way to be added to 'The Lord's Church' (Acts 2:47). There should be no mistake as to the method by which salvation happens.
According to Christ, a person must have faith in Jesus as the Son of God (John 20:30-31; John: 8:24).

They must repent of sin (Acts 17:30), confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9,10), and be baptized (immersed in a watery grave) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Colossians 2 tells us we are at this point trusting in God's power to remove sin and not in man's wisdom.

When a person is saved according to the Lord's instructions found in the New Testament, when that person is "baptized into Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27), he becomes a member of 'Christ's Church' or His body. (Ephesians 5:23)
The Lord Himself does the adding, not man. "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).

Fifth, 'The Lord's Church' honors the authority of Christ. From the beginning, 'The Church' respected the Lord as the head of 'The Church', because we read "...they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42)

'The Church' has a divinely appointed mission (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). In submitting to the authority of Christ as found in His Holy Word, Christians should desire to assemble and worship according to the New Testament (John 4:24; Colossians 3:16-17).

In subjecting to Christ as The Head of the body, congregations of 'The Lord's Church' will govern themselves according to all that the New Testament teaches.

If Christ is the head of 'The Church', we can not implement our own worship styles or leadership preferences. Christ is mindful of what goes on in His congregations. He will discipline them, and He will consider them apostate if they persist in unbiblical practices (Revelation 2:5; 2 John 9).

The New Testament gives a clear picture of what 'The Church' was under the leadership of the Lord's apostles. The origin of 'The Church' was divine; it continues to subject itself to the authority of Christ as found in His Word. It should be the same today, simply, 'The Church of Christ.'