Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Which Is The True "Church Of Christ"?

There are many religious groups that call themselves "Church of Christ," but calling a church the "Church of Christ" does not prove that it is! It must have the proper identifying marks. A visitor to a large city was attracted by the sidewalk food vendor's loud yell "Hot Roast Beef Sandwich." The visitor bought the sandwich and the vendor moved away. When the visitor made the discovery he yelled at the vendor, "This sandwich is not hot, and it is not roast beef." To which the young con-artist yelled back, "I know, that's just what I named it."

Calling a sandwich a hot roast beef does not prove that it is. It must have the proper identifying marks. Anyone can start a church and call it the "Church of Christ," but that does not prove that it is the Lord's church. The Lord's church has no name. In the Bible, it is referred to as "the church," "the church of God," "the church of the firstborn," "the church of the Lord," and yet these were terms of designation, not names.

In Romans 16:16, we find Paul speaking of "churches of Christ," since they were in the plurality, and individually, they were the "church of Christ." They were known as "churches of Christ," because Christ built the church (Matt. 16:18). He is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22, 23). He loved the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25), and He purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28). The church is not a building, the church is gospel believing, obedient people, the family of God.

Placing a sign that reads "Church of Christ" on a building does not prove that the church of Christ meets there. To find out if the people who meet there are indeed the church that Jesus purchased, you will have to examine its doctrine, faith and practice. If it teaches the true terms of salvation from sin, accepts God's Word without addition or subtraction, and worships according to the true pattern then you can be sure that it is the church you read about in the Bible.