What Does the Bible Say About Why Am I A Member of the Church of Christ #4?

We have established in previous episodes, that the Bible is God's word, inspired by God and is the standard which we must follow. If we do not follow what it says, we cannot please God. We noted that there are over 2,000 denominations that claim to be Christians yet teach something different from what the bible says. We noted that Jesus prayed that his followers would be united. We noted Paul's criticism of the Christians in Corinth who had divided up into different groups in the church. We learned that the church is a spiritual body of Christians, not a building. We learned when the church was established and where that first occurred. We noted when the prominent denominations were established. In this episode, we look at some other marks that matter concerning the Church. We read the entire chapter of John 17 which is Jesus' prayer to God concerning His apostles, what He taught them, the unity required of them and the way to achieve it. We begin reading various passages about the gospel, what it is and what one must do to obey it and be added to the Church of Christ. We note that these passages also tell us what we must do to be saved. We will need another episode to complete looking at these passages. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript provided for your convenience.

Transcript

Fred Gosnell: 0:00

This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ, meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at ten thirty am and five thirty pm. We meet for bible study at nine thirty am on Sunday and seven pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson, you may email them to Arnie Granke at agranke440718@twc.com or to Glenn Landrum at scbamaboy2003@yahoo.com or to Eric McClam at ericmcclam50@outlook.com or to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net

Arnie: 0:55

Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke and Fred Gosnell and and Eric, with you from Woodland church of Christ in Sumter, South Carolina. We hope that if you ever happen to be in the Sumter area, or if you live in the Sumter area, that you come worship with us on the Lord's Day at Woodland church of Christ. And this is what does the Bible say? And we've been talking about, talking about things that are in in the Bible as God's as God's word. So we want to pick up where we've left off there. We've had several little discussions so far. One of the main things that we've established, of course, is the fact that the Bible is is God's word, and that it's inspired by God. In other words, people didn't just decide, well, I think the Lord would like for us to say this or to write that. But in fact, God dictated the very, very words of of the Bible. So it's the standard by which we should live and and I'm going to pass it to Eric, if you'd like to make a few comments there, Eric?

Eric: 2:18

Yeah, it first give us directions for conducting the work of the church and the worship of its members to God. We have established that is only the Bible, not man, but the Bible that gives us those instructions and to set the standards for us to live as Christians and follow Christ. If we do anything or teach anything not included in the Bible or God's word, we are wrong. We have mentioned that there are over 2000 denominations that claim to be Christian, but each one of those denominations teach something different. We identified and have read in John chapter 17, verses 20 to 24 in which Jesus prayed to God that His followers will all be one, believing, teaching and speaking the same thing. We also saw at first, Corinthians chapter one, verses 10 through 13, how Paul chastised the church in Corinth about splitting themselves up into different groups. We all we saw another passage in Galatians, chapter one, verses six to nine, in which Paul said that he was amazed, he marveled that the church in Galatia have soon departed from the word they have received from the apostles. To emphasize this point, Paul said that even if the angels from heaven came and preached or taught something different than that was already preached, that angel should be accursed. We have the same message Christ and the apostles taught and preached, and that is in the Bible. Therefore, if anyone makes any rules or standards that are not in the Bible, then they are false and we should not follow them. We have learned that the church is the body of Christians, not a physical building. We learned that it was Jesus who died who said, He would build His church, and that he is the foundation of that church. Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church that he built. We learned that Christ and Paul both taught and warned that false teachers would come in to try to lead members of the Church astray or away from the truth. We learned that the Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles after Christ's resurrection and ascension to guide the Apostles in all truth, meaning that Christ had not taught and taught them everything. Following Jesus ascension to heaven, the apostles had to rely upon the Holy Spirit to help them so that they were able to teach God's truth.

Fred Gosnell: 5:11

Now next, we learned about when the Church was established and where that was. We first know about it being established. We learn that the church was established in Jerusalem on or just prior to the day of Pentecost that followed Jesus death, burial, resurrection and His ascension. Learned that there had been Old Testament prophecies about the church and that it would start in Jerusalem in the latter days. Of course, we know that the latter days refer to the times after Jesus, resurrection and ascension to heaven. So we studied the timeline that showed through scripture, that many scriptures pointed to the future establishment of the church, and then we saw the scriptures that pointed to the church having already been established. That is how we were able to say that the church was established in Jerusalem, on or very near Pentecost, about AD 33. So we also talked about a number of prominent denominations that were started at times other than what we learn in God's word, being Pentecost AD 33 and in various places other than Jerusalem. So all denominations will have a date of establishment and place of establishment, different from the church that belongs to Jesus Christ. So thus far, I can say that I'm a member of the Church of Christ because it was built by Jesus Christ. It was established in Jerusalem on or near the day of Pentecost AD 33 and that it wears the name of Christ and its founder, the king, our Savior and the head of the church. The question that you need to answer is, does the church that I am associated with meet these standards? If not, why not? If not, why do you continue to worship in and claim to be part of a church that was not founded by Jesus Christ.

Arnie: 7:27

Well, and I second what you both have have said there on that. Let's, let's look at some other marks that matter concerning the church. The groups of people who call themselves Christian usually do not see a problem with there being so many different denominations. Many believe it's a good thing. Let's once again, take a look at the prayer that of Jesus in John chapter 17. But this time, let's see a little bit more of of the prayer than we did before. Quoting now from from John 17. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as you have given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is eternal life that we may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I've glorified You on the earth. I've finished the work which You have given me to do, and now, oh Father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was. And and just in case you're wondering who it is that's the speaker, very obviously, this is Jesus that is that is saying these things. He goes on to say, I have manifested your name to the men whom You have given me before the world was. They are, were yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they have known that all things which you have given me are from you, for I've given to them the words which You've given me, and they've received them, and have known surely that I came forth from you, and they believe that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given me for. They are yours, and all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I no longer am in the world, but these are in the world. And I come to You, Holy Father, keep through Your name, those whom I have, whom You have given Me, that they may be one as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name, those whom you gave me, I have kept and none of them is lost except the Son of Perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. And now I come to you, and these things, I speak to your speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I've given them your word. The world has hated them because they're not of the world, just as I am not of the world, I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They're not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world, and for their sakes, I sanctify Myself that they may also be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in you, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me and the glory which You gave Me, I've given them, that they may be one, just as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one, that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me, may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which You have given me for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Oh, righteous father, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you sent me, and have declared to them your name, and will declare it that the love which you loved Me may be in them, and I in them. Rather rather lengthy reading there, the whole chapter of of John, chapter 17 and and what we would recommend is, is not that, not that we read it again to you, but that, that you look through those things that Jesus has said and underline things in your in your Bible to help you remember them and recognize the things that that Jesus said. These are some pretty powerful statements. Don't you think Eric?

Eric: 13:31

Yes, sir, I do think so. I really do think so. When Jesus asked God, the Father, to glorify him, the one whom God has already given all power and authority over all flesh. Jesus asked for eternal life to be given to those who follow him. He said that he had done his job glorified God on earth, and He is asking God to glorify Him, together with God himself. He mentioned that they existed before the world existed. Then Christ prays for his disciples who are left in the world after he is gone. He mentioned that he had trained them to take his word to the world after he is gone, the world both in him and beyond Jerusalem, Jesus asked for Jesus asked for God to be with them as they took his word out into the world. Then we come to prayer, to the prayer for unity, in which Jesus is asking that all his followers will be united with him and God. To be united is to believe and teach the same things, not a conglomerate of ideas, standard or rules. They need to be teach and model the same things as Christ Himself did. In Christ in his prayer, saying that the world has not known God, but he did. He said, he declared the message to God, to His disciples in verse 26 and they will carry it forward. It is of great importance that we understand this, that Jesus and God want us to be united. There is only one way we can be united, and that is through His Word. We have to read, study, discuss and come to an agreement on the Bible. We do not get to choose the church. We become members of what he what we will obey His gospel.

Fred Gosnell: 15:44

Well, in Acts 2, 42, through 47 notice what, what Peter writes there. He says now, all who believe were together, concerning those 3000 that obey the gospel there, And they had all things common and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all as anyone had need. So what we need to understand remember that this is on Pentecost. So the people that were in Jerusalem, they came to Jerusalem from all over the world in Acts, chapter two. The beginning of it, I think there's 16 different nations that are mentioned there. So these people came there intending to be at Pentecost, just for the time of Pentecost, then they were going to go back to their homes in other nations. But 3000 of them obeyed the gospel, so they didn't have enough preparations to stay there very long so so all of the brethren that lived there in in Jerusalem or that had possessions, they sold their possessions, their goods, and then they divided them among these fellow Christians so that they could stay there and now learn what they needed to learn about the Gospel before they left and went, went back to their homes. So, so then we begin, we continue. So continuing daily notice with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. They ate, ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, Praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. And again, the Lord's the one that adds people to his church. You can't join his church. You have to do what he says first. And in this case, they told, were told to repent and be baptized, and they obeyed that. So based on that, the Lord added to the church. So here we see that those who did repent of their sins were baptized and they were added to the church by the Lord. They did not join the church of their choice, but were added to the existing body, the Church by Christ, the Church that Jesus built. So when we make the decision to join a denomination, we are usurping the authority of Christ. Remember, he has all authority in heaven and in earth. So since he is the one who adds to the church, we do not have the authority to add ourselves or join a denomination. Well, of course, we have the freedom to do so, but that doesn't mean that the Lord is going to be pleased with that. So if we do, we are joining a group that does not belong to Jesus Christ. So think about it, if I join a church that does not belong to Jesus, I cannot be one in him as he is one in the Father. In order to be one with them, I have to be in the church to which Jesus added me, His Church, the Church of Christ. So I can say that I am a member of the Church of Christ because I follow Jesus teaching about how to become a member of His church. This is also the answer to how do I become saved or a child of God. So let's take a look at what the Bible says about what I must do in order to be saved or become a member of Christ's Church. I know, as many of you are saying, Wait a minute, I have been taught that I do not have to do anything to be saved. All there is is for me to say, I believe. Of course, the question I have for you is that what God's Word says? What does the Bible say? That's the name of this program. So a better question is, Is that all the Bible says? So let's find out. The following are passages that teach what we must do in order to be saved, thus becoming a member of Jesus Church.

Arnie: 19:41

And I think we can say very clearly here that there's a lot more that the Bible teaches on that than just with the few things that we've talked about so far. Fred, I'm going to start at Romans, chapter 10 and verse. 17 there, and I appreciate the things that you said there just a few moments ago. In Romans 10 Paul writes, and he says, So then faith cometh by hearing, or comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Doesn't it make sense that in order to learn and know what God wants, we have to hear His word. Like anything we learn, we must hear it first. We can't just kind of assume, think of something that we'd like it to be and and say, well, that's God's will, and that's what God designed, when it's not. It's our own imagination a lot of a lot of times. So, so what we need to to do is to is to look at passages that teach what we must do in order to be saved and and in that way, become a member of Jesus Church, as as Fred had had said. Like anything that we learn, we've got to hear it first. We've got to extend this to reading God's word and learning it that way, which is equivalent to hearing in what we read the the words, understand them, and then respond to them, just as we would if we heard with our ears. We're hearing with our eyes. We're seeing God's word, with our eyes, uh, we've got to receive the Word. Receiving it doesn't mean just reading it. Receiving it means reading it, believing it, and then putting it into into exercise ourselves. But what the word, what word is there that we must hear? It's the gospel, the gospel of Jesus, Christ. And there are a number of passages, and Fred and and Eric and I have have decided to share quite a number of these together with you. So I'll pass it to Eric. What's the first passage that you have there Eric?

Eric: 22:27

First passage will be in Corinthians, 15 verses one through eight, which it says, more, Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, and in which you stand by, which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I declare to you, first of all, that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture, and that He was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures, and that he was seen by Cephas and then by the 12. After that, he was seen by over 500 brethren, at once, of whom, the gap, the greater part remains to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. The last of all, he was seen by me also as one born out of due time. And this is Paul is talking that he was, he was the last one that was seen. In verse three and four, actually the gospel that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again, just as they had been prophesied in the Old Testament. Scriptures. Verses five through eight are important because they showed the proof of what happened. Peter, the other apostles, James and more than 500 others were eyewitnesses of these things. Jesus has died, having died being buried and rose from the dead and was alive. In reading more about Jesus, we learned that Jesus lived a life on earth without sin. Therefore he was a perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sin. He gave Himself for us and took our sins upon him. And it was his blood that cleanses us from, cleanse us from all our sin.

Fred Gosnell: 24:36

You know, Paul had said in First Corinthians 14, verse 37 he said, If any man think himself and be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. So, so, of course, all of the words that the apostles, Paul, the rest of the apostles, got, they came from the Holy Spirit. Who got them from God. So, so these words are. Jesus commands that they are given us. Then in Acts 18, verse eight, we have a short scripture there, says, Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, course, he would be a he would be a Jew, believed on the Lord, with all his household and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized. Of course, Paul was in Corinth, and he ended up preaching to Chrispus and the ruler of the synagogue. Of course, again, that would make him a Jew. Of course, Chrispus, believed what Paul preached after hearing Paul and Chrispus, and those in his household were baptized. So you see, Chrispus had to hear the word before he could believe it and then respond to the command to be baptized for the remission of his sin. So sometimes we have a we have a five fingured thing, you gotta hear, gotta hear, believe, repent, confess and be baptized. Well, here, here, here, we know that it starts out hearing or reading it, and the Scripture is very clear about that.

Arnie: 26:06

Well, John chapter three is, is another passage that relates to this. I'm going to start in verse 16. We just read 16, 17, and 18 here in John chapter three, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. That's a familiar scripture, I think, to to nearly everyone, but but then the next phrase says, For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. So as as you're thinking about this, Jesus said that God loved us so much that He gave His Son, He gave His Son to die, in fact, on our behalf, die for us, if we believe we will be saved. But this is not all that Jesus said that we need to do to be saved. Those who do not want to go beyond this are simply not listening to all that the Bible says that they're ignoring it, and that's not a good idea, Eric.

Eric: 27:41

That is true. That is true. You know, when I look at at John 3, 16, I really personalize that, and because it says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, I usually say so God, for God, so loved Eric that He gave His only begotten Son.

Arnie: 28:01

Yeah, he did, and Arnie and Fred.

Eric: 28:04

So I personalize that. And if we believe in Him, we should not perish and have everlasting life. So I personalize that, that passage right there. But you know, in John, chapter three, with where you were at, Arnie and start with verse 36 it says, He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life. But the wrath of God abides in Him. Another passage that says, believing results in eternal or everlasting life. It is also mentioned the negative, the one who does not believe will not have everlasting life. Uh, Acts, chapter two, verses, 37 and 38 it says, Now, when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostle, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter then said to them, Repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Here, Peter had just preached the first gospel sermon in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, after Christ had ascended to heaven. He had explained what Jesus had done, and they were all guilty of sending the innocent Christ to the cross, and he's talking about the Jewish people killing him. Many of the Jews present, present asking the question in the passage, Men and brethren, what shall we do? They were asking what they need to do to make things right between them and God, Peter and apostles responded with the answer, Repent and be baptized for remission or forgiveness of their sins. The result would be that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is salvation. It is interesting that Peter does not say anything about believing, but that is understood, in order to repent of something they have done, they had to believe what Peter has had preached. That was evident by the statement, because they were cut to the heart.

Fred Gosnell: 30:31

Well, Eric and Arnie, we're we're out of time. So we're going to have to continue these Scriptures concerning what one must do in order to be saved in the next episode next week. So follow along with us. We encourage you, most of all, to have your Bibles open so you can follow along with what we're reading, what we're saying, and make sure that what we in fact are saying is, in fact what the Bible says. So we're grateful for your for your attention, and we pray that you'll have a good week and we'll see you next Lord's day. Lord willing.