By TONY HOSS

For the past two weeks I have written concerning the question “Why So Many Churches.” There is no doubt that the multiplicity of churches has done more harm for the cause of religion than anyone could ever imagine. This doesn’t even begin to take into consideration the damage to the souls of mankind.
If Christ established a church and He did (Matt. 16), then all men must be amenable to it and the laws that govern it. This is of utmost importance as we consider some closing thoughts about the Church that Jesus established. While some religions will come and go, all men should realize that the Church established by Christ will continue until the Lord comes again to raise the dead and judge all mankind. God’s judgment will consider two main things; first He will judge mankind according to their works (2 Cor. 11:15, Rev. 20:12-13). Next, the works we will be judged on will be in light of the scriptural pattern Jesus gave us. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48).
In 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Paul teaches that the church will be delivered to the Father by Jesus. This includes those individuals added to the church upon their faithful obedience to the God’s commands. This fact alone demands that all men gain and maintain a right relationship with God. There is no doubt that in order to receive God’s grace (Titus 2:11), one must become obedient; we are obligated to do what God demands to acquire the benefits of His grace. But what has God required of mankind?
In Acts 2:37 the question was asked, “Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?” To answer this question we should have the mind of Peter who said of Jesus, “Thou hast the words of life.” Therefore we must do everything God commands from His Word, the Bible. This demands that we reject anything that is not from God; and follow His instructions without compromise or change (1 Peter 4:11). However, most religions claiming to follow Him have already rejected the authority of the Bible without even understanding that they do so.
We must be willing to follow the Bible by using scriptural names: the church of Christ, (Romans 16:16), the body of Christ, (Ephesians 1:22-23), the household of God, (1 Timothy 3:15). Each of the previous refers who we belong to as well as to who owns the church. We must be willing to accept God’s method of entrance into His Church by being willing to believe the Word (Mark 16:15-16), repent of sin, (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38), confess Christ as Messiah, (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized, (Acts 2:38).The baptism is a likeness of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:1-5). At this point God adds us to the Church which Christ built (Acts 2:47).
Those added to the church then immerse themselves in the work of the church, edification and evangelism. And finally, the church will worship and govern itself according to the pattern found within the scriptures. I challenge each person to question whether they are a part of the church of the first century.
(Tony Hoss is minister at the Centerview Church of Christ. For more information contact him at 423-737-2287 or by e-mail at: tmagho1@comcast.net).