a church of Christ at Lassen Street, North Hills California
a church of Christ at Lassen Street
There is only one church defined in the bible
nowhere is it defined by man
There is definitely a lot of confusion in the religious world today so
it is important to understand what the church is.
When we are asked "what church do you belong to" we usually are constrained to answer "the church of Christ".
While this may be true, it does not totally answer the question.
The answer this person hears is "I belong to one of the 200+ churches in America".
The bible teaches there is only one church, not 200+. So the question becomes:
Is it the local church of Christ that meets at Lassen Street in North Hills? No
Is it a denomination or group that meets in a building down the street? No
Is it a spiritual church Jesus said in
Matthew 16:18
Matthew 16:18
This is the church described in the bible; it is a spiritual church.
If we meet as an earthly church, whatever we name it, and are not a member of this
spiritual church, we are not a part of the spiritual church Jesus built.
How do we become a member of this spiritual church?
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins.
God adds us to this church when we are saved.
Acts 2:47
Acts 2:47
The question is sometimes asked "do members of the church of Christ believe they are the only ones going to heaven?"
The answer depends on what the person asking means by, the church of Christ.
This is a misunderstood, and can be a misleading, question. The answer is sometimes YES, sometimes NO and sometimes MAYBE.
First a definition: the Greek word translated “church” in the New Testament is ekklesia.
A literal translation of ekklesia would be “a called-out assembly.”
It is important to keep this definition in mind as you continue.
To understand what the church is, we need to go to the scriptures.
To use less words on this web page, the church that Jesus built is referred to as 'the church'
The question here is "what church did Jesus build"?
Is it the local church of Christ that meets at Lassen Street in North Hills? No.
Is it a denomination or group that meets in a building down the street? No.
If neither of these are the church, what is it then, and when was it built?
To answer this question, we first go to the book of Acts.
In Acts chapter 1, After His crucifixion and before His ascension, Jesus promised they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes.
Acts 1:8
Acts 1:8
The disciples were gathered together and Peter preached a sermon telling them
that Jesus, whom they crucified, is both Lord and Christ. Having realized this they were told to repent and be baptized for the remission sins
Acts 2:36-39
Acts 2:36-39
.
Only that one body belongs to Christ and only the body of Christ will be saved.
The church is defined two different ways:
1) Spiritual: 'the church' - Jesus shed His blood on the cross for this church and
the Lord adds those who have been saved to this church.
2) Earthly: a place, normally a building, where members of the 'the church' meet
to carry out the commands of God. We normally call this the
church of Christ.
How do we become a member (saved) of 'the church'?
We must obey the gospel of Christ to be saved and be added by God to 'the church'
as they were saved and added by God to 'the church' in Acts chapter 2.
If an earthly church does not teach this way for a person to be saved, it will not be part of
'the church' Jesus built.
Will members of the earthly church of Christ at Lassen Street go to heaven just because they are members
of the church of Christ at Lassen Street. No, absolutely not.
Will members of the earthly church of Christ at Lassen Street who have obeyed the gospel of Christ
go to heaven. Yes, this makes them a member (saved) of 'the church'.
This is true for all earthly churches everywhere.
What is the answer to the question?
If the question means, the church of Christ whose members meet in an earthly building called the church of Christ,
the answer is MAYBE. No member of the church of Christ on earth will go to heaven unless
they have been added to 'the church'.
If the question means, 'the church' spoken of by Peter, in Acts 2, where almost 3,000 were baptized, and added to 'the church' at Pentecost, the answer is YES.
If the question means, does the bible teach there is only one church, i.e., 'the church', and is the only church going to heaven,
the answer is YES.
If you are a member of any or no earthly church and have obeyed the gospel as defined above, you have become a member of 'the church'.
Acts 2:47
Acts 2:47
However, the answer to the question now is MAYBE.
As defined above, "you must live faithfully the rest of your life while on this earth".
This means you must follow the teaching and commandments of God as written in the new testament.
If you do not, God will no longer consider you a member of 'the church' and you will not go to heaven.
Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 7:21-23
Summary
As noted in the definition at the top of this page, a church is only people, “a called-out assembly.”
No one will go to heaven who is not a member of 'the church', the church that Jesus built.
Obedience to the gospel of Christ will result in earthly church members being added by God to 'the church'.
They will have been saved and will go to heaven.
The New Testament never uses the word church to indicate a place like a location, room or building.
The church is people, members of 'the church', who meet in a certain location, room or building.
Therefore, the building at Lassen Street can never be called a church. It is simply a building where earthly
members of 'the church' meet together.
The New Testament uses multiple
NAMES
to identify members of 'the church'.
When God's word uses many different terms, we must use one of them to identify the church on earth.
If it uses any other name, it is a name not supported by the scriptures.
From the list of names, the members at Lassen street have chosen to use the name "church of Christ" to identify its earthly members.
'The church' is also identified as the Kingdom of Christ
and will be turned over to God at the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father.
This will include all who are saved and are in 'the church' that Jesus built.
Matthew 16:18-19
Matthew 16:18-19
The scriptures teach us that we need to search the scriptures to see if that which
we practice is true. It is necessary to understand that which we believe and practice.
Acts 17:11
Acts 17:11
The information on this page is not meant for us to judge anyone. We only point out that to be acceptable and pleasing to God, we must follow
the teaching and commandments of God as written in the new testament.
It is necessary for all people everywhere to understand that only members of 'the church', the church Jesus built, will go to heaven.
Have you ever been asked "What Church Do You Belong To?"
I have been asked that question many times in past years and the answer I give is "the church of Christ".
Recently I have come to understand that this is a misleading answer.
I believe the answer this person hears is "I belong to one of the 200+ churches in America".
In the bible there is an answer that is more accurate.
I will build my church.
‣ Which of the 200+ churches in America is this church?
‣ The answer is 'none of them'
‣ It is a spiritual church that was established in the bible book of Acts,
chapter 2
Click here to see it from the bible
‣ This is the church that Jesus built
To use less words on this web page, the church that Jesus built is referred to as 'the church'
Since 'the church' has been established, how do we become a saved member of 'the church'?
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins.
Those who have now been saved are added by God to 'the church'
Acts 2:47
Acts 2:47
the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Therefore, to answer the question of this page, the church I belong to is a spiritual
church, 'the church'. The confusion here is that I am a saved member of the
'the church' but I assemble, normally at a building, where other (earthly)
members of 'the church' meet to carry out the teaching and commands of God.
This building is not a church, only members of 'the church' who have gathered together at this building (or any location) are a church.
In order to identify these members apart from other religious organizations we normally refer to ourselves as the church of Christ.
This name is chosen from a list of
names
Click here to see this list
found in the bible.
We must obey the gospel of Christ to be saved and be added by God to 'the church'
as they were saved and added by God to 'the church' in Acts, chapter 2.
What is the gospel of Christ?
It is a summary of scriptures preached by the apostles and others that provides information to supplement Acts 2:38.
Hear the gospel
Romans 1:16
Romans 1:16
To be recognized by God and Jesus as part of 'the church'
‣ members of religious organizations who meet in a building and consider
themselves to be a church, must be, and must teach their members how to
become, a member of 'the church'.
‣ they must use one of the
names
Click here to see this list
In Him:
‣ our sins are removed
‣ we are buried with Him in baptism
‣ we are raised with Him through faith
‣ we are made alive together with Him
Having:
‣ forgiven you all trespasses
‣ nailed the old law to the cross
‣ triumphed over principalities and powers
He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left
The sheep are faithful christians, those for who Jesus has prepared a place
The goats are those Jesus has not prepared a place
Matthew 25:32-33
Matthew 25:32-33
Those on His right hand - inherit the kingdom prepared for you
Those on His left hand - depart from Me,into the everlasting fire
Matthew 25:34-46
Matthew 25:34-46
‣ The old covenant has been done away and replaced with the new covenant
‣ Christ is the mediator of the new covenant
‣ Jesus said "I will build my church" and it was established in the book of
Acts Chapter 2, a spiritual church
‣ To be saved, we must become a member in that spiritual church
‣ When we are baptized for the remission of sin we are saved and
God adds us to the spiritual church
‣ We must come to the Father through Jesus
‣ Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us with many mansions
‣ Jesus will come again that we might be where he is
‣ At the end Jesus will be the judge
‣ All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats
‣ Those who are with Jesus in the church will be on the right hand
‣ These will be told 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world'
‣ To inherit the kingdom prepared for us we must be a member of the spiritual church
‣ This spiritual church, we are part of, will be delivered to GOD