WHY THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?

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  BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED BY THE SCRIPTUAL BUILDER -CHRIST
  BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED ON THE SCRIPTUAL FOUNDATION
  BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED AT THE SCRIPTUAL PLACE- JERUSALEM

  BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED AT THE SCRIPTURAL TIME- THE PENTECOST FOLLOWING THE  RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
  BECAUSE CHRIST IS THE FOUNDER OF ONLY ONE CHURCH- HIS CHURCH
  BECAUSE IT IS SCRIPTURAL IN NAME
  BECAUSE IT IS SCRIPTURAL IN ORGANIZATION
  BECAUSE IT HAS THE BIBLE AS ITS ONLY CREED, CONFESSION OF FAITH OR CHURCH MANUAL
  BECAUSE IT BELIEVES ALL THE BIBLE TO BE THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
  BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THE BIBLE IS A BOOK TO BE RIGHTLY DIVIDED
  BECAUSE IT IS UNDENOMINATIONAL
  BECAUSE IT IS SCRIPTURAL IN DOING MISSIONARY WORK
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES THE KINGDOM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND CHRIST IS NOW REIGNING
  BECAUSE IT GIVES SCRIPTURAL ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION- WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES THAT MAN IS SAVED BY FAITH BUT NOT BY FAITH ONLY
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES THAT MAN IS SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES THAT A CHANGE OF HEART IS INDISPENSABLE TO MAN'S SALVATION
  BECAUSE OF ITS TEACHING AND PRACTICE CONCERNING PRAYER
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES AND ADMINISTERS SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES THAT A CHILD OF GOD CAN SO SIN AS TO BE ETERNALLY LOST
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES THAT INFANTS ARE BORN PURE AND INNOCENT RATHER THAN DEPRAVED
  BECAUSE IT TEACHES THAT THE MIRACULOUS MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT HAVE CEASED
  BECAUSE OF ITS SCRIPTURAL TEACHING AND OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
  BECAUSE IT HAS SCRIPTURAL MUSIC IN THE WORSHIP
  BECAUSE SALVATION IS IN CHRIST'S CHURCH
  
  1. INTRODUCTION
  Most denominational preachers say that man does not have to be a member of the church to be saved. If they mean denominations, the institutions of which they are members they are right. If they mean the church purchased by the blood, they are wrong.
  2. MEMBERSHIP IN CHRIST'S CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION
       1. Salvation is in the church, because it is the blood-purchased institution:"the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Paul said to the members of the church at Corinth, "You are not your own; for you were bought with a price" (1 Cor.6:19,20). That price was the blood of Christ. Let us note some deductions: (1) Church members were blood-bought; therefore, non-members were not blood bought. Who will say man can be saved apart from the blood? (2) The church is the only thing bought with the blood (Acts 20;28); therefore, those not in the church have not been blood-bought. (3) The church was purchased with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28); therefore, if the church is a non-essential intitution, God gave the blood of Christ to no avail. Every person who says that man can be saved out of the church brings an indictment against God. It is equivalent to charging God with being an unmerciful friend who used the blood of His Son to purchase a worthless and unessential intitution. We care not in word or deed bring that charge against a' the Father of mercies and God of all comfort"!
       2. Salvation is in the church, for Paul promised that Christ would save the church: " For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body" (Eph. 5:23). The body is the church (Col.1:18). Hence, Christ is the saviour of the body or the church. This being true, what about the non-members? They are living in the world without promise or hope.
       3. Salvation is in the church, because it is there that man is reconciled unto God; "And might reconcile them both in one body unto God throught the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Eph.2:16). Paul identifies the body as the church (Col.1:18). Note the premises and conclusion: (1) It is admitted that man must be reconciled to God to be saved. (2) Reconciliation unto God is the body or church (Eph.2:16;Col.1:18). Therefore, man must be in the church to be saved.
       4. Salvation is in the church, because that is the group that Christ will present unto himself: "That he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph.5:27). Christ is going to present the church to himself. If we are members of the church, all is well. If not, then how can we expect to be presented to Christ? Our only answer is an echo and a silence.
       5. Man cannot be saved out of the church, because God adds all the saved to it: "And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved" (Acts 2:47). In the King James Version we find this wording: "And the lord added to the church, daily, such as should be saved." On that occasion three thousand were added to the church. In their lost condition they were not members, but in their saved condition they were members. Thus we see that to be saved was to be added to the church. They could not become saved without becoming members of the church. This makes it clear that the requirements of salvation and the requirements of church are the same. This means that all the lost are non-members, and all the saved are members. Hence, salvation is in the church, because it consists of all the saved. What about infants and mentally deficient persons? Are they in the church? No. They are safe, not saved, because they have never been lost.

       6. If one has to be a child in the family of God to be saved, he has to be a member of God's church to be saved. This is true because Paul declares that God's family or house is God's church. "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth" ( 1Tim.3:15). The house of God is the church of God, and the house is the family. We read of the conversion of the jailor and his house (Acts 16:29-34), but it was his family instead of his residence that was converted. We also read that Cornelius "feared God with all his house" (Acts 10:2), but it was his family instead of his dwelling that feared God.. The house of God, family of God, is the church of God. If one is in the family if God, he is in the church of God. If he is not in the church of God, then he is not in the family. If he is not in the family of God, then he is not a child of God, because God does not have children out of his family. Preachers who teach that a man can be a child of God and not be a member of God's church or family are teaching that God has children out of his family and is guilty of spiritual adultery. This reproaches the name of God!
       7. Jesus, the Shepherd of the sheep, taught that man must enter the fold to be saved: "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved" (John:9). (1) salvation is within the fold (John.10:9). (2) The fold is the church (Acts 20:28). (3) Therefore, salvation is within the church.
       8. Man cannot be saved out of the church, because he cannot be saved without being a branch in the vine. Jesus in speaking to his disciples, said, "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5). Christ and his disciples constitute one glorious plant. Men cannot be saved from this for Jesus said in the fifth verse," apart from me, you can do nothing."
  
•      9. It is impossible to be saved out of the church, because it is impossible to be saved without being justified: "and whom he called, them he also justified" (Rom.8:30). "you were called in one body" (Col.3:15), and the body is the church ...(Col. 1:18). Notice: (1) The called are the justified. (2) The called are in the body, the church. (3) Therefore, the justitied are in the church. This makes it plain that if a man is not in the church, he has not been justified.
       10. It is impossible to be saved out of the church, because it is impossible to be saved without being delivered out of the power of darkness: " Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love" (Col. 1:13). Those in the kingdom-and the kingdom is the church (Matt.16:18,19)-have been delivered out of the power of darkness. Hence, those not in the kingdom have not been delievered out of the power of darkness. Persons out of the kingdom or church are in need of having their eyes opened "that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:18).
       11.Let us look at the tabernacle as a type. There were the holy place and the most holy place. Types can be carried too far, but it seems that the Scriptures warrant our saying that the holy place was a type of a the church, and the most holy place was a type of heaven (Heb. 8,9,10). The point is this: They had to go through the holy place to get into the most holy place. Therefore, the Bible teaches in type that man must go through the church to get into heaven.
  This information is taken from the book by Leroy Brownlow WHY I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
       12. IS THE CHURCH AN UNKNOWABLE INSTITUTION Some say, "Yes, you have to be in the Lord's church to be saved, but it is invisible, mystical something that no human knows anything about." This is not true: (1) It is so reognizable that three thousand were known to have been added to it on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41,47). They were not added until they were baptized (Acts 2:41). therefore, God will not add unbaptized persons to it today, because he is not a respecter of persons (Acts.10:34). (2) It is so visible that a great persecution arose against it " in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad" (Acts.8:1). (3) The church is so knowable in any community that we find in the new Testament several letters addressed to it in various communities: Corinth, Galatia, Thessalonica,ect.

Ron Halbrook made a visit to different location at Davao city area for Bible Lectureship

BAPTISM AT BARRIO 4 NEW PANGASINAN KORONADAL CITY

I accompanied Ron Halbrook in his bible lectureship last August 26-28,2011

Ang Anak ba sa Dios pwedeng mobiya sa pagtoo ug masinilotan?

Mga butang nga pwedeng mabuhat sa mga anak na sa Dios:

1. Mapakyas sa pagkab-ot sa grasya sa Dios -  Heb. 12:15 - Tan-awa ninyo nga walay bisan kinsa nga mapakyas sa pagkab-ot sa grasya sa Dios; nga walay "gamut sa kapaitan" nga mogitib ug magahimog kasamok ug tungod niini ang daghan mahitakdan sa kahugaw;
2. Madaldal ngadto sa kasaypanan ug mahulog - 2 Ped. 3:17 - Busa, mga hinigugma, sa nasayud na kamong daan niini, magbantay kamo basi bayag madaldal kamo sa kasaypanan sa mga tawong masupilon ug mangahulog kamo ug mawad-an kamo sa inyong kalig-on.
3. Mahisalaag gikan sa kamatuoran - Santiago 5:19 - Mga igsoon ko, kon aduna kaninyoy mahisalaag gikan sa kamatuoran ug may usa nga makapabalik kaniya,
4. Mahisalaag ug musunod kang Satanas - 1 Tim. 5: 14-15 - Busa buot ko nga managpamana ang mga babayeng balo nga mga baton-on pa, managpanganak sila, managdumala sa ilang mga panimalay, ug dili sila maghatag sa kaaway sa higayon sa pagsultig mga pagdaut kanato.15 Kay aduna nay pipila kanila nga nanghisalaag ngadto sa pagsunod kang Satanas.
5. Mawad-an sa kalig-on - 2 Ped. 3:17 - Busa, mga hinigugma, sa nasayud na kamong daan niini, magbantay kamo basi bayag madaldal kamo sa kasaypanan sa mga tawong masupilon ug mangahulog kamo ug mawad-an kamo sa inyong kalig-on.
6. Makapandol ang maluya nga igsoon -  1 Cor. 8:10 -11 - Kay kon ikaw nga may kahibalo makita sa usa ka tawo nga ikaw nagalingkod tambong sa kan-anan sa sulod sa templo sa diosdios, dili ba siya lagmit nga madasig, kon mahuyang ang iyang kaisipan, sa pagkaon sa kalan-on nga gihalad ngadto sa mga diosdios?11 Sa ingon niana, tungod sa imong kahibalo nadaut hinoon kining maong tawong mahuyang, nga imong igsoon nga alang kaniya si Cristo nagpakamatay.
7. Motalikod gikan sa balaang sugo - 2Ped. 2:19 – 21 - Kay kon tapus sila makaikyas gikan sa mga kahugawan sa kalibutan pinaagi sa ilang kahibalo sa atong Ginoo ug Manluluwas nga si Jesu-Cristo,-- kon tapus niini sila magapusgapos pag-usab diha kanila ug pagabuntugon, ang ulahing kahimtang nila labi pa unyang mangil-ad kay sa nahauna. 21 Kay alang kanila maayo pa lamang unta hinoon nga wala sila mahibalo sa dalan sa pagkamatarung kay sa motalikod sila tapus mahibalo niini,-- motalikod gikan sa balaang sugo nga gitugyan kanila.22 Sila hingmatud-an sa tinuod nga sanglitanan nga nagaingon, "Gibalikan sa iro ang iyang kaugalingong suka; ug tapus madigo ang anay, sa yanang mobalik siya sa paglunang."
8. Mahi-agum sa silot - Santiago 5:12 - Apan labaw sa tanan, mga igsoon, ayaw gayud kamo pagpanumpa, bisan pa kon ipasikad sa langit o sa yuta o sa bisan unsa pang panumpaa, hinonoa ang inyong oo himoa nga oo ra, ug ang inyong dili himoa nga dili ra, aron dili kamo mahiagum sa hukom sa silot.
9. Mahinukman sa Silot - 1 Cor. 9:27 - hinonoa ginabun-og ko ang akong lawas ug ginapanton ko kini, basi unya nga sa tapus ako makasangyaw ngadto sa uban, ako pagahukman na hinoon nga dili diay takus sa pag-apil sa bangga.
10. Pwede siyang putlon sama sa sanga nga walay bunga - Juan 15:1-6 - "Ako mao ang tinuod nga tanum nga parsas, ug ang akong Amahan mao ang tig-alima.2 Ang tanan kong sanga nga dili mamunga, kini iyang pamutlon; ug ang tanang sanga nga mamunga, kini iyang pagahinloan aron mamungag labi pang daghan.3 Kamo nangahinlo na tungod sa pulong nga akong gisulti kaninyo.4 Pabilin kamo kanako, ug pabilin ako kaninyo. Maingon nga ang sanga sa iya rang kaugalingon dili makabunga, gawas kon magapabilin kini sa tanum, sa ingon usab kamo dili makapamunga gawas kon magpabilini kamo kanako.5 Ako mao ang tanum nga parras, kamo mao ang mga sanga. Ang magapabilin kanako, kang kinsa magapabilin ako, mao siya ang magapamungag daghan, kay gawas kanako wala gayud kamoy arang mahimo. 6 Ang tawo nga dili magapabilin kanako, igasalibay siya sama sa sanga ug malaya; ug ang mga sanga pamuniton ug igaitsa ngadto sa kalayo ug mangasunog sila.
11. Dili bugnaw – dili usab init –  isuka - Pinadayag 3:14-18 - "Ug ngadto sa manolunda sa iglesia sa Laodicea, isulat mo kini: `Mao kini ang mga pulong sa Amen, ang kasaligan ug tinuod nga saksi, ang sugdanan sa mga binuhat sa Dios:15 "`Nasayud ako sa imong mga nabuhat, nga ikaw dili mabugnaw ug dili usab mainit. Kon mabugnaw ka pa unta o mainit!16 Ug kay ikaw dagaang man lamang, dili mabugnaw ug dili usab mainit, isuka ko ikaw gikan sa akong baba.17 Kay ikaw magakanayon, Ako dato, ako mauswagon, ug walay nakulang kanako; sa walay pagpanghibalo nga ikaw alaut, makalolooy, kabus, buta ug hubo.18 Busa tambagan ko ikaw nga gikan kanako magpalit kag bulawan nga inulay sa kalayo, aron madato ka; ug mga maputing bisti nga imong ikasul-ob aron dili magdayag ang pagkamakauulaw sa imong pagkahubo; ug tambal nga ikapadapat sa imong mga mata aron ikaw makakita.
12. Magbantay basig mabihag - Col. 2:8 - Bantayi ninyo nga walay bisan kinsa nga magabihag kaninyo pinaagi sa pilosopiya ug sa malimbongon nga pagpatootoo, sumala sa tawhanong kalagdaan nga gikabilinbilin, sumala sa mga paninugdan nga tinoohan sa kalibutan, ug dili sumala ni Cristo.
13. Pwedeng mabulag sa paglaum kon magpasaway ug magpabadlong. - Col 1:22 -23 - karon iya nang napasig-uli ngadto kaniya diha sa iyang tawhanon nga lawas pinaagi sa iyang kamatayon, aron iya kamong ikapaatubang nga binalaan ug dili masaway ug dili mabadlong diha sa iyang atubangan,23 kon kamo magapadayon gayud sa pagtoo, dili matarug, malig-on, dili mobulag sa paglaum sa Maayong Balita nga inyong gipatalinghugan, nga gikawali ngadto sa tanang mga binuhat sa silong sa langit, ug nga niini ako, si Pablo, nahimong ministro.
14. Pinalit na apan nagpanghimakak sa Agalong nagpalit - 2 Ped. 2:1 – 2 - Apan diha usab ing mga mini nga profeta sa taliwala sa katawhan, maingon nga sa taliwala ninyo aduna usab gayuy mobarug nga mga mini nga magtutudlo nga sa tago magapasulod sa makapadaut nga mga herejia, ug magapanghimakak pa gani sa Agalon nga maoy nagpalit kanila, ug busa magpahimutang sa kalit nga pagkalaglag diha sa ilang kaugalingon.2 Ug daghan ang managsunod sa ilang pagpatuyang sa kaulag, ug tungod kanila pagapasipad-an ang dalan sa kamatuoran.
15. Gibalaan na apan nagayatak sa anak sa Dios – Silotan sa mabug-at gayod! -Heb, 10:29 - Sa inyong paghunahuna, unsa ka labi pa ka mabug-at gayud sa silot nga mahiaguman sa tawo nga magayatak sa Anak sa Dios, ug magapakawalay bili sa dugo sa pakigsaad nga pinaagi niini gibalaan siya, ug magapanamastamas sa Espiritu sa grasya?
16. Mobiya sa buhi nga Dios - Heb. 3:12 - Magmatngon kamo, mga igsoon, basi nga diha kang bisan kinsa kaninyo maanaa unyay dautan ug dili matinoohong kasingkasing, nga magataral kaninyo sa pagpamiya gikan sa buhi nga Dios.
17. Dunay dili makakab-ot sa kapahulayang dayon tungod sa pagkawalay kahadlok sa Dios - Heb. 4:1 - Busa, samtang nagapadayon pa ang saad sa atong pagpakasulod sa iyang kapahulayan, batonan ta ang kahadlok basi unya hinoon aduna kaninyoy maisip nga wala makakab-ot niini.
18. Ang Taphaw ug pagtoo dili maluwas - 1 Cor. 15:1-3 - Mga igsoon, buot kong ipahinumdom kaninyo ang Maayong Balita nga akong giwali kaninyo, nga inyong gipanagdawat, nga niini nanagbarug kamo karon,2 ug nga pinaagi niini kamo ginaluwas kon inyo kining kuptan pag-ayo-- gawas kon taphaw ra ang inyong pagtoo.3 Kay gihatag ko kaninyo ingon nga labing hinungdanon ang nadawat ko ra usab, nga si Cristo namatay tungod sa atong mga sala sumala sa kasulatan,

Prepared by: Carlito L. Abella Jr.          

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

"AUTONOMY!" by David Hicks

"AUTONOMY!"

The word, ‘autonomy' means self-government. This was the Lord's intent for each of His local bodies. Each local church is subject to Christ, His authority, and is independent of each other for the work that the Lord gave them to do. This rule is predicated on two very important things:

1) The principle of independence of each local church.

2) The equality of all the churches of Christ.

 

I. The Lord Gave His Church a Congregational Form of Government.

The Lord designed for there to be elders in each church to shepherd and protect the individual flocks.

Acts 14:23 “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

Acts 20:28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons”

1 Peter 5:2 “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly”

 

These elders, who shepherd the flock according to the doctrine of Christ, only have authority over each local church (“flock” singular, “among you”). In this we see that they have absolutely no jurisdiction in any other location than over those who are among them, and cannot by design extend it any further!

In this we see the Divine order from the Lord for a local church. There is nothing smaller than a local church and nothing larger than a local church. This specific design excludes any other organizational form. It was also given to enhance the individual Christian's role and importance, note:

Ephesians 4:15-16 “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

 

Each body of Christ (singular), through the participation of all its members causes the fulfillment of everything the Lord gave His church (individually – “itself”) to complete (Ephesians 4:12).

As the Lord dealt with His knowledge of each of the seven churches of Asia; He said, “I know your works”individually to each church (Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15). The Lord closely watched each of His local churches and saw them as individual entities, each working to fulfill the role of an individual body of Christ (some successfully, some not).

 

II. Each Local Church Carried Out the Mission of the Church.

Each congregation did its own work supervised by its own elders. This work included the spread of the Gospel.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-8 “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.”

 

Each local church supported preachers laboring in the field.

Philippians 4:15-18 “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sentfrom you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.”

 

Each church made up its own funds for benevolent work and sent it by its own representatives to see it to the right hands for proper distribution.

Acts 11:29-30 “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”

 

The disciples of the church in Antioch of Syria, each gave according to their ability, sent the funds via their own chosen ambassadors (Barnabas and Saul), and had it delivered to the elders for proper distribution to truly needy saints.

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.”

 

By the order of Paul to the church of Christ at Corinth , the pattern is repeated, just as it was to each of the churches of Galatia . Each church sending its own representative who traveled all the way to the destination to see the benevolence delivered to the elders in Jerusalem (see: Acts 20:4; 21:15-17), each individual disciple giving as they had been prospered.

 

What is conspicuously missing in all of these illustrations is an institutional approach where churches band together in cooperation to fulfill the work that the Lord gave each local church. This due to the fact that the church is not institutional, it is organic! Each local body of Christ is made up of individuals who have been called out of darkness and into the light of the doctrine of Christ (Acts 26:18; Ephesians 3:8-12).

There is nothing given the collective work of the church that cannot be completed by each of the local bodies of Christ independently of one another. Fellowship (joint participation to a common goal) in each church towards completion of each churches work, is done by its individual members working in conjunction with each other.

Romans 12:3-5 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

 

Each body of Christ shared in many of the same functions independently; such as worship on the first day of the week, partaking of the Lord's supper each first day of the week, collections on the first day of the week, praying, singing, etc…

Acts 2:42; 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 16:1-4; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16.

However, the only universal thing they shared was a kindred relationship to the Christ as the head of the body.

Colossians 1:18 “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

 

No inter-congregational alliances, no corporate organization, no earthly headquarters, none becoming agents of others. Each church was completely equal and completely equipped to do all that the Lord had given; if it sought the wisdom of the Lord.

Since Christ is the only one to have preeminence in the church, we must avoid at all costs the undermining forces that destroy the autonomous nature of the Lord's church. Where are the local members individually completing the work of the church when community councils decide the work of the church; or presidents, boards of directors, headquarter churches, etc…???

 

God's wisdom must prevail!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6