This week I want to discuss "The Only Church." Most articles (sermons) have three or four major points with minor points to support the major points. In this article there is only ONE major point with several sub-points to bring us to the major point. You will have to read closely the entire article to find and understand the major point. A popular saying in the religious world today is "go to the church of your choice." Is this saying Biblical? Does the Bible teach there is only one church belong­ing to Christ? Is the church of Christ the one church of which we read in the New Testament? Does it make any difference what church one attends or is a member of? I believe the Bible plainly teaches it does make a difference because Jesus said "MY CHURCH" . . . "THE CHURCH" . . . singular. . . not plural. Is the church of Christ as we know it today, the only church? If so, what distinguishes it from all other churches?

It is NOT the only church that RESPECTS THE BIBLE AS GOD'S WORD. We do (John_17: 17, 2Tim._3: 16-17, 2Pet._ 1 :21). It is true there are many churches which deny the Bible is the ver­bal inspired inerrant word of God. But there are other churches that believe this just as firmly as we do, maybe more than some of the members of the Lord's church. When I say the church of Christ is the only church, it is not the only church that believes in the Bible as the word of God.

It is not the only church that recognizes the distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We believe that Christ gave a new covenant and that he fulfilled the old (Jer._31:31, Heb._8:6-8, Col._2:14, 2Cor._3:6-18). But we are not the only church that believes this to be true.

It is not the ONLY CHURCH that does not believe in using instrumental music. We believe it should not be used because the Bible does not authorize it (Eph._5:16, Col._3:15-17). Though they are rare there are other churches that do believe in the use of instrumental music. We are not the only one that does not believe in the instrument.

It is not the ONLY CHURCH that believes in taking the Lord's Supper each Lord's day. We do so because the Bible instructs us to so partake (Matt._26:26-29, Acts_2:42, 20:7, 1Cor._11:18-28). We are not the only church because we are the only one that believes in taking the Lord's Supper on the Lord's day, or each Lord's day.

It is not the ONLY CHURCH that teaches the Bible purpose and mode of baptism. The Bible mode of baptism is a burial- immersion (Matt._3:16, Acts_8:38, Rom._6:3-5). The purpose of baptism is for the remission of sins (Matt._28:19, Mark_16:15-16, Acts_2:38, Acts_22:16, 22:16, Rom._6:3-5). Without being obedient to God in being buried with Christ m baptism one cannot come in contact with the blood of Christ through which we have the remission of our sins (Acts 22:_16, Eph._1 :7) But we are not the only one who believes in the Bible mode and purpose of baptism. So we are not he only church that baptizes by immersion for the remission of sins.

We also believe in the Scriptural organization of the church with elders over each individual congregation. This means we also believe in the autonomy of each congregation. We don’t have any earthly Headquarters - headquarters are where the head lives. Christ is our head and  he reigns in and from heaven. But we are not the only church that has elders or the only church that believes in congregational autonomy.

We believe the church must have a Bible name - thus we use the name Church of Christ (Rom._16: 16) showing ownership (Matt._16: 18, Acts_20:28). But we are not the only church to use a Bible name - ex. "Church of God.”

We are not the only church that calls its members Christians (Acts_11:26). Most every protestant church calls its members Christians, they may be A-Christians or B-Christians, but they are called Christians. So we are not the only church that uses the name Christian.

We believe in benevolent work. But we are not only church that practices benevolence. Some may in fact put us to same in this area.

We are not the only church which practices evangelism (Matt._28:19, Mark_16:15). There are many others who also believe in evangelism, again some maybe far more zealous in this regard than we.

So we are not the ONLY ONES that believes in the Bible as the Word of God that be­lieves in the proper division of the Bible, in not using instrumental music, in partaking of the Lord's Supper each Lord's day, that teaches the Bible mode and purpose of baptism, that has the scriptural organization under elders, that calls itself by a Bible name that has high moral standards and that is benevolent and evangelistic.

What then distinguishes the church of Christ from any other churches? "What makes it the only New Testament church? It is THE ONLY ONE that teaches and practices ALL OF THE BEFORE MENTIONED CHARACTERISTICS! That is what makes it different from all other religious bodies. It is this truth that makes the church of Christ the one New Testament church.  We stand ready at any time to discuss these points with any one, using the Bible as the only authority.

Gary Barnes