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By Roger A. Scully, Jr.
preaching Jesus, which is synonymous with preaching the terms of salvation and the church for which Jesus died
(Acts 20:28). Seeing as how Jesus purchased the church with His own blood, it is hardly possible to speak of the
one without the other. Notice that when Philip went to Samaria the text says he “preached Christ unto them” (v.5).
Verse 12 says, “they believed Philip preaching things concerning the kingdom, and they were baptized.” Later, when
preaching to the eunuch of Ethiopia about Jesus (v.35), the eunuch asked what “hindered” him from being baptized
(v.36). It becomes quite obvious, then, that to preach Jesus is to preach the kingdom, which is the church (cf.
Matthew 16:18-20), which is to preach the terms of salvation, which involves the concept of baptism (Romans 6:3,
4). Now, it is by being baptized that one is added to the Christ, hence is added to His church (Galatians 3:27; Acts 2:
47) of which there is but one (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4:4). Despite the fact that there is only one church spoken of in
Scripture, people still seek to align themselves with some man-made denomination, which “teaches for doctrines the
commandments of men” (cf. Matthew 15:1-9). Thus, when we are trying to fulfill our duty by preaching the gospel to
every creature, we often hear it said, “I already have a church.” That may be, but we ask, is it the church of the
Bible, the church of the Christ?
First, we ask: does your church worship God in the manner in which He commanded in the Bible? The New
Testament church of the Christ worshiped God in five ways: (1) There was preaching (Ac 20:7); (2) They gave as
they had been prospered, only on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2); (3) They would sing songs,
hymns and spiritual songs, without the use of mechanical instruments (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16, 17); (4)
They prayed to God through the Christ (Acts 2:42); and (5) There was the taking of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). If
the church you attend does not worship following this manner, then you may have a church, but it is not the church
of the Bible.
Next, we ask: does your church teach the plan of salvation as taught in Scripture? The New Testament teaches that
a man must hear the word of God (Romans 10:17); must believe that word (John 8:24); must repent of his past sins
(Acts 17:30); must confess his faith in Christ as the Lord of His life (Romans 10:10); must be baptized in water for
salvation (1 Peter 3:21); and live faithfully until death (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 15:58). Does the church you
attend teach this as the plan of salvation? If not, then you might have a church, but it is not the church of the Bible.
Thirdly, did the church of which you are a part have its beginning in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after the
resurrection of the Christ? Isaiah prophesied that the covenant of Christianity would be established in the last days
in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-3). Joel also prophesied of this time calling it the last days (Joel 2:28), because it will be the
last dispensation of time. In Acts chapter two the apostle Peter said, “this is that which was spoken of by the prophet
Joel…it shall come to pass in the last days” (vs. 16, 21). What was taking place? The word of the Lord was going
forth as had been prophesied by Isaiah. Going forth from where? From Jerusalem, hence God’s house, which is the
church (1 Timothy 3:15), was established at that time. If you are a part of a church that was established at some
other time, in some other place, by someone besides Jesus, then you might have a church, but it is not the church
of the Bible.
Jesus said in John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Won’t you search the Scriptures
to learn of God’s truth? Won’t you compare the church of which you are a part to the church spoken of in Scripture?
Does your church have the identifiable marks? Can you honestly say that the church of which you are a part speaks
where the Bible speaks, and does Bible things in Bible ways? If not, then become a part of the church for which
Jesus died, His church, the church of Christ (Romans 16:16).