CHURCHES OF CHRIST

"WHO ARE WE?"

"Doctrinal Statement"

Dr. Ian A. Fair

This "doctrinal statement" seeks to explain the religious affiliation and doctrinal stance of the author.

This "statement of faith" is purely descriptive and is in no way intended to be normative or binding on others.

In no way should this statement of faith be considered in any form or function as a creed to be bound on others.

This "statement of faith" will outline the fundamental values and doctrines most churches of Christ hold central to their faith.

This "Statement of Faith" seeks to address who we are in churches of Christ and what we believe. It will do so under four topics:

Ecclesiology – our church affiliation.

Scripture – how we understand Scripture and religious authority.

Atonement – what we believe about salvation.

Worship – how we worship God and His Son, and edify one another in regular worship services.

Ministry and Mission – our purpose as Christians.

ECCLESIOLOGY

Churches of Christ are comprised of a fellowship of local autonomous independent congregations.

We do not see ourselves as part of a religious denomination nor do we have any form of creed other than the Old and New Testaments that define our faith.

Churches of Christ have no earthly headquarters or universal governing board or Synod, nor do we have an earthly or human head of the church.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only head of the church.

Local congregations serve under the leadership of Elders, Deacons, Ministers, and other ministry group leaders.

Churches of Christ cooperate together in Christian fellowship in a number of ministry and missionary efforts.

We hold that Jesus established his kingdom during his incarnation (Matt 12:28), that the reign of Jesus (His kingdom) broke into human experience in a dramatic fashion on the Day of Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2), that Jesus is already reigning in his kingdom, both in heaven and on earth, that those who are saved are members of His church and His kingdom (Col 1:13).

We hold that the terms church, kingdom, family of God, and body of Christ are descriptive terms relating to those who are saved in Jesus Christ.

Churches of Christ trace their roots back to the New Testament church which Jesus established (Matt 16:16-18) and the church of which the Apostles and first century Christians were members.

Our goal is to be "Christians only" and simply "churches of Christ" as best we can, after the model of the first century Christians and church as described in the New Testament.

We are committed to brotherhood unity and a unity of the Spirit as encouraged by the Apostle Paul in Eph 4:1-6. We acknowledge our failure to always achieve this goal, and pray for God’s forgiveness. We strive to overcome our human weakness, and empowered by His Holy Spirit (Eph 3:14-21) to maintain the unity of the faith in Christian love.

We recommend that the reader refer to the Center’s Internet Home Page found at http://www.centerce.org for topics that reflect our views on a number of Biblical topics, including Baptism, the Church, and the Kingdom of God.

SCRIPTURE

We believe in the Bible as Scripture, divinely inspired Word of God, which defines our faith and practice (2 Tim 3:14-17; 2 Pet 1:20, 21; 2 Pet 3:14-16).

We hold to no form of written creed other than the Bible, carefully interpreted within its own context.

We hold that both the Old and New Testaments in the Judaeo-Christian Canon are equally inspired; that the Old Testament was given by God to Israel; and that the New Testament Scriptures reflect the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding faith, Jesus Christ, salvation, and the kingdom of God.

We hold that the Scriptures alone as described above are authoritative and normative for Christian faith and practice.

We believe that every Christian has the right and freedom to study and interpret Scripture for themselves.

Local congregations serve under the teaching and preaching of elders, ministers, and Bible class teachers.

Since we believe that the Bible is the Word of God and as such is the foundation of our faith, Churches of Christ encourage regular congregational and private Bible study.

We recommend that the reader refer to the Center’s Internet Home Page found at http://www.centerce.org for topics that reflect our views on The Bible.

ATONEMENT

We believe that all men are under the power of sin and therefore alienated from God. Because of this, all men need salvation and forgiveness of sin which comes from God through Jesus Christ and is by God’s grace and not by human works of the Law or any other kind of works (Rom 3:9,19-25).

We hold that access to God’s forgiving grace is through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works (Rom 5:1,2).

We believe that out of His loving kindness, grace, and mercy God planned from before the creation that we could be saved and become His children through Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3-12).

We hold that we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ, and not by works of merit which we might claim (Eph 3:8-10; Rom 3:20-25; 5:2,2).

We preach and teach that the crucifixion (death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) is the foundation and center of our salvation (1Cor 1:17-18; 2:1,2; 15:1-4).

We hold that in order to be saved it is necessary for persons to believe (have faith) in Jesus Christ and what God is doing through Jesus Christ (Heb 11:6; John 3:16; Rom 10:9,10; Rom 5: Eph 2:8-10).

Flowing out of that faith we teach that it is necessary for people to repent of their sinful life and turn to God (Acts 2:37,38).

We hold that baptism is a necessary act of faith and repentance, that it is by the immersion of believers in water, and that it is for salvation (Acts 2:38; Col 2:12; Rom 6:1-6).

We do not believe that baptism is a work of merit or a work of Christian obedience in response to salvation such as benevolence and worship, but that it is an act of obedient faith, trusting in the work of God, and that it is for the forgiveness of sins (Rom 6:1-7, 17; Col 2:12; Acts 2:38; 1 Pet 3:21; Acts 22:16).

We teach that in baptism the believer is united with Christ, his death, and his resurrection, and that in baptism one has died to the power of sin (Rom 6:1-6; Gal 3:26,27).

We believe that faith in the historical resurrection of Jesus is central to the gospel message relating to Jesus Christ.

We emphasize that Christians must continue to live in Christ, walk by the Spirit, and walk in the light (Rom 8:1-3; Gal 5:16-24; 1 John 1:5-10).

We hold that Jesus Christ will return again at God’s appointed time to judge the world in righteousness and redeem his saints (Acts 17:30,31; 1 Thess 4:13-17; 1 Cor 15:51-58).

We recommend that the reader refer to the Center’s Internet Home Page found at http://www.centerce.org for topics that reflect our views on Faith, Repentance, and Baptism.

WORSHIP

Congregations of churches of Christ celebrate their salvation and relationship with God in every day life, and in regular Sunday worship assemblies.

Since it was the practice of Christians in the first century AD to worship God and Jesus Christ on the first day of every week, the day of Jesus’ resurrection, we believe that Sunday, being the first day of the week, is the day when Christians should gather together (assemble) to "break bread" in worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11:17-26).

Christians should worship God with their lives every day of the week (Rom 12:1), but the first day of the week is a special day of worship for the church.

Worship assemblies are centered on the Lord’s Supper (The "Breaking of Bread", Eucharist, or Communion) in which Christians celebrate the new covenant of salvation in Jesus Christ and proclaim his death as the means of our salvation (Matt 26:26-29; 1 Cor 11:23-26).

During Sunday worship assemblies, in addition to celebrating the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist, Communion), Christians sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of praise to God and Jesus; hear sermons; pray to God and Jesus; and take up a free will contribution to maintain our ministries and outreach.

MINISTRY AND MISSION

In keeping with the Apostle Paul’s admonition, we believe that the purpose of the church and Christians is to so live that we bring glory to God through Christ and His church (Eph 1:11,12).

Christians seek to give their lives to God in spiritual service through a variety of ministries or services in reaching out to others in their need (Rom 12:1-8).

Benevolence (helping others in need) is a primary ministry in Churches of Christ (Gal 6:7-10; James 1:27).

Congregational Bible Study is an ongoing ministry in most Churches of Christ.

Evangelism, reaching out to the lost, is a primary congregational and personal ministry.

In response to Jesus’ commission to His Apostles in Matt 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 to preach the gospel to all nations, missions (taking the gospel to all nations in all the world) is a signature ministry of Churches of Christ.

Congregational and mutual edification, encouragement, and comfort is an important aspect of church life.

Used by Permission of

the author, Dr. Ian Fair

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