WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE THE CHURCH OF- CHRIST
Col. 1:11-18
Thesis: to set forth necessary characteristics of the church.
Introduction:
1. Not all churches claim to be the church of Christ.
A. Churches of Satan do not.
B. Oriental churches do not.
2. People who believe the Bible believe in the importance
of the church.
A. God purposed the church. (Eph. 3:1-6).
B. Jesus purchased the church with His blood. (Acts
20:28).
C. God is to be glorified in the church. (Eph. 3:20,21).
D. Christ's relationship to the church becomes the ideal
of the husband-wife relationship. (Eph. 5:23-32).
3. What does it take for a group of religious people to really
be the church of Christ.
Body:
1. Recognition of Headship of Christ. (Col. 1:18).
A. He is in control of material universe. (Col. 1:15-17).
B. In the universe there are two things which have
sinned:
1. Angels. (2 Peter 2:4).
2. Men. (Rom. 3:23). They are in kingdom of
darkness. (Col. 1:12-13).
C. The true church is made up of people who do not
rebel against Christ. They obey Him!
11. Respect For The New Testament of Christ.
A. Christ, the head of the church, is not on earth. He is
in heaven. (Col. 1:12-13).
B. How can He serve then as "head"/director of the
church?
1. How can one control things after he dies?
2. This is done by a will and testament. (Heb. 9:16,17).
3. Jesus is the mediator of a New Testament. (Heb.
9:14,15).
C. There is no way we can respect Jesus as the Head of
the church apart from a response to His New
Testament!
1. Not both Old and New Testaments. (Rom. 7:1-4; Acts 15).
2. We live under the New Testament of Jesus Christ.
(Heb. 8:8-12).
Ill. Attitude of Obedience To Christ. (Col. 3:17).
A. In matters of worship.
1. The danger. (Matt. 15:8,9).
2. The words of Jesus. (John 4:23,24).
3. Singing. (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19).
a. Playing a mechanical instrument.
b. Where does N.T. say do it?
4. Lord's Supper: Every first day of the week.
a. How "often" is "often? (I Cor. 11:26).
b. Lord said do this in my memory. (Luke
22:19).
c. Lord said assemble. (Heb. 10:25).'
d. They assembled to eat Lord's Supper. (I Cor.
11:33).
e. They did that on the 'first day of the week.
(Acts 20:7).
f. What "first day? - Every first day!
S. Support. (I Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 9:7).
B. In life. (Col. 3:18-23).
1. Most religious people would surely agree with
these things.
2. God's people/the Lord's church is made up of
saints. (I Cor. 1:1-2).
Conclusion:
1. Let us strive to be the church of Christ.
2. This involves more than merely calling our-selves by the
name.
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