When one looks into a phone book to find a group of people to assemble with to worship God they find a large number of choices in most averaged size communities.  As you look down the list of people to assemble with you have to make a choice.  Some choose based upon the religion of their parents, others based upon the location, and some based upon what “programs” might be offered.  However, one should be searching to find the one that Jesus built.  Jesus did not come to earth and die for many churches to be purchased.  He died to purchase His church (Acts 20:28 and Ephesians 5:25).  Throughout this article we are not going to search for the best location, the best programs, or even to find where someone’s folks may have attended, but we are going to search to find out how to know which church Jesus has built and authorized to exist.  In our nation today there are literally thousands of religious bodies.  What we will find is that the Bible only authorizes ONE religious body.

1. The Bible teaches there is ONE body (Ephesians 4:4)

2. The Bible teaches the body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18)

3. The Bible teaches the church is the people, not the building (I Corinthians 12:27)

The church that Jesus built was in existence in AD 33:
 

1. The church / Kingdom would come into existence in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3 and Micah 4:1-2).
2. Jerusalem was the place were the disciples would first preach repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:47).

A. This occurred at Jerusalem in AD 33 (Acts 2:5; 38).
B. People were added to the church of Christ on this day and days following (Acts 2:47).
C. The kingdom / church existed in the 1st Century for people to be added to upon conversion (Colossians 1:13).

Which of the following churches listed meet the criteria the Bible puts forth for being the one true church?  Which of the following was established in Jerusalem, in AD 33, and built by Jesus Christ?  Which of the following do not meet the criteria set forth in God’s word, thus making them man-made religions?

(Note: There are many that could be listed, but here are the major world religions and the fact of the matter is that only one was started at the right time, in the right place, and with the right founder).
 

1. church of Christ – AD 33 – Jerusalem - Jesus Christ (Romans 16:16 and Matthew 16:18)
2. The Catholic church – AD 606-607 – Rome – Boniface III
3. Lutheran church – AD 1520 AD – Germany – Martin Luther
4. Episcopalian church – AD 1534 – England – Henry VIII
5. Presbyterian church – AD 1536 – Switzerland – John Calvin
6. Congregational church – AD 1550 – England – Robert Browne
7. Baptist church – AD 1607 – Holland – John Smythe
8. Methodist church – AD 1739 – England – John Wesley
9. Mormon church – AD 1830 – United States – Joseph Smith
10. Seventh Day Adventist – AD 1830 – United States – William Miller
11. Christian Scientist – AD 1866 – United States – Mary Baker Eddy
12. Jehovah’s Witnesses – AD 1872 – United States – Charles T. Russell
13. Christian church – AD 1800’s – 1906 – United States – B.W. Stone and Alexander Campbell

The church of Christ is the only one listed above that meets the criteria listed in the Bible as the church Jesus built.  The church of Christ was founded at the proper time, in the proper place, by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the savior of His body the church (Ephesians 5:23), not of the churches that have been started by men.  However, there are many groups of people that meet in this country that call themselves the “church of Christ”.  To be the church of Christ you must not only wear the proper name, but you must be the church of Christ in practice as well.

The church that Jesus promised and built will be able to be identified by comparing the church of Christ we read about in the New Testament with the church of Christ that exist today.  As there were imposters even in the 1st Century (Matthew 7:15-20, II Corinthians 11:12-15, and Jude 3-4), there will be imposters today.  So, we must try (test) each thing (I John 4:1), to be able to know the genuine from the imposter.  Let's see some things that the Bible teaches the true church of Christ will do, and allow those things to be the test to expose any imposters.
 

1. The true church of Christ will not have any human creed book, but simply believe that God’s word is the authority.  The Bible is the inspired, complete, and perfect word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17 and II Peter 1:3).
2. The true church of Christ will tell you that if you ask us a Bible question, they are commanded to give you a Bible answer (I Thessalonians 5:21, I Peter 3:15, and Romans 12:2).
3. The true church of Christ will be able to open the Bible and show you what they teach from the scriptures and they will be able to show you passages that will show that everything they do in worship and as the work of the church is authorized by Christ in the New Testament (Colossians 3:17).
4. The true church of Christ will tell you that they will not and cannot add to or take from God’s written word (Revelation 22:18-19, Deuteronomy 4:2, Galatians 1:8-9).
5. The true church of Christ will tell you that we will be judged based upon the Law of Christ (John 12:48).  Thus, the Bible teaches us that the Law of Moses [Old Testament] is not binding today (Colossians 2:14, Romans 7:1-6, and Hebrews 9:15-17).
6. The true church of Christ does not teach or practice any doctrines that are man-made, this would be a violation of God’s Law (Galatians 1:10 and Matthew 15:7-9).
7. The true church of Christ will not be ashamed to tell you that the Bible speaks of ONLY ONE church (Ephesians 4:4, Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18, Matthew 16:18, and I Corinthians 12:12-13) and that they are that one true church.
8. The true church of Christ will be able to show you reasons why [from the scriptures] that they are the church you read about in the New Testament.

A. Usage of a Bible name (Romans 16:16 and Ephesians 4:12).
B. It was not formed by division and does not bear anyone else’s name (I Corinthians 1:10-13).
C. Christ is the founder and head (Matthew 16:18 and Colossians 1:18).
D. The true church of Christ worships in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24):

(1) Every first day of the week Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7, Matthew 26:26-30, and I Corinthians 11:23-29).
(2) Every first day of the week contribution (I Corinthians 16:1-2).
(3) Bible only preaching (II Timothy 4:2, Romans 1:16, Mark 16:15-16, and Matthew 28:19).
(4) Prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17).
(5) Singing without the accompaniment of a musical instrument realizing that only the heart is where the melody in New Testament worship is to be made -(Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Acts 16:25, I Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19,  Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 2:12, and James 5:13).

9. The true church of Christ will teach and believe what the Bible teaches relative to God’s plan of salvation:

A. One must hear God’s word (Romans 10:14-17, Matthew 13:19, and Matthew 28:19).
B. One must believe that Gospel (Mark 16:15-16, Hebrews 11:6, John 8:24, and John 3:16).
C. One must repent of their sins (Luke 13:3;5, Acts 2:38, Acts 26:20, and Acts 17:30).
D. One must confess that Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37, Romans 10:10, and Matthew 10:32-33).
E. One must be baptized by immersion for the remission of sins into the body of Christ his Church (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-6, Galatians 3:27, I Corinthians 12:12-13, I Peter 3:20-21, Acts 8:12, Acts 22:16, II Corinthians 5:17 and John 3:1-5.

10. The one true church of Christ will not have an earthly headquarters.  The head of the church of Christ is its founder Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18).  Each congregation will be under the oversight of the local leadership of those among the flock (I Peter 5:1-2), not under some man-made convention or other realm of leadership.  The true church of Christ will follow the pattern of the Bible in all things.

As one examines the Bible and the history of the dates the world’s denominations began in they will certainly come to the only conclusion there is.  That conclusion is that the church of Christ is the only body of people that fit the criteria God laid out in establishment, in practice of worship, and in doctrine.  The church of Christ is a body of people that elevate God and His word instead of men and their theology (Galatians 1:10-12).

As in the days of Noah, there was one boat that would bring those who obeyed God out of the flood alive (Genesis 6:13ff and I Peter 3:20-21), there is only one vessel today that will deliver men from destruction.  That vessel of salvation is the church of Christ (Ephesians 5:23 and I Corinthians 15:24-28).  Are you in the right vessel?