Some Things You Should Know

You should know that in Bible times, the church is called:

The temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32)
The body of Christ (Colossians 1:18,24; Ephesians 1:22-23)
The kingdom of God's son (Colossians 1:13)
The house of God (1 Timothy 3:15)
The church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2)
The church of the first-born (Hebrews 12:23)
The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28)
The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16)

You should know that the church is:

Built by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:13-18)
Purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28)
Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Not built on Peter, Paul, or any other man (1 Corinthians 1:12-13)
Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord who saves them (Acts 2:47)

You should know that members of the church are called:

Members of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5)
Disciples of Christ (Acts 6:1,7; Acts 11:26)
Believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15)
Saints (Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1)
Priests (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6)
Children of God (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2)
Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16)

You should know that the local church has:

Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
Deacons, who serve the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1)
Evangelists (preachers, ministers) who teach and proclaim the word of God (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Members, who love the Lord and each other (Philippians 2:1-5)
Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith shared (Jude 3; Galatians 5:1)

You should know that the Lord Jesus Christ:

Loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)
Shed his blood for the church (Acts 20:28)
Established the church (Matthew 16:18)
Added saved people to the church (Acts 2:47)
Is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:23)
Will save the church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23)

You should know that man did not:

Purpose the church (Ephesians 3:10-11)
Purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25)
Name its members (Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)
Add people to the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:18)
Give the church its doctrine (Galatians 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11)

You should know, to enter the church, you must:

Believe in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31)
Repent of your sins (Turn away from your sins) (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30)
Confess faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10)
Be baptized into the saving blood of Jesus Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Acts 22:16)

You should know that baptism requires:

Much water (John 3:23; Acts 10:47)
Going down into the water (Acts 8:36-38)
A burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)
A resurrection (Acts 8:39; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)
A birth (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-6)
A washing (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22)

You should know that by baptism:

You are saved from sins (Mark 16:16 1 Peter 3:21)
You have remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21)
You enter into the church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41,47)
You enter into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4)
You put on Christ and become a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27)
You are born again, a new creature (Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
You walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-6)
You obey Christ (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

You should know that the faithful church will:

Worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)
Meet on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25)
Pray (James 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Sing, making melody with the heart (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
Eat the Lord's supper on the first day of the week (Acts 2:42 20:7; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:20-32)
Give, liberally and cheerfully (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

You should know, that in New Testament times there was:

One family of God (Ephesians 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:15)
One kingdom of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13-14)
One body of Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4)
One bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-23)
One church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4-6)

You know that the same church today:

Is guided by the same word (1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Contends for the one faith (Jude 3; Ephesians 4:5)
Pleads for unity of all believers (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6)
Is not a denomination (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6)
Is faithful to Christ (Luke 6:46; Revelation 2:10; Mark 8:38)
Wears the name of Christ (Romans 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)

You should know that you can be a member of this church:

You should know that a child of God:

Can be lost (1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12-19)
But is given a law of pardon (Acts 8:22; James 5:16)
Is constantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10)

Asher Church of Christ