Do you know that you can be a Christian, a member of the church of the Lord, forgiven of your sins, and assured of the promise of eternal life-- all without ever joining any denomination, being bound by any human creed, or submitting to any final human authority in religion? Not only can you be, the Lord wants you to be!
Throughout the world, many people are studying their New Testaments with the thrilling awareness that the way to Christ and the salvation He offers is clearly revealed. These people are learning the the Word of God is the "seed" (Luke 8:11 - Bible references cited are quoted in full at the end of this article.), and that just as the seed produced Christians when preached and received into "honest and good" hearts in the first century, so it will produce Christians in the twentieth century. They are seeing, too, that far from authorizing a great number of different, competing groups the Lord established one church and that He guides that church, even today, by His own Word.
When people hear the gospel, believe it, repent of their sins, confess Christ, and are baptized, the Lord forgives their sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:10; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 22:16) and adds them to His church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:23). These "new creatures" are called Christians (Acts 11:26; I Peter 4:16). In all of their work and worship they are guided by the word of the Lord as revealed in the New Testament (II Timothy 3:16-17).
This message is presented by a congregation of just such people as you have been reading about. They have obeyed from the heart the simple commands of the Lord as they are given in the gospel record, and they have the Lord's promise that He has added them to His church. They have joined no denomination, subscribed to no human creed, recognized no final human authority in religion. They, along with millions of others, are pleading for the restoration of New Testament Christianity. They urge you to obey the gospel of Christ revealed in the New Testament.
The Word of God is the "seed."
Luke 8:11: "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."
The Lord reveals His terms of pardon. All men must:
Hear and believe the gospel.
Mark 16:15,16: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned."
Repent of their sins.
Acts 2:38: "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Confess their faith in Christ.
Romans 10:10: "for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Be baptized for the remission of their sins.
Acts 2:38: "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 6:3,4: "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we might also walk in newness of life."
Acts 22:16: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name."
The Lord forgives their sins and adds them to His church.
Acts 2:47 (King James Version): "Praising God, and having favour with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Ephesians 1:22,23: "and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
Ephesians 5:23: "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body."
New creatures in Christ are called "Christians."
Acts 11:25,26: "And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
I Peter 4:16: "but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name."
Their guide in all work and worship is the Word of the Lord.
II Timothy 3:16,17: "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work."
Reprinted from the tract of the same title with permission of the author.