THE BIBLE:  OUR AUTHORITY

The sixty-six books contained in the Bible comprise a single, complete document that holds the exclusive distinction of being the word of God. The Bible is the only book available in the world today that can correctly claim to be the written message of God to man. The Bible is completely free from error or contradiction, and as God’s revelation it contains the only message available today that will sufficiently enlighten the mind, encourage the fainthearted, expose the sinner, and save the soul.

There are several undeniable evidences that uphold the Bible’s claim to be the inspired word of God.

The sixty-six individual books of the Bible were written by approximately 40 different people who lived over a period of approximately 1,600 years, yet when combined these books compose a single, uniform, and consistent message.

The Bible contains many detailed predictions of events that were to occur many years future from the time the predictions were made. No prediction of prophecy has ever failed to transpire – in exactly the manner in which it was predicted.

The Bible has survived for ages under the attacks and attempts by evil forces to destroy its influence and eradicate its existence in the world. The sheer longevity of these ancient texts declares the supernatural preservation and divine approval of its contents. Only eternal Providence can account for this fact alone.

These and many other evidences testify in unison that the Bible is indeed the inspired word of God. The very nature of the Book proves it could not be here but by God.

Since the Bible is God’s infallible word, it is the only document that can authoritatively and decisively answer the most important questions posed by man: Where did I come from? Why am I here? What is my purpose? Where am I going? The apostle Paul wrote, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Timothy 3:16-17). In answer to the foregoing questions, the Bible teaches that the world and mankind are the result of the supernatural creative work of the eternal God (Genesis 1). Our primary purpose for existence is to glorify our Creator through obedience to His word (Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians 3:21). Furthermore, each individual will stand before his Creator at the end of time to be judged according to the way he lived in this world (II Corinthians 5:10). We will be judged according to our conformity to the word of God (John 12:48).

The Bible is the only authoritative document for religion and morality. We are not to accept any other information in addition to the truths of the Bible (I Corinthians 4:6), nor may we choose to disregard any of the truths that are taught therein (Deuteronomy 4:2). For this reason we must view the Bible as the all-authoritative guide in religion and uphold it as the final word in these matters.

SIN:  OUR GREATEST ENEMY

What is man’s single greatest malady? What is the ultimate cause of worldwide pain and suffering? Why are we subject to disease and death? The Bible explains that sin is the ultimate enemy of mankind. Sin is "transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). When men choose to disobey the will of God, sin is the result.

Sin has been in the world since Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:6). The apostle Paul explains that as the offspring of Adam and Eve every man is subject to death (Romans 5:12). We all must live in a world filled with sin and death. Further, because humans have inherited a propensity to sin through the forefather Adam, the Bible can declare the universal truth "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Since "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), all sinners are subject to separation from God. The Bible describes death as a separation. Physical death is the separation of the spirit and body (James 2:26). Spiritual death occurs when man is separated from God. This is the consequence of sin. Isaiah told his hearers, "your sins have separated you from your God" (Isaiah 59:2). This is why sin is man’s greatest enemy.

We cannot ultimately survive separation from God. Through God’s longsuffering, each man is allowed to live in this world while spiritually dead, but must seek remedy for his malady and be reconciled to God. If he fails to find a remedy for his condition he will enter an eternity of ultimate separation from his Creator – this is what the Bible describes as hell (II Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 10:28). Thankfully, all men today have been offered a remedy for sin and death – there has indeed been One who has conquered man’s greatest enemy (Hebrews 2:14).

JESUS CHRIST:  OUR ONLY HOPE

God’s great love for all men provided the only possible remedy for those who have fallen into sin. The Bible says, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). God’s infinite justice demands that sinners be separated from Him. God’s infinite love provided a Substitute for us who suffered that separation on our behalf. Isaiah the prophet foretold of this substitutionary sacrifice: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities... by His stripes we are healed... He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken" (Isaiah 53:5, 8).

When Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for us, he entered the world of the dead as one (the only One) who had lived under God’s law without committing sin (Hebrews 4:15). For this reason, it was not possible that he could remain in a state of death. Peter said "it was not possible that he should be held by it," that is, held by death (Acts 2:24). By the power of a holy life, Jesus Christ was raised again to eternal life and now offers the promise of a resurrection to eternal life to all who will obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6), and the Bible elsewhere says, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The atoning blood of Christ is man’s only hope for forgiveness of sin and eternal life in heaven.

The Church:  The Blood-Bought Body of Believers

The Scriptures teach that man’s only hope of eternal life is through the saving grace of God delivered through Jesus Christ, His Son (Titus 2:11-14). The Bible further explains that one must be "in Christ" to receive this saving grace. Christians are said to be "blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). If every spiritual blessing is "in Christ," it is true to say there are no spiritual blessings outside of Christ. In order for one to enjoy any spiritual blessings, he must be "in Christ." To be in Christ means to be an obedient disciple of Christ. One cannot be "in Christ" without obeying God’s conditions for salvation. His conditions are:

	You must learn the saving message of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice on the cross (I Corinthians 1:18)
	You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24)
	You are to confess Jesus Christ as your Lord, Lawgiver, and King (Romans 10:10)
	You are commanded to repent of your sinful conduct (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30)
	You are to complete your initial obedience to the gospel by being baptized in water for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21).

At the point of water baptism for the forgiveness of sins you are cleansed from your sins by the blood of Christ and placed "into Christ." The Bible speaks of being "baptized into Christ" (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3). Those who are said to be "in Christ" compose the body of Christ. Christ is "the Head of the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18). Since being "in Christ" means being a member of the body, and since the body is a synonym for the church, then those who are "in Christ" are in Christ’s church. The church of Christ is composed of those who have been saved from sin through the blood of Christ (Acts 2:47). The church is truly a "blood-bought body of believers."

When one reads the New Testament he is introduced to only one body, or church (Ephesians 4:4). This church is composed of individual congregations or "churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16) that believe the same essential doctrines (plan of salvation, pattern of worship, standard of

morality, etc.), and have the same hope (I Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 1:27). This is the body, or church, that Jesus will save (Ephesians 5:23). The church of Christ is the only church about which you read in the New Testament. The New Testament condemns denominational division and appeals to all believers to be unified in the truth of God’s word (John 17:17, 20-21).

Worship:  An Avenue Of Respect And Thanksgiving  

Man has an innate desire to be a worshipful creature. There is a void in the human soul that can be filled only by heartfelt worship offered to the Creator. Only God is deserving of our worship. All worship offered to anything, or anyone else, is idolatry. Thankfully, God has given us a pattern whereby we may approach Him in acceptable worship.

Jesus said, "Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). According to Jesus, our worship must heartfelt and sincere ("in spirit"), and it must be according to the pattern revealed in the New Testament ("in truth").

When we approach God we are to do it with the utmost respect (Leviticus 10:3). We should possess an attitude of thankfulness for the many undeserved blessings we receive from Him (Ephesians 5:20). All men are recipients of His constant supply of physical blessings that sustain life on a daily basis (Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17) – Christians are recipients of all these plus the fullness of the spiritual blessings that are found in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). For these reasons our worship of God should be driven by a heart-felt thankfulness and sincerity that characterizes one who recognizes his dependence on his Creator. This is worship "in spirit."

God has never allowed his creatures to determine the ways and means of worship. Man assuming the prerogative of establishing his own manner of worship is called "will worship," or "self-imposed religion" (Colossians 2:23). Jesus stated concerning those involved in manmade religious activity, "In vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7). As in the days of Moses (Hebrews 8:5), God has revealed to us a pattern for approaching him in service and worship. This pattern is found in the pages of the New Testament and is that which must be followed if one’s worship is to be acceptable to God.

The church of Christ is seen in the New Testament worshiping God in the following ways:

	Singing:  Paul exhorted the Christians to worship by "teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16). James taught, "Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises" (James 5:13). Since Paul said in Colossians 3:17, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of (or by the authority of) the Lord Jesus," the churches of Christ do not worship with mechanical instruments of music because they are not authorized for New Testament worship. The only authorized melody-making instrument is the human voice driven by a thankful heart (Ephesians 5:19).
	Praying:  The New Testament urges us to "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:17-18). In our worship we are commanded to offer "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks" (I Timothy 2:1). Prayer is an acceptable avenue of worship to God.
	Studying:  The worship assemblies witnessed in the New Testament contained periods of doctrinal and practical instruction. When the church of Christ in Troas gathered for worship, they heard preaching (Acts 20:7). Timothy was told to "instruct the brethren" in "sound doctrine" (I Timothy 4:6; II Timothy 1:13), as was Titus (Titus 2:1).
	Giving:  To the church of Christ, Paul commanded "Upon the first day of every week, let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper" (I Corinthians 16:2). Each member of the church contributed to a common collection to be used for church work (II Corinthians 8-9). Sacrificial giving from a thankful heart is a core feature of New Testament Christianity.
	The Lord’s Supper:  "The Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He took the cup... saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes" (I Corinthians 11:23-26). The church of Christ assembled together to partake of the Lord’s Supper as a memorial to the Lord (I Corinthians 11:18, 20). This they did on the "first day of the week" (Acts 20:7), and, as we have seen they assembled "every first day of the week" (I Corinthians 16:2). Therefore, the church of Christ assembles every first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
	Conclusion:  The church of Christ today has the obligation (and privilege) of structuring its work and worship after the pattern revealed in the New Testament. Following this pattern not only assures God’s acceptance, but allows positive identification to those seeking to find the church about which they read in the Bible. When one finds a church patterned after the New Testament in matters of work and worship, he has found a group of people who are spiritually akin to the Christians in the first century church – washed in the blood of Christ by the grace of God, striving to serve God according to the truth, and awaiting the return of Jesus to receive them to Himself.

We pray that you will study the information provided in this material and that you will desire to conform to the true pattern of Christianity revealed in the Bible. It is to this end we endeavor to instruct every soul in the un-searchable riches of Christ. May God bless your study of His word!