Purcellville Church of Christ

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN


The church that Jesus established, the church of Christ (Romans 16:16), is different from every other church known to mankind and it predates every denomination. This video from the World Video Bible School provides a very understandable and logical explanation of how that one church began, its history over the past 2,000 years, and why one must be added to it to be saved.



The gospel plan of salvation

Before we can respond to God, we must realize our lost spiritual condition:

  • Isaiah 59:2 - Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.
  • 1 John 3:4 - Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
  • Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

We must realize that we cannot earn our salvation:

  • Ephesians 2:7-8 - That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

In order to be saved we must respond to God's offer of grace and mercy. We must believe in God and in Christ Jesus through hearing his gospel:

  • Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
  • Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
  • Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
  • John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
  • James 2:20-24 - But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.

We must repent:

  • Luke 13:3 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.
  • Acts 17:30 - The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:

We must confess the name of Christ before men:

  • Matthew 10:32 - Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
  • Romans 10:9 - Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:

Be baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins:

  • 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.
  • Acts 2:37-38 - Brethren, what shall we do? 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.
  • Galatians 3:26-27 - For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
  • 1 Peter 3:20-21 - That aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

Once inside Christ, live a life of faithful, loving, obedience to Christ:

Revelation 2:10 - Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

If you have not obeyed the gospel, why not do so today?

Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

*Scriptures are taken from the American Standard Version Bible translation