One can be just a Christian! Does this sound strange? With over 300 religious bodies in our country it might appear impossible to be a Christian without being part of a denomination. It is not only possible, but there are actually millions of "Christians only" in this and other nations.
The churches of Christ
Who are these people who seek to be only Christians? The congregations of which they are a part are usually known as "churches of Christ." This term is not used in a sectarian sense, but is intended to denote their desire to belong to Christ's church. The Bible says, "All the churches of Christ greet you." However, it is just as correct to describe the church of which we read in the Bible as "the church of God" "the body of Christ", or "the household of faith." These and similar Biblical phrases are not proper names, but descriptive expressions which show how the church is related to Christ and His Father.
Individually Christ's followers are known as "Christians" in the Bible. "The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch ." "If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name." Never does a human name prefix this God given name. Paul was one of the greatest of all Christians, but he did not want disciples to be called "Paulites" or "Paulite Christians."
A Distinctive Plea
Churches of Christ have a distinctive plea. Of course, in many ways we agree with others striving to follow Christ. We firmly believe both in the inspiration of the entire Bible and in its sufficiency to guide us in all matters of faith; in the death of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins and that after death all men will be rewarded or punished in another life for the way they have lived here. And with all people of real religious conviction we insist that the moral principles of Jesus are absolute truths to be exemplified in the personal righteousness of the child of God.
The Bible Only
However, we not only believe that the scriptures are inspired, but also are convicted that the New Testament must be our only guide in religious faith. God's Word frequently warns us against changing the divine message. (Read Galatians 1:6-9.)
Answering the Bible question, "What must I do to be saved?" Here again churches of Christ reply by going to the scriptures for their answer. The Bible teaches that Christ shed His blood for our sins, and that without it we cannot be saved. But what does Jesus require of us if we are to appropriate that sacrifice? Those who crucified Him were told to "know assuredly" or believe that Jesus is "both Lord and Christ." When these people on the day of Pentecost then asked for further information, they were told, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins."Today we teach as did the apostles then that for Christ's blood to remove our sins we must as believers in Him repent and be baptized. As we are thus saved from our sins, the Lord adds us to His body, the church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." "For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body." The saved, then, are in the body or church of Christ; one cannot be saved and be outside this body.
The early disciples were Christians only. Although we live more than 1900 years later, we too can be Christians only if we will follow the same teachings given to these first followers of Jesus. Christ said, "The seed is the word of God." Just as surely as a planted acorn will produce only an oak, so God's Word will produce Christians and nothing more. We invite your earnest consideration to this plea.
One can be just a Christian! Does this sound strange? With over 300 religious bodies in our country it might appear impossible to be a Christian without being part of a denomination. It is not only possible, but there are actually millions of "Christians only" in this and other nations.
