November 1 2007

By what name are you identified religiously? Many would reply by giving the name of their denomination.  This would not have been so in the early church, for there were no denominations.  You would most likely simply say, “I’m a Christian.”  This was the  name  spoken  of by  Peter when he  admonished suffering believers to “glorify God in that name” (1 Peter 4:16, ESV).  Denominational names are divisive and sectarian in nature, and are far from glorifying God.  In the New Testament, all who believed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God, repented of their sins, confessed their faith and were buried with Him in baptism were neither more nor less than Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:35-39).  Why should it be otherwise today? If you respond to the gospel as they did, you will be what they were—a Christian.  If you continue in His word, you will continue to simply be what they were—a disciple of Jesus Christ (John 8:31), and as such, a Christian (Acts 11:26).   The Arthur Church of Christ asks no one to be either more or less than obedient believers were in the New Testament—Christians.

THE ARTHUR CHURCH OF CHRIST

 415 W. 4^th Street in Arthur 

•     Sunday Bible classes, 9:30 a.m.;

• Worship, 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.;

• Wednesday evening Bible classes, 6:00 p.m. 

•  For information, visit us, or  phone our local evangelist, Ron Bartanen, 728-2756.