The foundation of the church of God is Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches on this subject. Peter speaking about Jesus said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:16, 18).
When Jesus was about to leave this earth, He instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost was poured out. When this happened, they were endued with a special power and inspiration to preach Christ and Him crucified. They preached repentance and forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). “They that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
God’s plan was that all people should repent, believe in Him, and become a part of this fellowship. Many people ask, “Where is God’s church? How can we know?” “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). The words of the apostle Paul still hold true, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). No one is exempt from forsaking all and taking up his cross and following Jesus. For many people this seems too difficult. (Matthew 19:16-22) They are not willing to forsake the world and all its lusts to follow the Lord. (Matthew 10:37-38) Nevertheless, this is God’s way. He wants His children unshackled from any ties that hinder a service dedicated to Him.
These believers make up the body of Christ. They have a rich fellowship in Christ Jesus. The early church rejoiced in their newly found faith, “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Such fellowship is also a present day experience of born again Christians. The same Holy Spirit is also given to them. They are inspired by the teachings of Jesus and find they can relate to the experiences of fellow believers in a personal way. They feel united in their need to thank and praise their heavenly Father and seek direction from Him.
The believers will endeavor to keep the commandments of Jesus. He said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). He also said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) and, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). The church that Christ instituted will continue to observe all that He commanded. (Matthew 28:20) Let us search the Scriptures for the principles and doctrines that are essential to salvation.
To be saved man must repent of his sins. John the Baptist, in preparation for Jesus’ coming, said, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus, beginning His ministry, used the same words: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). On the day of Pentecost Peter told the people to “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). When Peter preached the gospel, these people came under conviction of sin and wanted to know what to do. The same holds true for today and will continue to the end of time. The reading of the Bible and the preaching of the gospel bring conviction to the sinner. This is the Lord’s call to repentance. To repent requires remorse for sin, forsaking unrighteous living, and then a commitment to serve the Lord. God gives man the witness of peace in his heart and an infilling of the Holy Spirit when he has repented. This is called the new birth. In the church of God, this is required for membership.
Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). When a man is truly born again, he walks through this door. At a different time, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a king who put on a wedding feast. He spoke of a man that had come to the wedding feast without a wedding garment. He was asked how he had come in without one. He could not answer. “Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13). How sad it is for anyone who refuses to enter this door.
The church of God practices a believers’ baptism. To be baptized an individual must first show evidence of having a new birth experience and must believe in the atoning blood of Christ. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Jesus also said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Baptism is an outward sign of an inward cleansing that has taken place. It is also the door into the church. This is the way the Bible teaches; therefore the church continues to teach and practice this way.
Those who have entered the church in this way comprise the brotherhood in Christ. They enjoy the fellowship and unity of the believers. To maintain this, their relationship with Christ must remain intact. Jesus taught that them to have a brotherly care and concern for one another (Matthew 18:15-17). He taught that among the believers there should be a willingness to give and accept reproof. Jesus gave these instructions to help the erring. He did this to save their souls and to keep the church pure. In this there is security as the brethren help each other to remain faithful.
Before the close of Jesus’ life, He took bread, broke it, and gave it to His disciples to eat, saying, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). He also took a cup with the fruit of the vine and told them to drink of it. He said, “This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25). This was to remind the believers of the price Jesus paid to save them. Then Jesus also girded Himself with a towel. He poured water into a basin and washed His disciples’ feet. Peter objected to this act, but Jesus said, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (John 13:8). He also said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15). The church continues to observe the rite of feet washing during Holy Communion.
God is mindful of the happiness of man as well as the propagation of the human race. For this purpose, He instituted matrimony in the Garden of Eden between one man and one woman. Jesus confirmed and sanctioned this order when He walked on this earth. The church embraces holy matrimony as God’s plan for the welfare of the human race. Jesus’ instructions were, “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife” and “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:5-9). The Pharisees challenged Him, asking why Moses permitted divorce. Jesus told them that this was not how it had been from the beginning, but it was because of the hardness of their hearts. Therefore, the church of God continues to teach against divorce.
Another important doctrine that the church practices is non-resistance. Jesus said, “Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39). He demonstrated this when he was arrested and tried unjustly. When Peter tried to defend Jesus by cutting off the high priest’s servant’s ear, Jesus told him to “put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matthew 26:52). Through the ages, the apostles and many others were steadfast in this doctrine even though to many it meant death.
Jesus left the organizing and establishing of churches to the apostles. The apostle Paul was especially zealous in this work. He was concerned for a sound, capable ministry, which would have the oversight of the flock. He gave instructions as to the qualifications essential to an effective ministry. The ministers are to be called of God and chosen from among the brethren. They are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and sound in doctrine and teaching.
The church endeavors to teach and practice the doctrine of Jesus Christ and the apostles. May you search the scriptures to understand whether you are continuing “stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42). Your love to Him will be proven by your obedience. He desires to lead you to “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). There you will find a spiritual home.