The church of Christ originated in 33 A.D. when the apostles preached the first Gospel sermon in Jerusalem on Pentecost.
The church, the kingdom, was established after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The account of the establishment
of the church of Christ is found in Acts 2. After the first sermon, preached by the apostle Peter, 3,000 souls were added
to the church by the Lord. Since the people who listened and responded to the message of the Gospel, came from many different
areas, they quickly spread the Gospel from city to city. They went out preaching the Gospel of Christ, baptizing new members.
Are you willing to follow Christ?
The churches of Christ do not have a written set of procedures of initiation
steps that must be met for anyone to come worship and follow Christ. The bible teaches us to come as we are! However
the commitment necessary to become a Christian are outlined in the New Testament.
We have no authority to require any more
of someone than their submission and obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The conditions taught in the New Testament
for receiving salvation is listed below:
· HEAR -The Gospel (“faith cometh by hearing, and hearing is
the word of God”) (Romans 10:17).
· BELIEVE- The Gospel (“without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews
11:6).
· REPENT- You must repent and turn away from past sins “Repent ye therefore, and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19).
· CONFESS- You must confess Jesus as Lord—Jesus said “He that confesses
me before men, him will I also confess before my father in Heaven” (Matthew 10.32).
·
BAPTISM- You must be baptized for the remission of your
sins “Repent and baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38).
