By Bro. Allen Lee
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of salvation. No one can be saved without faith in Him. However, the Bible also teaches that becoming a Christian involves more than simply saying we believe. It also matters whether we follow the teachings of Christ and belong to the church established according to God’s will.
You may have heard certain individuals, even Bible believers, say, “As long as I believe in Jesus, it doesn’t matter which church I attend.” While this may sound sincere and broad-minded, the New Testament presents quite a different picture. The apostles and faithful disciples did not preach only about believing in Jesus; they also preached about the kingdom of God and the church that belongs to Christ.
In Acts 8, Philip the evangelist preached in Samaria:
“But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” (Acts 8:12)
Philip preached two important things together:
1. The name of Jesus Christ, and
2. The kingdom of God.
The “kingdom of God” refers to the reign of God through Christ, which is closely connected to the church. Jesus said He would build His church (Matthew 16:18–19), and the kingdom belongs to Him. Therefore, the gospel message includes not only faith in Jesus, but also entering His kingdom and being part of His people.
Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul continued preaching the same message. While under house arrest in Rome, Acts 28:31 says:
“Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”
Even in his final recorded days, Paul still preached both:
1. the kingdom of God, and
2. the Lord Jesus Christ.
This shows that the apostles never separated Christ from His kingdom or church. Jesus is the head, and the church is His body (Ephesians 1:22–23). To truly follow Christ means to submit to His teachings and be part of the body that belongs to Him.
The question, therefore, should not be, “Which church do I prefer?” but rather, “Am I following the church described in the New Testament?” The church of Christ is not a denomination started by men, but the church that belongs to Christ and follows the teaching of the apostles. Romans 16:16 says, “the churches of Christ greet you.”
This does not mean that a church name alone saves us. Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. Yet obedience to His gospel includes being added to His church. In Acts 2:47, those who obeyed the gospel were added by the Lord to His church.
Faith in Jesus is essential, but true faith also seeks to follow His word carefully. The church we belong to matters because Christ cares about His church. Instead of choosing a church based on tradition, popularity, or convenience, we should seek the faithful church that follows the teaching and example found in the New Testament.