"THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST
GREET YOU."
Romans 16:16

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Churches of Christ were few and far-between in that long-ago age when Paul the apostle penned the words of our text. But if there was such a church in your locale, it was not too difficult to find. Its members and meeting-place were soon known to all (read Acts 17:6). All one had to do was to ask around town, "Where may I find a church of Christ?" In those days, any congregation claiming to be such a church was more than likely such indeed.

But that was before the great apostasies which commenced shortly after the apostolic age. Since that time, Christ has disqualified many churches which nevertheless continue to identify themselves by His name (see Revelation 2:1-5; 3:14-16).

It is therefore evident that not every church claiming today to be a "church of Christ" is indeed one, and that many of them are instead "churches of Antichrist." Consequently, when searching for a church of Christ, we must heed the warning of Christ regarding "false prophets" and those who lyingly claim to minister in His name (Matthew 7:15-20; 21-23). How can one identify a church of Christ in this day?

Churches of Christ are not required to be identified by "the proper Scriptural name". Men may require such. But God never does. And in addition to the informal designation "churches of Christ", such assemblies are informally identified also as "churches of God" and "churches of the saints", and by their locale (1 Corinthians 11:16; 14:33; 1:2).

A congregation may bear the proper name "Church of Christ" but nevertheless not be one. Another congregation may be a "church of Christ" even though it bears another proper name. Just as surely as "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet", a church of Christ by whatever name would be as true.

Churches of Christ are not required to trace their "chain-link succession" back to the first church of Christ. Men may require such. But God never does. And evidence of such a succession is insufficient. Just as many Jews who boasted of their succession from Abraham were nevertheless identified by Christ as children of the Devil (John 8:33-49), many churches today boasting of their succession from that first church are to be identified as churches of Antichrist. When we find a church adhering to the doctrine and practice set forth by Christ, and enjoying the blessings of God, any succession God may require is assumed.

Churches of Christ embrace and preach the gospel of Christ. Surely the churches of Christ who extended their greeting with Paul in Romans 16:16 embraced "the gospel of Christ" he expounded from the introduction of this epistle (1:16-17ff). This gospel is the revelation of the righteousness of God, especially in the justification of sinners. How are sinners justified?

Justification is a forensic act of God: His judicial act in which He declares, with respect to the believer, that all the claims of the law are satisfied on the basis of the imputed (not imparted nor infused) righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:24-26).

Justification is by the grace of God (Romans 3:24). It is a gift of God purposed by Him for His elect in eternity past (8:28-30), totally apart from any work they ever perform such as circumcision, baptism, church membership, good deeds, ... (4:1-5).

Justification is by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9). God imputed the sins of His elect to Christ, and Christ died in their place and stead to satisfy the justice of God against them, thereby making His blood the ground of their justification (Isaiah 53:4-11).

Justification is by faith (Romans 3:28). Faith alone, totally apart from our law-observance or any other work, is our only means of access into the peace of justification (5:1f; 3:21f).

Any church denying these truths is not among those of whom it is written "The churches of Christ greet you."

But the church bringing this message to you heartily embraces and preaches these truths. We rejoice to say

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday School: 10:00
Sunday Morning: 10:45
Sunday Afternoon: 1:00
Wednesday Evening: 7:00
Thursday Evening (in Henryville, Indiana): 7:00
Saturday Evening Radio Broadcast on WFIA / AM900: 5:45