MARKS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

THE OUTWARD SIGNS BY WHICH IT MAY BE KNOWN.

BY EDWIN F. PARRY, LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

OUTWARD SIGNS BY WHICH CHRIST'S GOSPEL MAY BE KNOWN—CHARACTER OF HIS CHURCH KNOWLEDGE THE OUTCOME OF TRUE FAITH—HOW IT MAY BE OBTAINED—AN ILLUSTRATION—PARABLE OF THE SOWER—WHERE IS THE TRUE GOSPEL AND CHURCH OF CHRIST?

MANY FORMS OF RELIGION.

There are many religions in the world. Teachers of one form of religion will tell us they are right. Those who teach another form will make the same claim for themselves. All religions have some truth, or people would not believe in them.

ONLY ONE PERFECT RELIGION.

The Savior taught only one form of religion. That one is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It embraces all truth, and contains nothing but truth.

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." (Ephesians 4: 4, 5, 6).

JESUS CHRIST THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION.

All Christians believe that salvation is only to be gained through Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

"'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6).

"For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4: 12).

The holy scriptures justify us in rejecting all religions that do not teach belief in Christ.

WHICH RELIGION CONTAINS ALL TRUTH?

There are many varieties of religion even among Christian believers. But the whole truth is what we want. None but the true Gospel can be acceptable to the Lord.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." (Matthew 6: 33).

How are we to know which religion contains all truth?

THE BIBLE WILL GUIDE US.

The Bible will assist us in making this discovery. It tells us many things which Jesus taught as His Gospel. Any teaching contrary to what He gave cannot be true.

"Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1: 8).

The Gospel which the Savior taught has not changed. It is the same to-day as it was when He dwelt upon the earth.

FAITH A DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.

The first and principal doctrine taught by Christ was faith.

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16).

Our Savior knew that if people truly had abiding faith in Him they would follow Him. They would love Him and obey all His teachings.

"He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." (John 14: 13).

"If a man love me, he will keep my words." (John 14: 23).

REPENTANCE NECESSARY.

Another commandment taught by Christ was that of repentance. True repentance is sorrow for sins and a turning away from them. The first words recorded of the Savior's preaching were:

"Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4: 17).

Deep humility always accompanies true faith and repentance. Without it men cannot be saved.

"Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." (Luke 18: 17).

In the days of Christ's ministry, those who believed on Him and sincerely repented of their sins were then ready to receive the next ordinance of the Gospel. They were humble and willing to obey.

BAPTISM.

Christ was baptized Himself. He told John it was necessary for Him "to fulfill all righteousness." He taught that it was necessary for all men to be baptized.

"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3: 5).

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16: 16).

Christ's disciples also taught the same. When those who believed Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost asked what they should do to be saved, he replied,

"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).

These passages of scripture prove that Jesus and His disciples taught baptism.

THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The last passage quoted shows that the gift of the Holy Ghost was to be given to those who obeyed the principles of faith, repentance and baptism.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

The teachings of the Savior show that it is necessary to observe the ten commandments given through Moses. Upon one occasion a man asked what good thing he should do to gain eternal life. Jesus replied, "Keep the commandments," and then named some of them. (Matthew 19: 17, 18).

OTHER COMMANDMENTS.

Besides the ten commandments, the Savior gave new ones which He said should be obeyed. Many of these are recorded in the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew.

TEST DOCTRINES BY CHRIST'S WORD.

In our search for the true Gospel we can safely reject any teaching that does not agree with Christ's word. Anyone who says we can be saved without obeying His commandments is in error.

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).

"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (I John 2: 4).

Any teacher who adds to these any doctrines of men is a false teacher, and should not be followed.

"In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mark 7: 7).

MANY CLAIM TO BE TRUE TEACHERS.

The teachers of many forms of religion claim that they teach these doctrines of the Gospel of Christ. How are we to decide which one is right?

HOW FALSE TEACHERS MAY BE KNOWN.

The Savior has furnished a test by which we can prove false teachers. He says, "Beware of false prophets." (Matthew 7: 15). He further adds, "Ye shall know them by their fruits." (10). "By their fruits" means by their works or by their teachings. False prophets or teachers teach falsehoods, and their works are evil. True prophets teach truth, and live righteously. They will not teach anything contrary to the words of the Savior.

HOW TRUE BELIEVERS MAY BE KNOWN.

The Savior tells us how we might know true believers. He says,

"These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16; 17, 18).

The nineteenth verse of the sixteenth chapter of Mark states that these signs did follow the believers in the days of Christ's early apostles. These signs are outward evidences that people are true believers in the Gospel. The absence of them is a proof that faith is lacking, for the same cause will always produce the same effect.

OTHER PROOFS.

If a person truly believes in the Gospel, sincerely repents of his sins, is baptized for the remission of sins, and has hands laid upon him for the reception of the Holy Ghost, he should know that he has received the true Gospel.

"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7: 16, 17).

OFFICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Holy Ghost was promised to those who obeyed the Gospel. To all who receive it, it bears witness to the truth of the Gospel.

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." (John 15: 26).

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16: 13).

If people receive the Holy Ghost they will be led into all truth, according to the promise of Christ. If they are led into all truth they will be led to understand and believe alike.

HOW THE SAVIOR'S DISCIPLES MAY BE KNOWN.

Jesus told how His disciples may be known:

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13: 34, 35).

When people are divided in their religious views it shows that they do not love each other, and are not the disciples of Christ. If they did love each other they would be united. If they possessed the Holy Spirit they would be joined together in love.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Galatians 5: 22, 23).

THE CHURCH JESUS ORGANIZED.

When Jesus dwelt upon the earth He organized a church. Those who believed on Him and obeyed the Gospel became members of that one church.

ST. PAUL DESCRIBES IT.

The Apostle Paul told the Ephesian saints they were established upon the foundation of apostles and prophets.

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2: 19, 20).

He had reference in these words to the church of Christ.

THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A MAN'S BODY.

He again likened the church to the body of a man. (I Corinthians 12). He showed that the members of the church were like the members of a man's body, and altogether they made a complete whole.

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles." (I Corinthians 12: 12, 13).

St. Paul continues by explaining that all the members of the body of Christ, or officers of the church of Christ, are dependent upon each other, and each is needed in his place. One cannot do without the other, any more than a man's body can be complete without every limb and organ.

OFFICERS NAMED.

This same apostle names some of the officers of the church of Christ. He also names in the same connection some of the gifts that are always to be found in that church.

"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Corinthians 12: 28).

WHAT THESE OFFICERS WERE FOR.

In another place he tells the reason for having these officers in the church.

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. . . . That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine." (Ephesians 4: 12, 14).

These officers were to continue in the church, "till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God." (Eph. 4: 13).

NEED OF APOSTLES AND PROPHETS.

People differ in their opinions regarding the Gospel. There is, therefore, a need of apostles and prophets to declare the word of God to them. His revealed word will settle all differences and bring those who believe on it to a unity of the faith.

WHAT ST. PAUL'S WORDS PROVE.

The scriptures just quoted prove that apostles and prophets must always be in the church of Christ. Any church not founded upon apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief corner stone, is not the true church of Christ. Any religious organization that rejects these and the other officers mentioned as belonging to Christ's church, or does away with the miracles, gifts of healing, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues, is not the true church.

POWER TO DO MIRACLES.

When Jesus called unto Him twelve apostles He "gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matthew 10: 1). When He sent them out to preach the Gospel, He told them to say, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." He also told them to "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." (Matthew 10: 7, 8).