The following is an excerpt from the letters written to the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things” (Acts 15:28).  Acts 15 records a conference that took place in Jerusalem.  God’s requirements of the Gentiles was the topic addressed regarding which, “there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5).

Though these Pharisees believed and were part of Christ’s church, they were still up to their old ways.  Jesus said of the Pharisees, “…they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders” (Matthew 23:4).  The apostles and elders went to the Jerusalem conference to consider this matter (Acts 15:6), but it was not that they were going to determine by majority vote what position they were to take.  Rather, it would be established again to those at Jerusalem what God had declared about the Gentiles through miracles and wonders (Acts 15:12).  It was God’s choice that was acknowledged, not man’s choice that was decided (Acts 15:7).  Those Pharisees who were intent on binding the law of Moses and circumcision, were questioned as to why they were trying to put an unbearable yoke upon the necks of the Gentiles (Acts 15:10) and ordered to not trouble the Gentiles with laws God did not require of them (Acts 15:19).

There were requirements God had for the Gentiles.  They were to abstain from idols, fornication, from eating things strangled and eating blood (Acts 15:20, 29), but the extra laws the Pharisees desired to bind were not to trouble them.  God wants to bind on us no additional burden than the commands necessary to keep us from harm and in godliness that leads to eternal life (2 Peter 1:3).

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  There are requirements we must keep to follow Christ.  We must not seek to be loosed from what Christ binds upon us.  But His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  His commandments are for our good and are not grievous, nor burdensome (1 John 5:3).

But we must beware of those who would add laws which are not a part of the Gospel.  Christ has given us true freedom in His laws, so we should not be ensnared as slaves to man-made religious requirements (Galatians 5:1-2).  While it is often shown that man flouts the Lord’s commands, certain people have a tendency to go the other way and forbid things which God allows (1 Timothy 4:3).  Spiritual death is lurking in either direction.  Spiritual life is found in doing Christ’s commandments (Revelation 22:14).  When I continue in Christ’s word, then am I truly His disciple and truly free (John 8:31-32).

-Mark Day

When many people hear the word “church” different thoughts may come to their mind as to what this word means. When it comes to religious matters we must appeal to a standard, and that standard is the Bible.

The word translated church comes from the Greek word “EKKLESIA” which means “called out assembly”. In the New Testament we read that the church when applied to Christians is “called out” of the world. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, “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.”

Christians are called out of the world and many will ask “How are we called?” The Bible teaches we are called by the Gospel. 2 Thessalonians 2:14, “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word “church” is used in three ways in the Bible.

1. The term “church” is used of the “UNIVERSAL CHURCH”. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He is referring to the universal church, without regard to locality.
2. “Church” is also used of “LOCAL CONGREGATIONS”. Revelation 2:1 says, “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write…” This is referring to the congregation (church) that had been established in Ephesus.
3. The word church can also mean “AN ASSEMBLY”, indicating a gathering of individuals. We read in Acts 7:38, “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers…”. The word church in this context does not refer to the New Testament church, rather to the assembly that had been called out of Egypt, i.e. the nation of Israel. In other contexts it means a worship assembly of the Lord’s church. For example, 1 Corinthians 11:18, “For first of all, when ye come together in the church…”.

We note at this point that when the church is used in reference to New Testament Christians it is not referring to the building. In 1 Corinthians 16:19 the Bible says, “…Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” This is referring to Christians that met (assembled for worship) in their house.

Also important is the fact when the word “church” is used in regard to Christians it never refers to a denomination. Denominations are not found in the Bible. Denominationalism is a secular division of a whole. Some believe the universal church is divided into differing denominations and this with God’s approval. However we read the apostle Paul by inspiration condemned division in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” As already shown, the Lord Jesus Christ did not build a denomination, He built “His church”.

We see from the Bible that those in the 1st century were called out of the world by their obedience to the Gospel. The Lord added them to the church (Acts 2:47) and they assembled for worship in local congregations without the need of denominations.

-Jerry D. Sturgill