A local church that belongs to Jesus Christ will have several biblical characteristics about which one can read upon the pages of the New Testament. For instance, does it identify itself with a biblical description or name? Or, does it align itself with a manmade doctrine or some man in the name that it chooses for itself? Biblical designations or names for the church in the New Testament include “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16) and “the church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2). Assemblies of Christ or assemblies of God would still be biblically correct since the word “church” means an “assembly.”
However, there are additional biblical characteristics of the church of the Bible, such as what is taught about the plan of salvation. Our Lord summarized the scheme of redemption in Mark 16:16, citing that belief or faith plus baptism equals salvation. With this the balance of the New Testament agrees when discussing human salvation (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:21).
There are still other characteristics of the church of the Bible, such as how it is organized. The New Testament church was congregational with each church being autonomous or self-governing in accordance with inspired instruction (Acts 14:23). When fully organized, a congregation was led by a plurality of elders appointed over the local congregation according to divine qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11). Elders guide or shepherd the flock of God for the Chief Shepherd—Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:1-4), and they must account to God for each soul in their care (Hebrews 13:17).
The church belonging to Jesus Christ worships according to New Testament instruction each Lord’s Day through: singing (1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), preaching (Acts 20:7), the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) and praying (1 Corinthians 14:15). There is no particular order revealed in the New Testament for these acts of worship to occur.
The church that belongs to Jesus Christ teaches biblical doctrine without the admixture of manmade dogmas. Part of teaching New Testament doctrine involves instructions regarding Christian living and Christian service.
Jesus Christ remains the Head of His church (Ephesians 1:22). No earthly person has the right to be the head of our Lord’s church. Each congregation follows the biblically compatible guidance of godly men—not a single person. These are some of the ways in which, generally speaking, that one can discern whether a group of worshippers are a congregation of the churches of Christ.
