When one reads about the church in the New Testament, he sees simply a body of people who have been redeemed from their sins through the blood of Jesus Christ, which he willingly shed on the cross of Calvary (1 Pet. 1:18-20).

When people:

1. hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16; Rom. 10:14- 15),
2. confess their faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10),
3. repent of sins
4. are immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; cf. Mark 16:16; Acts 17:30; 22:16; et al.),

the Lord adds them to His church (Acts 2:41, 47). As Acts 2:47 indicates, He began doing so on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, and has continued to do so until this very day.

In spite of repeated warnings concerning false teachers, false doctrines, and heresies (Mat. 7:15; 15:3, 6; Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 1:6-10; Col. 2:8; 2 The. 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 1:3; 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 2:15-18; 3:1-7; 4:1-4; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 3:15-18; 1 John 4:1; 2 John 9-11; Jude 3-4; Rev. 22:18-19), fallible and weak men have succumbed to errors in doctrine, practice, and morals through the centuries. Roman Catholicism, the Orthodox Churches, Protestantism, and the rise of cults have all resulted from various doctrinal and practical departures from the pure Gospel of Christ. 

When people

(1) hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16; Rom. 10:14- 15),

(2) confess their faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10),

(3) repent of and

(4) are immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; cf. Mark 16:16; Acts 17:30; 22:16; et al.),

the Lord adds them to His church (Acts 2:41, 47).

However, the “seed of the kingdom” (i.e., the Word of God, Luke 8:11), like any other seed, when it is planted and germinates, brings forth only after its kind. Therefore, should every Christian be slain on a given day and not another one appeared for a century, as long as the pure seed were available, the church, just as Jesus built it (Mat. 16:18), could and would spring back into life the moment someone obeyed the New Testament plan of salvation (Acts 2:38-47). The church as Jesus built it can and does exist in this or any age in which men and women are willing to obey the Gospel plan of salvation and thereafter follow the New Testament pattern of worship, organization, and work. The common goal of those who are faithful to Jesus Christ in every age is ever to “speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.”

Believing the Bible to be what it claims to be-the inerrant, inspired revelation of God-His faithful people will ever be content to be the simple church of the first century, rather than seeking to “improve” upon the Divine plan by modernizing the church after human whims. True churches of Christ practice only those things the Scriptures authorize: “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Col. 3:17). Believing the Bible to be what it claims to be—the inerrant, inspired revelation of God—His faithful people will ever be content to be the simple church of the first century, rather than seeking to “improve” upon the Divine plan by modernizing the church after human whims. True churches of Christ practice only those things the Scriptures authorize: “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Col. 3:17).