The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-10-04
Church of Christ
CHURCH OF cHsIsT IDENTIFIED.
v. E. Hoven, Minister.

1
60:1-14, speaks of it as light risen on
the nations in darkness; as city into
which all the tribes and families of
the earth are pouring their wealth and
influence. Dan. is more specific. V.
A refers to the Caesars of the Roman
Empire. Lk. 3:1-4 tells Us John the
Baptist came preaching in the fifteenth
year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.
Matt. ~ tells rs that he preached.
Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand" In Nix. 9:1 we learn that
this Kingdom was to be set up within
| the life time of some of those present.
| (2) In fact. It was to come with power,
Lk. 24:49. Forty days after the death
of Christ, A. D. 80, on the Day of
Pentecost and at o'clock in the morn
ing (Acts 2:1-4, 12.16) they received
this power. Thus we have plainly be-
| fore us the year, the day and the very
hour In which the Church of Christ
was founded, and that it was this side
of the grave of Jesus.
II. Its Head. a. Jesus only, Eph.
1 1922; 5:23, "a; Matt. 20:1S. He is
its head by virtue of His death, resur-
rection and authority given to Him of
God. Hands off Since Christ is its
head it is clear to us that no human
being has any right to tamper with
the church. But on this point the
sorrowful and degrading history of the
church begins, because of Councils,
Synods and Conferences which have
turned into Legislative assemblies, and
thus man made laws by which to gov
ern her, have robbed Christ of His au-
thority.
III. Its Name. (1) 1t must be di-
vine. We all argee that since the
Church is divine institution, (Matt.
1919 and Christ its head, it must Of
necessity wear a divine name. OF
course, this name must te found in
Gods Book. (a) In Matt. 1913 Jesus
says, my church." That does not
read Peters, Paul's or Johns church.
(b) "Church Of God," q Cor. J %; l
Tim. 35:) because Christ was God
manifest in the flesh. (o) "The body
of Christ" Il Cor. 1927; Eph. 1:22,
23) because when person becomes
Christian he is joined to Christ /, Cor.
6:15. To illustrate. The law of mar
riage is such that when a man and
woman take the vow that unites them
as husband and wife, they become
lone fesh," Matt. 1:9) and the bride
wears the groom's name. Now read
| 2 Cor. 11:2, II have espoused you to
one husband. that might present you
as a pure virgin to Christ" Since
then we are married to Christ we must
wear His name. He that hath eyes to
see, let him see. When we assume
names not found in the Bible for the
Church, we make Christ polygamist
~. It's Greed. (1) Jesus only,
Matt. 1915. This was regarded
enough by the Savior hence He said,
upon this rock will build my church. "
Here is the summary of the Gospels,
John 20:30, 81. The Apostles and
early Christians preached Christ, the
only Greed of the church, for the first
three hundred years, (Acts 1855; 8:5;
1O:43; 16:31). Hence, our faith should
be in living person and not in few
statements of mems opinions, found in
little book aside from the Bible.
V. It's Constitution. (1) The Bible
only. Every organization must have
q constitution or rules, by which it il
governed. The Church of Christ has
divine rules of faith and practice.
Every scripture, inspired of God is also
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction. for instruction which is il
righteousness; that the man of Goo
may be complete, furnished completely
unto every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16
, II. Therefore any book Of discipline
| that may be used by the church il
against God, for in the above He tell
= US the Bible is complete for such pur
{ poses, and that by it the man of Gol
r is furnished completely.
VI. Its members. The only way t
find who may become members is t
d find who were members in the days o
b the Apostles. In Matt. 28:19. 30 NIX
r 1915, 16; Lk. 24:46-49, Jesus tells u
Just who they are. This is the divin
k charter under which the Apostles an
y the Church for all ages to come wer
8 to operate. We note the following
~ We are to be old enough to b
: taught-'Go teaoh." (2) They wer
: to be Baptized-"b "baptizing them. ".(S
They were to be taught after thei
baptism-''t teaching them to observ
all things" This excludes all infant
and idiots, and includes those onl
who are old eonugh to be taught an
have mind to understand. Mar
adds one item-faith; He that believet
and is baptized shall be saved. !" LUX
adds another item-repentanoe "tha
repentance and remission of sins shoul
be preached in His name among all th
nations. The logical and psycholoG
ical order for becoming member, az
cording to thisIoharter, is as follows
(a) To hear teaching or preaching
+ (bl Faith. (c)Repentsnce. (d) BaI
tism, after which follows remission c
sins. Only those who are old enoug
to do the above are admitted into th
church by divine authority. This d
rection the Apostles followed CAREFUL
in all it's details, after the church ha