An Open Invitation

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
Rev. 3:20

Will you open the door?

 During His ministry on earth, Jesus, the Son of God declared He  would build His church (assembly of people called out of the world) upon the fact that He is the Son of God  (Matthew 16:15-19).  Jesus is the church’s founder, law giver, and Savior.  He established His church, the church of Christ, (Romans 16:16) on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts chapter 2).  It was established just ten days after He ascended back into heaven. As prophesied earlier the church spread into Judah, Samaria, and to finally the whole world (Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:23).  Recorded history indicates His church was first established in America in the late 1700’s.  Our congregation first assembled in 1988 utilizing a motel conference room.   We have been located at our present location in Fort Walton beach since 1990.

Our appeal and encouragement to everyone is to obey God and worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  We would like to see everyone have the wonderful peace of mind that comes with belonging to Jesus, the love, unity, strength, family, hope, and the instruction and guidance that comes with knowing the word of God. 

All in our community are invited and welcome to attend our assemblies and Bible studies.  We constantly strive to teach the word of God and preach the Gospel of Christ in love.  We invite those who are traveling and vacationing to assemble with us at their every opportunity. All visitors are greatly appreciated and are honored guests. 

We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible word of God.  As such, it is the only source man must look to and accept for learning how to worship Him acceptably, as He has commanded. We adhere to the belief expressed by past Christian generations that all Christians should “speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent” concerning  all matters of doctrine and worship of God.  

The New Covenant that Jesus Christ established is our creed (Matthew 26:27-28).  We have no other creed book. It was centuries after the New Testament writings were penned that groups of men  decided to establish their written creeds, and insist man believe and worship as they dictated in them.   We believe as the holy scriptures declare, that His (Jesus’) new covenant is the only covenant in effect today! “In that He says a new covenant, He has made the first obsolete (the Law of Moses).  Now what is obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrew 8:13).  We understand the Old Testament scriptures (which include the Law of Moses) are “for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).   We do not appeal to an law of Moses commandment to worship God  for the scriptures declare that is a fatal, spiritual mistake!   “For whoever shall keep whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” James 2:10  And, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law…” (Galatians 3:13).  “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). “… He has taken it (the law) out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).   

We believe that sinners, through their faith in Christ Jesus and their obedience to the gospel, are saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This faith believes:

•  Jesus is the Christ, (which means He is the second person of the Godhead).(John        8:23-24; Matthew 17:5-7)

We believe Jesus came as prophesied by Old testament prophets.

• Though He did no wrong He was put to death on the cross as a common criminal (Matt. 27:22-25; Mark 15:24-28; Acts 2:36).
• The sinless one took every person’s sin upon Himself to pay the price          we (man) could not pay (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).
• Though He died and was buried, he rose again on the third day to live          forever more (Matthew 28:1-7; 1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

Because He did this, those individuals who believe the gospel (good news) message, and obey the gospel message have their sins washed away and are heirs of eternal life (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:29-42 & 22:12-16; Romans 6:17 & 6:3-8; John 3:14-16; Titus 3:5-7).

• The scriptures declare no one but Jesus, the Christ, can provide man salvation, the forgiveness of sins (Acts 4:10-12; Heb. 5:8-9).
• The scriptures declare a person is lost in their sins and needs to repent, turning to Jesus Christ to walk in His teachings (Romans 3:23 & 6:23; Luke 13:3).
•  The scriptures declare a person must confess before men that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 13:32; Acts 8:36-37; Romans 10:9-10).
• The scriptures declare a person must be born again (born anew) of the water and the Spirit (John 3:3 & 5).
• Jesus was speaking of this new birth that requires water and the Spirit when He declared, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16).

Romans 6:3-7

It is a baptism (immersion) into His death. (verse 3)
It is a burial with Him. (verse 4)
It is a raising to a newness of life. (verse 4)
It is a uniting together in the likeness of His death. (verse 5)
It is our old man being crucified with Him. (verse 6)
It is the body of sin being done away with. (verse 6)
It is a death to sin. (verse 7 & 8)
It is a freeing from sin. (verse 7)

Galatians 3:26-28

Baptism (immersion) is:
 A putting on of Christ. (verse 27)
Becoming “all one” in Christ Jesus (no racial distinctions, no slave/free or employee/employer distinctions, no male/female distinctions concerning one’s worth or receipt of God’s stored up blessings.

Galatians 3:26-28 & 3:13-14

Baptism (immersion) results in:
Inheriting of the promise God made to Abraham long ago, that the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) would be received through faith in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:11-13

In baptism:
A circumcision is made without hands. That is, God removes a person’s sin when they in faith obey the gospel, by being baptized (immersed) into Christ Jesus.
The person is buried with Jesus in baptism. (verse 12)
A person is raised with Christ through faith, (their believing God will accomplish what He promised to do for the person who is baptized into Christ Jesus. (verse 12).
A person is freed from being dead in their trespasses and made alive with Christ because all their sins (trespasses) have been forgiven them. (verse 13)

The head of the church is Jesus Christ as stated in Ephesians 1:22-23.  Each church of Christ congregation is autonomous and self-ruled from the scriptures with Christ as their head.  There is no regional, national or international headquarters on earth.  The headquarters of Christ’s church is in heaven where He dwells. The Word of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are the uniting “force” that binds our individual congregations together in “one faith” (Ephesians 4:3-6).  The Holy Scriptures of the New Covenant which Jesus established, and which became the rule of the early church  are our commandments, creed, and laws. 

In small congregations the evangelist preaches and teaches the scriptures which all members are called to follow.  In this manner, the evangelist sees that Jesus is the spiritual leader and head of the congregation.  Men are appointed to carry out the work of elders and deacons when they become mature in the Word of God, and meet the necessary qualifications stated in the scriptures for a man to serve the body in that capacity  (Philippians 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9).  The Lord calls all Christians to spread the gospel, to serve  the Lord, His church, fellow Christians, and mankind.  To this end we exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:23-26; Romans 12:4-21, Luke 8:4-15).

 We extend a warm welcome to all who attend our assemblies.  We meet each Sunday,  the first day of the week, (the Lord’s Day), (Acts 20:7)  for Bible study, to sing, pray, partake of the Lord’s Supper, to give as we have been prospered, to hear the word of God preached, and to fellowship together.  We sing hymns and spiritual songs just as Jesus did while on earth, as the early church did under the guidance of Jesus’ apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15), and as the church continues to do to this day in keeping with the commandment of God; that is Acappella singing, (making melody in our heart unto the Lord without the accompaniment of mechanical musical instruments). (See Ephesians 5:18-19)  Many people do not know that it was over 1,500 years after the church was established before congregations started using the organ for accompaniment to their singing.  We simply desire to follow only the commandments of God in our worship.  We desire to honor Him and be pleasing to Him, grateful for the hope of the heavenly home that lies ahead for those who are His children.
See our home page for times of meeting on Sundays and Wednesdays.  We meet on Wednesday evenings for singing, prayer, and Bible Study.  We also have other times of Bible study, fellowship, and various ministry and group gatherings. 

 
We extend an open invitation to all who wish to become a member of the church that Christ built.  You will not be called upon to do anything more than what is stated in the New Covenant (New testament).   Christ Jesus adds those who obey the gospel  (Acts 2:37-41 & 46-47) to His church.  Those who are His people He commands to live and worship as His apostle-guided Christians of the first century lived and worshiped.

Jesus declares, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and he with me”  (Revelation 3:20).

If Jesus knocks on the door  to your heart today …

would you  open it or   keep it closed?