Harlem Church Of Christ Mission
The Church of Christ (Romans 16:16) in Harlem, is a called out Body of Believers (II Thessalonians 2:14), over which Christ is head (Ephesians 1:22-23), and in which His Holy Spirit dwells (I Corinthians 6:19). We are committed to the three-fold mission of the proclamation of pure New Testament Christianity to the world (Matthew 28:19-20), works of edification (I Corinthians 14:26), and works of benevolence (Galatians 6:10).
One must hear the Gospel of Christ. Romans 10:17 reads, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
One must believe the Gospel of Christ. Hebrews 11:6 reads,“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
One must repent of past sins Regardless of your current condition, salvation is available to you only if you are willing to repent of your past sins, and commit to placing God’s will before your own. All men, regardless of self-perception, are utterly lost without God’s grace. According to Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Acts 17:30 reads, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”
One must confess Jesus as his/her Lord and Savior before others. Matthew 10:32-33 reads, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
The apostolic example of the confession one is to make is found in the confession of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:36-37: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.“
One must be baptized for the remission of sin as stated in Acts 2:38. Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”The Lord then adds His new child to His Church. Acts 2:47 reads, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.“
The church explained in the Bible is the church of Christ. Why? Jesus built his church. The latter part of Matthew 16:18 reads, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…” Jesus, the member of the Godhead with the power to bleed, purchased His church. We read in Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Jesus married His church according to Ephesians 5:22-32. That makes it His church, which by law must bear His name. We read Romans 16:16, “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” Jesus is the head over his church (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18). Those who abide in his church, in his body are Christians, and the Holy Scriptures only refers to God’s children (Galatians 3:26) as Christians. (Acts11:26, Acts 26:28, I Peter 4:16)
One must then be resolved to work on upholding God’s commands and working on his/her own salvation. Philippians 2:12 reads, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”