Does this sound strange?

How many religious bodies are there in New Zealand? 300? 600? Does it appear impossible to be a Christian without being part of any denomination? What would you think if you were told there were hundreds of "Christians only" in New Zealand and millions spread throughout the world? Would you want to know more?

Were there 'just Christians' in New Testament times?

Consider these scriptures:

ACTS 11:25...     "When he found Saul, Barnabas brought him to Antioch. Saul and Barnabas
                              taught a large crowd. For a whole year they met with the congregation.
                              In Antioch, God called the followers of Jesus CHRISTIANS for the first 
                              time." (SEB)
                       and...
1 PETER 4:16... "But if you must suffer as a CHRISTIAN, you shouldn't be ashamed.
                             Use this name to give glory to God." (SEB)

The answer seems clear. Paul was one of the greatest of all Christians, but he did not want disciples to be called 'Paulites' or 'Paulite Christians'. (1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17), just CHRISTIANS.

What name should you wear? What religious name do you wear?

When people who seek to be only CHRISTIANS meet together, what are their congregations called?
Here are some Bible designations to answer this...

"...the churches of Christ..." (ROMANS 16:16)
"...the church of God..." (1 CORINTHIANS 1:2)
"...Christ's body..." (1 CORINTHIANS 12:27)
"...household of the faith..." (GALATIANS 6:10)

You will quickly see that these are descriptive expressions rather than church titles. They show how the church relates to God and Christ. Should congregations of Christians be known by other than Biblical designations?

COLOSIANS 3:17... "Everything you say or do should be done by the authority
                                     of the Lord Jesus. thank God the Father through Christ."

Bible authority alone?

These Christians are presenting a distinctive plea to Christ-loving and Bible-obeying New Zealanders. Of course, in many ways they agree with others who are striving to follow Christ. They uncompromisingly take the Bible as an inspired and sufficient guide in all matters of faith (2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17). They trust in the death of Jesus for their redemption from sin (TITUS 2:11-14). Their hope lies in the resurrection of Christ (1 PETER 1:3). They believe what the Bible says about judgement, heaven and hell (HEBREWS 9:27, MATTHEW 25:46), and about personal righteousness (MATTHEW 5:48).

What is their distinctiveness then? (Or where does their distinctiveness lie?) It has to do with their use of the New Testament as the ONLY guide in religious faith. "Can they really do that?," you might ask. According to the Bible, it not only CAN be done, it MUST be done!

What did Moses have to do when he constructed the tabernacle?

HEBREWS 8:5-6... "Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the
                                   tabernacle; for, 'SEE,' He says, 'that you make all things
                                   according to the pattern which was shown you..."

Under the New Testament we must pay even closer attention to God's pattern (HEBREWS 2:1-4).

Restoring the pattern of Biblical Christianity

Is there a pattern for us to worship God by? ...To organise congregations by? ...To live by?

The New Testament answers with a definite YES! (Read ROMANS 6:17, MATTHEW 28:20, 2 THESSALONIANS 2:2-15, 1 CORINTHIANS 4:17). If believers were taking these Biblical facts seriously, a great restoration would soon sweep through the religious world. But it first must being with you! Have you followed God's terms of becoming just a Christian? Are you worshipping God according to His New Testament pattern? Is your church patterned after those you read about in the New Testament?

How do you become just a Christian?

Are you close to despair in ever finding an adequate answer to this question/ What type of conflicting advice have you heard? "Just believe in Jesus and you will be saved!" Just believe and repent and you will have arrived!" Or "Don't even worry about becoming one; if you are born in New Zealand, you are one!"

They can't all be right, can they? Perhaps all of these answers are wrong. There is a sure way of finding out. Go to the Bible. Read for yourself! A good place to start is Acts 2:38. Do you see what God wants you to do so He can make you spiritually secure? Now you will be able to begin to sweep away the mass of conflicting ideas on this vital subject. There has got to be a better way! And there is!

The early disciples were Christians only. And you can be, too. Jesus said, "The seed is the word of God" (LUKE 8:11). Just as a planted pine seed will produce only a pine, God's word will produce Christians and nothing more...
What do you want to be?...
.