Church of Christ at Allenhurst

Churches of Christ serve the Lord with commitment to His Word and mission. Our goal is to bring glory to Christ, in all things (Ephesians 3:20-21). Accordingly, we do all we can to emulate His love and life, as we walk in His steps (Ephesians 4:1).

We are all made in the image of God so we are all special and loved by God (Genesis 1:26; 1 John 4:19). Therefore, we love every person and want them to be saved. We would be delighted to have everyone to be Christians and go to heaven together.

We are a diverse congregation of friendly, dedicated people who love the Lord and want to follow Him, above everything else. We hope you will come and worship with us. You will be our honored guests.

Scripture is our only guide as a Church and as Christians. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). The Bible provides all we need to follow God, be saved and live in heaven forever (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Accordingly, we do not have an earthly headquarters that decides what we will believe because Scripture is sufficient. Our responsibility is to learn all we can about the Bible so we can know His will for our lives.

We strongly believe that Christ built His church and that it is the only one that exists (Matthew 16:18). If we enter this Church as Christ commands (Acts 22:16), and obey His Word, we will be His Church. Scripture can be understood and obeyed by everyone, if we will humble ourselves to His Word. His love, mercy and longsuffering is beyond our understanding. However, He gave us Scripture so we will live as He has specified (Revelation 20:12).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our sins are washed away when we are immersed into Him and we rise a new born child of God (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). This is the only way we can enter His body, the church (Galatians 3:27; Acts 2:47).

We are privileged to serve Him and wear His name because of His greatness and majesty. Faithfulness to His commands is not burdensome but a privilege. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

by Richard Mansel, Preacher

The most important question ever asked is, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 2:37,38; Acts 16:30). It exemplifies a concern for the status of our souls and a willingness to find a solution. The question deserves an honest answer from the only source that matters, God’s Word.

Christ is the author of our salvation (Hebrews 5:9) and it will only be found in him (John 14:6). In Scripture, we find out how we must be saved by teaching and example (Acts 2:37,38; Acts 8:27-39; Acts 22:16). Scripture contains all that we need to know to be saved (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

All “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NKJV). Because of this sin, we are all separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Man has no capacity to save himself. Without Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, man would be totally without hope. God’s grace provides an avenue of salvation. We can only return to God because he sent his son, Jesus, to die so we could have our sins forgiven (Romans 5:6-11).

When we hear the gospel message about Christ dying for our sins, we must make a conscious decision to accept it as absolute truth. Once we do so, it becomes a part of our very being. Faith is an absolute affirmation that Christ is the Son of God, that he died for the sins of the world and he is the Savior of the world ( Hebrews 11:6). “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Once we have accepted the truth of our sin and the absolute need for a Savior, we must repent of our sins (Luke 13:3,5; 2 Corinthians 7:9,10). Repentance is a turning away from a life of sin and to Christ as our new source of life (Acts 9:35). We leave the paths we have trod and stand behind Christ firmly to the end (Mark 9:34).

Now that we have accepted the truth of the gospel and turned our life to Christ, we are ready to confess to the world that Jesus is our Messiah. “Therefore, whomever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). On the contrary, if we cannot confess him, then we are not worthy of Christ.

Once we have accepted Christ and made him a part of our lives through faith, repentance, and confession, our sins must be washed away through the waters of baptism (Acts 22:16). Not that the waters have powers within themselves, but that we must be washed in the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9; cf. 2 Kings 5:8-14).

Baptism is immersion (Acts 8:38; Romans 6:3,4). It is the manner in which we enter the body of Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3,4). Without being in Christ, we have no hope of salvation (Ephesians 1:3-6). While salvation is because of Christ’s selfless sacrifice, man must submit to him in order to be saved. Even after we have obeyed the gospel, we still must have grace in order to be saved (Ephesians 2:8,9).

After being immersed for the remission of sins, we walk in Christ and live a life bringing glory to him (Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 3:20,21). We remain faithful until death because we cannot imagine being without Christ (Revelation 2:10). We take up his cross and teach his truth to all who will listen as we follow his highway of holiness (Mark 8:34; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 35:8). It is the greatest journey ever conceived.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).