The Church of Christ’s doctrine is centered on the New Testament as the sole authority for faith and practice, without creeds or formal statements of belief. Key tenets include salvation through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism by immersion, with the Lord’s Supper observed weekly. They believe baptism is a requirement for the remission of sins and view themselves as a restoration of the first-century church.
Authority of the Bible:
The New Testament is considered the sole rule of faith and practice, and members strive to follow biblical teachings without human creeds or interpretations.
Salvation:
Salvation is a gift from God through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. The path to salvation involves hearing the gospel, believing in Jesus, repenting of sins, confessing Christ as Lord, and being baptized by immersion for the forgiveness of sins.
Baptism:
Baptism by immersion is an essential, required step for salvation, not a symbolic rite that happens after salvation is already secured. Infants are not baptized because they are considered without sin.
Lord’s Supper:
The Lord’s Supper is observed weekly, typically on Sundays, as an act of remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. Most congregations use unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice.
Worship:
Worship services typically include a cappella singing, prayer, and preaching, following New Testament patterns.
Trinity:
The Church of Christ affirms the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity.
Eternal Security:
They reject the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” and teach that it is possible for a Christian to fall from grace and lose their salvation through continued, unrepentant sin.
Creation:
They believe in a literal creation account and reject the theory of organic evolution.
A cappella singing:
Many congregations do not use musical instruments in worship, singing only with their voices, though this is a practice that can vary by congregation.
Elders and Deacons:
Each local congregation is autonomous and governed by elders and deacons.
Women’s Role:
Women may not serve as preachers in most Churches of Christ congregations.
No Formal Membership:
Many churches do not have formal church membership in the way some other denominations do.
Salvation and Sin:
They believe humans have a free will to accept or reject God’s grace and that there is no original sin that requires infant baptism.
