In an area as large as the Mid-Cities there are a multitude of churches with a multitude of different ideas about the Bible and religion. For the purpose of helping to answer some questions that you might have, I hope that you will allow me the opportunity to tell you a little bit about the church of Christ that meets at 1801 Brown Trail in Bedford, TX. We are not a denomination. We have no earthl
y headquarters and answer to no convention, council, college or regulatory body. Jesus Christ is our only head (Colossians 1:18). We have no creed or church manual. The Bible is our only guide (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Individually, we just call ourselves "Christians," according to the Biblical example in Acts 11:26. Collectively, we call ourselved the "church of Christ" because that, too, is Biblical terminology (Romans 16:16). Simply put, we are a congregation of Christians who are endeavoring to do all things according to the pattern of New Testament Christianity (2 Timothy 1:13). We strive to teach "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). This includes our teaching about salvation. What a blessing it is to know that Jesus paid the price to save our souls (Hebrews 2:9; Romans 3:24)! The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift of God that has been made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ (Romans 4:25; 6:23). Because salvation is by God's grace, it is impossible for anyone to earn or merit his own salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Indeed, it is "the grace of God that brings salvation" (Titus 2:11). Yet, as is true with any offer of a gift, the offer must be accepted. Just because the offer of salvation has been made does not insure that all people will enjoy the gift itself. As a matter of fact, most people will be tragically lost in eternity because they will have rejected God's gracious offer (Matthew 7:13-14). The acceptance of the offer is based on man's faith. When a person trusts in Jesus Christ (John 8:24; 3:16), repents of his past sins (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3), confesses his faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10) and allows himself to be immersed in water (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16), then, and only then, will the benefits of Christ's death be applied to his spiritual account. His faith will have been proven to be alive and well (James 2:14-26). Any faith that will not obey all of the conditions God has placed upon the reception of the gift of salvation is described in the Bible as "dead" faith (James 2:26), and consequently will not save. Sadly, we live in a time in which a growing number of congregations of the churches of Christ seem to have abandoned the desire to "hold fast the pattern of sound words" (2 Timothy 1:13). As a result, they more resemble a humanly created denomination than they do the beautiful bride of Christ. While our hearts ache over those departures from the truth, we at Brown Trail hold fast our determination to lovingly and kindly, but without compromise, teach and defend the pristine doctrines of New Testament worship and service. We are interested in you. If you are looking for a church that loves and exalts the Lord, is free from all denominational affiliations, wants to do all things according to the pattern of the New Testament, and believes strongly in Jesus' admonition to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34), then consider Brown Trail prayerfully.
