OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Articles Next 

I AM THANKFUL FOR…the OceanSide church of Christ

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Over the last several days, I have been making posts on Facebook entitled:  “I AM THANKFUL FOR…”  I have been looking at various things in my life for which I am thankful:  my upbringing, the death of Jesus on Calvary, the privilege of worship, and my earthly family.  In my list of things for which I am thankful is also the OceanSide church of Christ.  Thus far, seven years of my life has been spent here.  That is more than 1/10th of my earthly existence.  Let’s look at some of the reasons I am thankful for this congregation.

            First, the OceanSide church of Christ realizes that God is supreme in all things.  “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (I Cor. 11:3).  Notice the hierarchy Paul sets forth:  God, Christ, man, then woman.  God the Father is first.  In Ephesians 4:6, Paul again writes:  “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  Yes, God is above all.  The OceanSide congregation not only realizes this, but also honors it. 

            Second, the OceanSide church of Christ knows that the Bible is the Word of God.  In other words, we proclaim that the Bible is literally and actually God’s message to the world.  There is no other book that contains God’s message.  The Bible is our sole authority in all things pertaining to life and godliness.  We believe Paul’s words to Timothy are true.  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16-17).  The words of the Bible govern all that we do.  We cannot add to them.  We cannot take from them.  We affirm as did the psalmist:  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105). 

            Third, the OceanSide church of Christ seeks to exalt Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Jesus is the Son of God.  He was sent by the Father to redeem man from his sins.  He, and He alone, can provide salvation for man’s sin-sick soul.  During His ministry, Jesus said:  “”And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).  He was lifted up on the cross of Calvary.  There He shed his blood.  There the love of God was manifested unto the world.  There the price was paid for the church.  Only the message of Christ will save the lost.  Paul knew this.  To the church at Corinth, he wrote:  “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Cor. 2:2).  Jesus is the one who the OceanSide church wants all to come to know.  Those who come to know Him can find redemption, reconciliation, and rest.

            Fourth, the OceanSide church of Christ knows that Jesus died for and built only one church.  We live in a world that fails to see the importance of the church.  It is said that one church is just as good as another.  Some do not believe that any church is necessary for them to be saved.  OceanSide does not believe this.  Jesus said:  “…upon this rock I will build my church.”  When Jesus was on earth, He taught that the church was coming.  He would build it very soon.  When He died on Calvary, He purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28).  He built only one church (Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:18).  He did not build hundreds of man-made denominations (Matt. 15:13).  In Acts 2, we read of the establishment of the church.  Several thousand obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:37-38, 41).  Those saved individuals were added to the church for which our precious Lord gave His life.  “Praising God, and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2;47).

            Fifth, the OceanSide church of Christ knows the importance of worship and the necessity of keeping it true and pure.  Jesus said:  “God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).  God is the object of our worship.  Truth is the authority for our worship.  God has designated in the New Testament just how He wants the church to worship.  He has given commands, principles, and examples for us to follow.  When we carry out the acts of worship authorized in the Word of God, we worship in truth.  Lastly, spirit involves our attitude in worship.  Worship is a very important behavior for the Christian.  It is not a time to play or be flippant.  It is time to be serious.  We are in the presence of God.  We are showing Him honor and glory and power.  All of our hearts should be poured out before Him.  All we do and say should be genuine and sincere.     

            Sixth, the OceanSide church of Christ realizes that we exist for a purpose.  That purpose is not to entertain our fleshly, outer man.  Our purpose reflects the purpose of Jesus’ ministry.  “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  We are here to share the saving message of the gospel (Rom. 1:16) with as many people as possible.  We want all to know what they must do to be saved from sins.  We want them to hear God’s Word so faith will be developed in their hearts (Rom. 10:17).  We want them to believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24; Rom. 10:9-10).  We want man to change, that is, repent of his evil ways (Luke 13:3).  We want all to confess the sweet name of Jesus before men (Rom. 10:9-10).  Lastly, we want all men to obey the command to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  We know that when a person does these things, he has complied with the gospel’s conditions of salvation.  Those who come up from the waters of baptism are saved (Mark 16:16; I Pet. 3:21).  Too, the Lord adds them to His church (Acts 2:47; I Cor. 12:13). 

            Thus far, I have listed six reasons that cause me to be thankful for the OceanSide church of Christ.  These six reasons are very important.  It they were not present at this congregation, another church would have to be called home.  Before we close, there is one other reason that causes me to be thankful for OceanSide.  It is because of the love that we have for one another.  We are a diverse group.  We are a mixture of many kinds of people.  However, we have all been redeemed by the blood of Christ.  We are all one in Christ.  We are all children of God.  Our relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ is filled with love for one another.  Again, this is as it should be.  In Peter’s first epistle we read:  “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeign love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (I Pet. 1:22).  Love is the predominate quality that should be manifested by God’s people (I Cor. 13:1-3).  I am thankful that it permeates this church.  Brethren, I am thankful for the OceanSide church of Christ. Aren’t you?