The story of the Temple City church of Christ begins in the Bible. About two thousand years ago, when Peter confessed that Jesus was the “Christ” (God’s chosen one to save His people), Jesus said “Upon this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18)
Jesus prepared Peter and His other close disciples to preach the Good News, that Jesus died for us and rose again. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Matthew 16:15-16)
They began this work on the day known as “Pentecost”, in A.D. 33. And God even did some amazing miracles that day, to prove that they were really speaking His message! If you would like to read all about it you can find it in the Bible in the book of Acts, chapter 2.
Peter stood up and did the main preaching that day. After proclaiming the Good News about Jesus, He said, “…..’God has made this man Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ The people were cut to the heart and said, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.’ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
That is the beginning of the church of Christ! Many people tried to stop that message from spreading. But people everywhere heard the same Good News message, and were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.
One of the main people to try to stop this gospel message was a man named Saul. He did everything he could to stop people believing in Jesus, even hunting down and killing Christians–until one day Saul met Jesus himself! For three days he was in shock, not eating or drinking, realizing all the horrible things he had done, now that he knew Jesus really was the Son of God. The Lord sent a man named Ananias to give Saul the Good News, that through Jesus he could have all his sins forgiven. Ananias told him, “And now, what are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name”! (Acts 22:16)
Saul came to be known as the apostle Paul. He spread the Good News even more than the other apostles before him. He preached the same Good News as Peter and the other apostles, and everywhere people were baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
Paul wrote to these people, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28.) People from all races and backgrounds, in many different places, were baptized into Christ and were added to the numbers of His church. By the time Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Rome, there were churches of Christ in cities everywhere! Paul told the church in Rome, “Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” (Romans 16:16)
Fast forward to today–there is now a church of Christ in Temple City, California! The church is made up of those who have been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. We have accepted, and now we preach, the same Good News message that was given by Christ to His apostles. If we didn’t do that, we wouldn’t be a church of Christ! We would urge you, just like Peter, and Ananias, and Paul, and everyone who has preached that Good News message–repent of your sins, and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins! Save yourself from this corrupt generation! This promise is for everyone! You too can be added to the number of the church of Christ!
We will be glad to help you get in touch with us as soon as possible, and we will be happy to help you be baptized into Christ. You can come to us, or wherever you are in the world, we will help you get in touch with a church of Christ nearby. Don’t wait–there is nothing better than having your sins forgiven, and being in Christ’s family, HIS church!
(Don’t just take our word for it. Read the book of ACTS, found in the Bible. You will see how the Good News message spread, and people everywhere believed and were baptized. That same Good News message is being preached everywhere today, and now you’ve heard it! Please don’t ignore it–if you believe in Jesus, repent and be baptized today!)
