Webb Chapel Church of Christ

We are a people who believe that Christ is the Son of God and that through Him we are redeemed throughout eternity – We believe He tells us how to live in the New Testament.

We are deeply convicted that the Bible is God’s written Word – We believe it is God’s only written message to mankind.

We are a people of restoration spirit – We are seeking to restore the attitudes and teachings of the New Testament church.

We do not desire to be another denomination – We simply wish to be Christians, members of the church Christ died for and established.

We are a people believing that Christ has all authority – We believe He has set forth in the New Testament what His church is and what His church should teach.

We are not a perfect people – We have personal weaknesses and shortcomings, but we strive each day to overcome our faults with the help of Jesus.

Only God adds members to the church Christ established (Acts 2:47). God adds a person to the church when that person becomes a New Testament Christian.

The New Testament sets down a pattern to follow for those who want to live as a member of Christ’s church:

♦ Hear — One must hear the Gospel.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. – Romans 10:17

♦ Believe — One must believe in God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

♦ Repent — One must become aware of one’s sinful state and separation from God and repent of past sins.

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. – Acts 17:30

Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32

♦ Be Baptized — One must be baptized for the remission of sins.

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. – Acts 2:38

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. – Romans 6:3-4

♦ Honor God — One must honor God through a life of praise, worship, & service to Him.

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. – Revelation 2:10

The Greek word βαπτίζω, baptizo, from which the New Testament word baptize comes from means "to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to plunge."

New Testament scriptures always point to baptism as a burial, to be immersed in water.

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
— Acts 8:35-39

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life. — Romans 6:3-4

 

The New Testament teaches that baptism is essential to salvation.

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."
— Acts 2:38

New Testament baptism is for the sinner who turns to the Lord in belief and repentance — therefore, "infant" baptism is not of the New Testament. An infant has no sin of which to repent and cannot be a believer.

Those who accepted his message were baptized — Acts 2:41a

Baptism in the New Testament has specific purposes:

♦ To enter the kingdom

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. — John 3:5

♦ To contact the blood of Christ

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. — Romans 6:3-4

♦ To be in Christ

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. — Galatians 3:27

♦ To gain salvation

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. — Mark 16:16

… this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ — I Peter 3:21

♦ To gain remission of sins

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." — Acts 2:38

♦ To wash away sins

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. — Acts 22:16

♦ To be in the chuch

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. — I Corinthians 12:13

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
— Ephesians 1:18-23

A capella is singing without the use of mechanical instruments of music. New Testament instruction leaves out instrumental music completely.

What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. — 1 Corinthians 14:15

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord — Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. — Colossians 3:16

The New Testament speaks five times of worship observed by the First-Century church: praying, preaching, giving, singing, & taking the Lord's Supper. In our commitment to follow the pattern set forth in the New Testament — central to our worship services at Webb Chapel are the following five elements…

♦ We pray — And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. — Acts 2:42

♦ We have a scripture–based lesson — In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. — II Timothy 4:1-4

♦ We give of our means — Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. — I Corinthians 16:1-2

♦ We worship God in song with only a cappella singing — Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. — Colossians 3:16

♦ We observe the Lord's Supper on the first day of every week as the church in the New Testament did.