Understanding Our Faith
The Church of Christ
Welcome to vncoc.org!
We are Christians who are committed to being the church that Jesus Christ established and that we read about in the New Testament. Our plea is to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where the Bible is silent, practicing a faith that is rooted in the inspired Word of God alone. We hope this page gives you a clearer understanding of our beliefs and practices.
The Church: Foretold and Founded by Christ
We believe the church is not a human invention but was part of God’s eternal plan, foretold by prophets and personally founded by Jesus Christ. It came into existence on the first Day of Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection in Jerusalem, as recorded in Acts Chapter 2. Jesus Himself promised, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18), and it is His body, purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22-23).
Our Guide: The Word of God
The Bible, and specifically the New Testament for Christians today, is our only inspired, infallible, and authoritative guide for what we believe and how we practice our faith. We do not adhere to human creeds, church manuals, or confessions of faith to determine doctrine. We strive to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), understanding that the Old Testament was for those who lived before Christ, and the New Testament contains Christ’s covenant for us today.
Becoming a Member: The New Testament Plan of Salvation
The New Testament clearly outlines how one becomes a Christian and a member of Christ’s church. This is not based on human traditions but on the commands and examples found in Scripture. The steps are:
Hearing the Gospel: Faith comes from hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
Believing in Jesus Christ: One must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and a Saviour (Mark 16:16; John 8:24).
Repenting of Sins: This means a change of heart and life, turning away from sin towards God (Acts 2:38; Luke 13:3).
Confessing Faith in Jesus: Vocally acknowledging Jesus as Lord and the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37).
Being Baptized (Immersed): New Testament baptism is immersion in water for the remission of sins. At this point, one is saved by God’s grace through faith, their sins are washed away by the blood of Christ, and Christ adds them to His church (Acts 2:38, 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21). One does not “join the church of their choice”; Christ adds the saved to His one church (Acts 2:41 KJV, 2:47 KJV).
How We Are Organized: The Church’s Structure
The New Testament provides the pattern for the church’s organization:
Christ as the Head: Jesus Christ is the sole Head of His church (Colossians 1:18). There is no earthly headquarters or worldwide governing body.
Autonomous Local Congregations: Each local congregation is self-governing, answerable directly to Christ.
Elders (Pastors/Shepherds/Overseers): When a congregation has men who meet the specific scriptural qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), a plurality of elders are appointed to shepherd and oversee the spiritual well-being of that local congregation. Their authority does not extend beyond their local congregation.
Deacons: Qualified men who serve the congregation in various capacities, attending to physical and logistical needs, under the oversight of the elders (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1).
Preachers (Evangelists) and Teachers: Men who proclaim the Gospel and teach God’s Word, both to Christians and non-Christians (Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:2, 4:5). Other members, both men and women, also teach others, with women teaching women and children (Titus 2:3-4).
The Names We Wear: Biblical Designations
We seek to wear names found in Scripture that give glory to God and Christ, rather than names of human origin or those that highlight specific doctrines.
The church is referred to in descriptive terms such as “church of Christ” (Romans 16:16), “church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2), “body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12), and “the kingdom of God” (Mark 9:1). These are not exclusive “official titles” but biblical descriptions of who the church belongs to and what it is.
Individual members are called “Christians” (Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16), and also “disciples” (learners), “saints” (holy ones), “brothers,” and “children of God”.
Our Worship: In Spirit and in Truth
We strive to worship God according to the pattern found in the New Testament, which is simple, spiritual, and focused on Him. Our worship assemblies on the first day of the week (Sunday) typically include five avenues of worship, as practiced by the early church (Acts 2:42):
The Lord’s Supper (Communion): We partake of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine every Sunday to remember Christ’s sacrifice (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Singing: We sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Our music is congregational and vocal (a cappella), as the New Testament authorizes no mechanical instruments in Christian worship.
Prayer: We offer prayers of praise, thanksgiving, and petition to God through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-8).
Giving: Each Christian gives liberally and cheerfully on the first day of the week as they have been prospered, to support the church’s work (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Preaching and Teaching God’s Word: The Scriptures are read, and a sermon is preached to instruct, encourage, and edify (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; 1 Timothy 4:13).
Our Work and Purpose: Glorifying God
The ultimate purpose of the church is to bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:21). This is accomplished through:
Evangelism: Sharing the good news of Jesus with the world, making disciples in all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).
Edification: Building up fellow Christians in faith, knowledge, and love, helping them grow to spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16).
Benevolence: Showing compassion and providing for the needy, both within the church and to others as we have opportunity (Galatians 6:10; James 1:27).
An Invitation We believe that following the New Testament pattern leads to unity among believers and pleases God. If you are seeking to be simply a Christian, a member of the church Jesus built, we invite you to study the Scriptures with us. The Dinh Hiep Church of Christ (which operates this website) welcomes you, and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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