The plea of the Berea church of Christ is a plea for Christ. Our plea is for...

THE BOOK OF CHRIST!
The book of Christ is the Bible, the Word of God, the Gospel, the Truth!
--John 17:17 - "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
--Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
The Bible is the inspired Word of God ("Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" - 2 Peter 1:20-21) ; it is the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16), and the Truth or Word of God (John 17:17). Read how precious God's Word is in Psalms 119.
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THE CHURCH OF CHRIST!
Jesus promised to build His church("And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" - Matthew 16:18) , He gave His life (blood) for the church ("Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" - Acts 20:28) . He is THE head of the church("And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" - Ephesians 1:22-23) , and Christ promises He will save His church in the end ("For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body" - Ephesians 5:23).
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THE NAME OF CHRIST!
The importance of a name is seen in Acts 4:12 - "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." In His name and His name only can salvation be found. All that we do religiously is to be done in the name of Christ --i.e. by His authority("And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" - Colossians 3:17). It is in the name of Christ that we glorify God ("Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" - I Peter 4:16). Yes, there really is something in a name!
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THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST!
Jesus says that He is given ALL authority in heaven and earth ("And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth" - Matthew 28:18). He is Lord of lords and King of kings ("These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful" - Revelation 17:14). No wonder God gave Him to be head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22-23 see scripture above under 'church').
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THE UNITY OF CHRIST!
Christ, before He went to the cross, prayed that His followers would be united --ONE, as God and Christ are one ("Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one: as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe thou hast sent me" - John 17:20-21). This unity is based upon the Word of God, not the ideas or doctrines of men ("For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest to me..." - John 17:8; and "I have given them thy word..." - John 17:14). Let us seek to be one in Christ ("Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in he same mind and in the same judgement" - I Corinthians 1:10).
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THE SALVATION OF CHRIST!
The location of eternal salvation is 'in Christ' ("...that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" - II Timothy 2:10). If we are to be saved we must be 'in Christ' and do the will of the Father who is in heaven ( "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of the Father which is in heaven" - Matthew 7:21). The Bible teaches we are saved when we:
HEAR the Word of God:
--"So then faith cometh by HEARING, and HEARING by the word of God" - Romans 10:17
BELIEVE His Word:
"He that BELIEVETH and is baptized shall be saved; but he that BELIEVETH NOT shall be damned" - Mark 16:16
--"But WITHOUT FAITH it is impossible to please him..." - Hebrews 11:6
--"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." - John 8:24
REPENT or turn from our sins:
--"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to REPENT" - Acts 17:30
--"I tell you, Nay; but except ye REPENT, ye shall all likewise perish." - Luke 13:3
(See also Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19)
CONFESS our faith in Christ:
--"Whosoever therefore shall CONFESS me before men, him will I CONFESS also before my Father which is in heaven" - Matthew 10:32
--"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth CONFESSION is made unto salvation" - Romans 10:10
ARE BAPTIZED for the remission (forgiveness) of sins:
--"...Repent and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38
--"And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and BE BAPTIZED, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" - Acts 22:16 According to Galatians 3:26-27 we get 'into Christ' and become a 'child of God' when we are baptized ("For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."). Take time to read Romans 6:3-4 also. Since salvation is 'in Christ' (II Timothy 2:10), we must therefore be baptized "into Christ" in order to be where salvation is located.
LIVE FAITHFULLY for the Lord:
--"...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" - Revelation 2:10
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THE WORSHIP OF CHRIST!
(we have a separate page devoted to describing our worship)
Just any worship is not acceptable to God ("ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" - Matthew 15:7-9). If our worship is to be pleasing to God, it must be 'in spirit and in truth'("God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" - John 4:24).
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THE LIFE OF CHRIST!
The life of Christ was an example for us to walk or live by("For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us and example, that ye should follow his steps" - I Peter 2:21) . He is the light of men ("In him was life; and the life was the light of men" - John 1:4) and we too are to live to reflect the light of Christ before others ("Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" - Matthew 5:16). Thus, we are told in Philippians 1:27 that our lives are to give honor to the Gospel of Christ "Only let your conversation (manner of life / conduct) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ..."
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THE HOME OF CHRIST!
The home of Christ is in HEAVEN! Christ has gone to prepare this eternal home ("And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" - John 14:3). John describes heaven for us in Revelation 21 & 22. You should take the time to read these two chapters and see just how beautiful heaven is!
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