There are many ways that one can answer the question: What is the church of Christ? I could list as many of the doctrines as I can fit into an article. I can list all the ways in which we are distinct from the other faiths. I could talk about our nearly 2000 year history. While each of these is a viable way of answering the question, I think it best to start with the basics, the "milk" topics, as the Bible calls them. We believe the Bible is the sole rule of faith and so to answer the question, it isn't so much answering "what does the church of Christ believe?" because that answer is simple: the scriptures/Bible. The better question is, what does the Bible teach on each of these matters? Answer that, and you will answer what the we believe, because we believe the scriptures.
There is only one God (Deut 6:4). God exists in three persons: the Father (John 1:18), the Son, Jesus the Christ (John 1:1-14), and the Holy Ghost. (Matt 28:19). They are referred to in scripture as the Godhead (Rom 1:20; Col 2:9).
Jesus, the Christ (the Anointed One), came to earth as a human (Heb 2:14-15; 4:15), born of a virgin (Luke 2:1-20), fulfilled all prophecy about the Messiah (Luke 24:44), lived a perfect life (Heb 4:15), was crucified by the cruelty of man (Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19) to save man from their sins (1 Tim 1:15) by washing away their sins (Rev 1:5) and restoring their relationship to their Creator (Col 1:20). He was buried on a Thursday and rose after being in the grave three days and three nights (Matt 12:40) on Sunday before dawn (Matt 28:1f). He appeared to over 500 witnesses (1 Cor 15:6) for 40 days (Acts 1:3) then ascended into Heaven in the eyes of witnesses (Acts 1) to become King (Rev 17:14) and High Priest (Heb 4:14) over His kingdom, the church. (Matt 16:18-19)
The 66 books of the Bible are the plenary, divinely inspired, inerrant Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 3). While it would take quite a bit more explanation as to how we got to the 66 books, this can be done as well if need be. God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3) through the witness of the Apostles (Acts 1:8; 1 John 1:1-2) who were guided by the Holy Spirit directly (John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 8:12-21; 19:1-6) so there is nothing more needed and therefore we look for no other prophecy beyond the scriptures.
One should not add to or take from the inspired scriptures and that the Bible is the only creed, the only standard for faith. (Deut. 4:2; Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19; John 12:48; 2 Tim. 3:16-17) [E.g. this page does not constitute a creed, because its not authoritative.
One should have authority for everything they do. (Col. 3:17)
The New Testament is in authority today and that we are no long under the Old Testament (Hebrews, Gal. 3:24-25; Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15) but that the Old Testament states objective truth that we can learn from today such as the nature of God (Romans 15:4).
Babies are born innocent, not knowing good and evil and are therefore sinless (Rom 7:9; Deut 1:39). Any baby that dies goes to Heaven (2 Sam 12:23).
Sin is transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4) or failure to do what one knows they ought to do (James 4:17).
Sin is not transmitted from father to son (Ezekiel 18:20).
In order to be saved from sin, one must:
Hear the Gospel - Hearing the gospel must come before belief (Romans 1:16; 10:17).
Believe the Gospel - (Mark 16:15-16) One must first believe in order to be immersed (Acts 8:37).
Repent of (turn away from) Sins - (Luke 13:3) Repentance must come before immersion (Acts 2:38) as it is unto salvation (2 Cor 7:10).
Confess before men that Christ is the Son of God - Confession must be made unto salvation, but does not by itself save(Matt. 10:32; Romans 10:9-10)
Be immersed in water into Christ for the forgiveness of sins - immersion must be a burial (Romans 6) in water (1 Pet. 3:20-21; Eph 5:26) into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) in order to receive remission of sins (Acts 2:38), to have them washed away (Acts 22:16). Without immersion in water, one can not be in Christ (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3; Acts 2:38) . There is only one NT immersion (baptism) today (Eph. 4:5). And it involves water, blood, and the Holy Ghost. (1 John 5:8)
Live faithfully - (Rev. 2:10; 2 Tim 4:7-8; 1 John 1:7) Once you are saved, you can sin in such a way as to no longer be saved. (Gal. 5:4; 1 Cor. 10:12; Romans 11; 1 Thess. 1:7-9) Those who remain faithful will be taken to Heaven at the end of time (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Those who are not faithful will be raised to damnation (John 5:29) and cast into Gehenna (5:29-30).
Worship is always specifically authorized to the exclusion of all other forms of worship. (Col. 3:17; Lev. 10:1-2) There are five acts of worship:
Since singing is the only form of music commanded in the NT and must fulfill the purpose of teaching, admonishing, and being understood (Eph 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor 14:15) then instruments, clapping, humming, and other forms of music are not acceptable worship to God.
The Lord's Supper, composed only of fruit of the vine and unleavened bread should be taken only on every first day of the week (1 Cor. 11:17f; Acts 20:7)
Prayers should be prayed by the authority of Christ to the Father (1 Timothy 2:5) and every day throughout our lives (1 Thess. 5:17).
We should cheerfully give a portion of our income on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2).
The Lord’s church (singular – Matthew 16:18) was founded at the cross (Heb 9:16-17) established from Pentecost near 2000 years ago as recorded in Acts 2 until the last book of the NT was written, and has never failed just as Jesus promised (Matt. 16:18; Heb. 13:5) and that we are that church, that one faith (Eph 4:5) that was delivered once and for all (Jude 3).
Individual congregations ought to be autonomous, under the leadership of a plurality of elders (bishops/overseers [episkopos], shepherds [poimen], and elders [presbuteros] are all words referring to the same office) who must fit specific qualifications. (Acts 14:23; 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; 1 Pet 5:1-2)
A congregation should seek to have deacons who must also meet specific qualifications. (1 Timothy 3)
Women and men are equal in regards to salvation (Gal. 3:28) , but that they have different roles in the family (Eph 5:22-23; 1 Tim 3:11; 5:2) and the church as given in the scriptures. (1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:12)
We have a duty to preach the gospel to all the world (Mark 16:15).
The universe was created roughly 6700 years ago in 6 literal days (Gen 1; Ex 20:8-11).
The Holy Ghost worked directly through men in Bible times to perform miracles but works through the scriptures only today (this is how the Holy Ghost is involved in NT immersion) (Col 2:11-13; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor. 13:8-10).
There is only one church, which is the body of Christ. This church can be identified by its doctrine, its organization, and its fruits. (Eph. 4:4; Eph. 1:22-23) This church is the body of the saved (Eph. 5:23) and anyone outside of that body will be punished eternally (Mark 3:29). The church is the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17; Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9)
Ernie