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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

"Do You Think Only Those In The Church Of Christ Will Be Saved?"

Jarrod Jacobs

I recently received a phone call from a woman who asked me this question. Personally, I believe this to be a "loaded" question for three reasons: 1) The question asks what I think on the subject rather than asking what the Scripture teaches (I Pet. 4:11; Rom. 4:3). 2) The question and its potential answer tends to generate an emotional response, rather than a rational response, based upon a "thus saith the Lord" (see reason #1). One must understand that the gospel appeals to our reason, and not our emotions. You cannot rationalize emotions, nor can one emotionalize reason. 3) Generally, those who ask such questions as the above are not looking for the truth, but a fight, intending to put the one questioned (in this case, me) in the position of "condemning" (in the questioner's mind) all with whom the one questioned (me) may disagree. I do not accuse our querist of looking for a fight, but I do think that this is some people's motivation when they ask this question. Perhaps more could be said, but these reasons state clearly why I believe "Do You Think Only Those In The Church Of Christ Will Be Saved?" to be a loaded question.

Having said this, let me answer this question by asking some questions. 1) Do you believe that one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in order to be saved? If you say "yes" then what about those who practice Buddhism, the Hindus, the Muslims, and others who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God? Will they not think you are "narrow-minded" for thinking this way? If one answers "yes" to the first question, then consider this question also. 2) Is one saved "in Christ" or out of Christ? If one says "in Christ," then they need to understand that to be "in Christ" is to be in His body, and to be in His body is to be in His church (Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:18, 24). If one says we are saved out of Christ, then Christ died on the cross in vain to purchase His church (Acts 20:28). 3) The church is also called the "house (family) of God" (I Tim. 3:15). Thus, we ask the question, "Does God have any children outside of His family?" (i.e. illegitimate children) Yes or No? If we say that God has no children outside of His family, that He saves only His children, then how much importance does this place on His church? I suggest that it places a great deal of importance on His church. 4) If one is saved who is not a member of the church of Christ (the church belonging to Christ and not man), the one He built (Matt. 16:18; Heb. 8:1-2), the one He loved and for which He gave Himself (Eph. 5:25), the one He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28), the one of which He is the Saviour (Eph. 5:23), and the head (Eph. 1:22-23); then in whose church is a man saved? None? All of them? Can one be saved in the church of which our querist is a member?

Please understand that when I speak of the church of Christ, I am not speaking of a man-made institution. Nor am I speaking of a denomination among the many denominations so popular today. I am speaking of the church which Christ built (Matt. 16:18), the one for which He died and shed His blood (Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28), the one of which He is the Savior (Eph. 5:23), the one which bears His name (Rom. 16:16), the one that follows His will and no one else's (I Pet. 4:11), the one that worships Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24), the one to which Jesus adds the saved (Acts 2:47), and the one which has no earthly headquarters, for her head is in Heaven at the right hand of God (Col. 1:18; Acts 7:55).

Let me ask this question to our dear readers who may disagree with the Bible on this subject. Do you, dear reader, believe that one church is as good as another in religion; and that you may belong to any church and be saved? If so, why do you oppose the church of Christ? Why is opposition raised by some when one from the various denominations enters the church of Christ? Again, if you believe that one church is as good as another, then how many from the Church of Satan do you believe will be in Heaven? If the one reading this article has any kind of religious affiliation at all (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, etc.), then you must NOT believe that one church is as good as another, or you would not have so restricted yourself to one group! In fact, I have talked with people from various denominations, and found them to be quite adamant at times about the particular denomination to which they belong. I have known them to actually "draw lines," making it known to me that they would having nothing to do with "denomination 'x' " for they "had it wrong." How could one say this, and then speak to people such as myself as if one church is as good as another? Truly, the legs of the lame are not equal (Prov. 26:7)!

Perhaps more could be said on this subject, but we hope that what has been said will encourage further Bible study among our dear readers. Please do not accept anything I have said merely because I said it, but compare all things with the Scriptures (I Thess. 5:21). Be as the noble Bereans, accepting God's word with all readiness of mind, and searching the Scriptures daily whether these things are so (Acts 17:11). The best thing you can do for yourself is to make sure your life is in line with the Bible (Col. 3:17). Let us all work toward that end so that one day we can dwell eternally in Heaven together (Rev. 22:14).

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