Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Whether we recognize it or not, the men who lead the congregation in public worship have an impact on the congregation. Many look up to the men who lead public worship in the congregation as leaders to be imitated. This is true of preachers, Bible class teachers, those who serve the Lord’s table, or lead public prayers. Sometimes men are chosen for these roles who are not examples worthy to be imitated.

I would like to suggest some qualities which should be present in the men who take a public role in worship. This is not to imply that those who are young and inexperienced should never be used in worship. However, where men who do not have these attributes are used regularly, the congregation becomes convinced that one can be faithful to God without these attributes. Hence, I would like to suggest that men who lead the public worship should manifest these attributes:

1. They must demonstrate faith. As a young preacher, Timothy was exhorted to “exercise himself in godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7). He was warned not to become entangled in the affairs of this life to such a degree that he could not serve him who called him as a soldier (2 Tim. 2:4). The men chosen in Acts 6 to take care of the daily ministration were men “full of the Holy Ghost” and “full of faith” (Acts 6:3,5). Barnabas had such an impact on the church because he was “full of the Holy Ghost and of faith” (Acts 11:24).

A congregation rarely excels its leadership. If the leadership of the congregation is without zeal and half-committed, the congregation is usually the same way (although the congregation may have a few with life in it). A half-committed leader will not inspire anyone to do anything for the Lord. When a congregation uses men in the public worship who do not attend half of the services, who habitually come to Bible class without preparation, who show no interest in the worship service, etc., that congregation is making a statement to its membership that one can lack these attributes and still be acceptable in God’s eyes.

On one occasion, I was a member of an organization which elected its officers at an annual business meeting. On one particular occasion, the organization recommended for its president a man who rarely attended. No one wanted the job and every person suggested for the office respectfully declined. When this man was nominated, the one suggesting his name commented, “Let’s nominate him since he is not here to decline the nomination.” Needless to say, an organization with this kind of leadership will accomplish little or nothing.

What is true in secular organizations is also true of the church. When the leaders of the local church are so entangled in the affairs of this life that they have no time to serve the Lord, when they are so wrapped up in baseball or school activities that they miss many of the services, or when they just don’t care enough to be present, the congregation will have a spirit of indifference spread like a gangrene through its members.

2. They must manifest moral purity. Timothy was to be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). He was instructed to “flee youthful lusts” and “follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace” (2 Tim. 2:22). By so doing, he would be “meet for the master’s use” (2 Tim. 2:21). Those who administered the daily ministration in Acts 6 had to be men of honest report (6:3).

Those who take active roles in the local church must be men and women whose moral lives are above reproach. When men are used to serve the Lord’s table who are known to social drink, do not dress modestly, etc., the congregation will be influenced to think that one can do all of these things and be pleasing in the sight of God. Social drinkers, fornicators, etc. do not need to be leading singing, teaching Bible classes, making announcements, or leading public prayer; they need to be told to repent and be converted.

3. They must have God’s cause on their hearts. Nehemiah’s concern for the Lord’s people demonstrates another quality of good leaders. When Nehemiah learned that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, he “sat down and wept” (Neh. 1:34). His countenance was so saddened by the condition of his people that the king he served noticed it. He asked, “Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart” (Neh. 2:2). Nehemiah had the cause of God on his heart.

Many of those who serve the Lord’s people are not saddened by problems facing the Lord’s church. After all, they come to church on Sunday morning and forget about the church until the next Sunday morning. As they leave the building, they quickly lay aside all thought of the Lord and his church, turning again to the affairs of life. We need men like Nehemiah who have the cause of the Lord on their hearts.

4. They must recognize the impact of their influence on others. Teachers were warned, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (Jas. 3:1). Teachers have an influence on others, not only by what they teach in class, but also by how they live. What does a teacher say to the children in his Sunday morning Bible class when he misses a night of the gospel meeting to play baseball? What does a teacher say to her Wednesday night class when she is too lazy to get up on Sunday morning to attend Bible class, slipping in just in time to observe the Lord’s supper?

Brethren, we do the cause of Christ a grave injustice by using those who are half-committed to the Lord in public roles, such as teachers of Bible classes, song leaders, leaders of public prayer, announcers, ushers, or any other capacity. These jobs need to be done by men who truly care about the Lord’s work.

Excuses Offered For Using Half-Committed Members

Here are some reasons given for using half-committed members in the public services:

1. To encourage these members to come. Some have the mistaken idea that we should give half-committed members a Bible class to encourage them to come to all of the services. This is getting the cart before the horse. Where did one ever get the idea that the job of teaching Bible class be given to encourage a person to attend? Certainly it did not come from the Bible.

2. To use every member as a teacher. Some have the mistaken idea that every member should be used to teach. 1 Corinthians 12:29 plainly states that not every Christian is capable of being a teacher; some of those who are capable of becoming qualified to be a teacher do not have the desire to become one.

3. No one else will do it. Sometimes half-committed men are given a Bible class because no one else will take it. I am not speaking of the humble, dedicated Christian who is. reluctant to step forward because of his humble assessment of his own abilities. I am speaking of Christians who are too lazy to assume responsibility; so, rather than taking the extra work of teaching more frequently, some lazy Christians are content to use half-committed members in public roles. What a sad plight the church is in where this spirit predominates! If we are going to object to using members who do not regularly attend, we must be willing to do the extra work resulting from removing them from these roles.

Problems Created By Poor Leadership

There are problems created by poor leadership. Here are a few of them:

1. Poor examples. Paul was able to write, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:11). Could we recommend to our children, “Follow the example of your Bible class teacher, the man who makes the announcements or leads the opening prayer”? We do, whether or not we expressly say that.

2. Causes indifference to permeate the congregation. Even as false doctrine (Gal. 5:9) and immorality (1 Cor. 5:6) can spread like leaven in a congregation, so also can indifference. Using men who are not committed to the Lord contributes to the spread of indifference in the congregation.

3. Unprepared classes1no learning. A half-committed teacher will do a slipshod job of teaching a class. The result will be a class in which the Bible is not taught and the class does not learn. Using half-committed teachers will eventuate in an untaught membership, a biblically illiterate congregation.

Conclusion

What kind of leadership exists in the congregation you attend? As we wrestle to overcome the problems of indifference and apathy, let us begin by using in leadership roles those whose personal zeal for the Lord’s kingdom is apparent and whose moral character is impeccable.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 10, pp. 290, 310
May 19, 1988

By Larry R. DeVore

All the promotional articles concerning Restoration Forums and “unity meetings” in recent years have had one recurring theme: that, we, as “heirs” of the restoration movement, have a “common heritage” from the past, and therefore ought to be united. They mean by “we” the Christian Churches (Disciples); the Independent Christian Churches (often called Churches of Christ in the north), and the churches of Christ (non-instrumental).

But does a “common heritage” indicate we are all going to inherit the same thing (eternal life)? Not necessarily. We may wear the same name and not inherit the same things. I have a “common heritage” with everyone named “DeVore” (it is French), but that doesn’t mean I will inherit anything from some rich DeVore (if there is one). In Wooster, there are a number of congregations with this “common heritage” from the restoration movement. There’s the Central Christian Church (Disciples), a full-fledged denominational body using instrumental music and practicing open membership. Also, the Parkview Church of Christ (of the I.C.C.) which uses instrumental music is in our town. A church meets in a school (affiliated with the institutional brethren). And the Burbank Rd. church of Christ (non-instrumental and non-institutional) exists in town. These churches are not in fellowship with one another. These churches have different viewpoints and different approaches to the Word of God.

Because of these different viewpoints and different approaches to the Scriptures, it seems to me, we do not really have much of a “common heritage” as might first appear.

Let me illustrate this with a story from the late J.D. Tant, pioneer preacher, who loved and contended for the truth.

In the 1880’s, brother, Tant held a meeting at Georgetown, Texas. By 1895 the brethren there had divided over the instrument, resulting in two congregations; North Georgetown (non-instrument), and South Georgetown (instrumental). Brother Tant proposed a way in which both churches could work together in peace while he held a gospel meeting for them.

He proposed to the South Georgetown elders two proposals: (1) He would preach a week’s meeting, and they could conduct the song service and use the organ, but he would preach one sermon telling why he objected to the organ. Or (2) they could move the organ out for the week; then brother Tant and the song leader would hold the meeting, and they could work together and sing together, and teach sinners the way of life. The latter proposal was readily accepted by the elders (paraphrased from J.D. Tant, Texas Preacher, pp. 107-108).

However, he had not reckoned with the women of South Georgetown. “A woman arose in the south side church and said she had worked hard to get the organ in the church and ‘she would see every member in North Georgetown dead and in hell’ before she would agree to set the organ aside. When the elders backed down, Tant conducted no evangelistic meeting there” (Search for the Ancient Order, Vol. 4, p. 224).

What “common heritage” do you have with that woman, or her spiritual heirs? I know, I do not have anything in common with that. That attitude and approach to spiritual matters is completely different from mine and a host of good brethren I know of today.

I am not charging that everyone in the Christian Churches has this attitude. But I am saying that the attitude which produced that “outburst” in 1895 is still around in 1988.

The only unity that is pleasing to God is that “unity of the Spirit” Paul spoke of in Ephesians 4:3. Why was that woman in 1895 and members of the Christian Churches today not willing to set aside the instrument(s) of music? Consider this:

Who made the mechanical instruments of music? Man did.

Who plays these instruments? Man does.

Who likes to hear these instruments? Man does.

Man plays them and likes them and therefore doesn’t want to give them up.

On the other hand!

Who gave man his voice? God did.

Who commands man to sing? God does (Eph. 5:19).

Who likes to hear man sing praises to God? God does (Heb. 13:15-16).

So it comes back to the basic question: Do we want to please God or man? “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

Unity “forums,” “seminars,” “dialogues,” meetings,” etc., are not going to accomplish anything lasting for good unless we are willing to give up what we like, and what we desire, and what we want. and determine from the Scriptures what God wants, desires, likes, yea; demands from those who claim to follow him. We must want to please God and to go to heaven more than we want the inventions of men.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 9, p. 274
May 5, 1988

By Phyllis Maureen Littell

It doesn’t make any sense. No matter how hard you’ve tried; no matter how hard you’ve prayed; no matter how many times you’ve tried to think of different ways of dealing with the problem; nothing changes. Some days may be better than others, but at any given time or place the problem can resurface. You are caught in frustration, anger and despair. You have run into a wall.

Interesting how the word “wall” is utilized in our language. A civil War hero was referred to as “Stonewall” Jackson because of his unmovable position. We feel like we’ve been “stonewalled” when we deal with bureaucratic red tape. Parents say their children are driving them up a wall. Teachers say students are bouncing off the walls. In Jerusalem, they have a “wailing wall. ” Perhaps most appropriately, our memorial to the Vietnam War, a war that was stalemated from day one, is a “wall” with the names of the dead inscribed thereon.

Every human being has his wall. It usually centers around a problem that makes little sense and is therefore unsolvable and open-ended. Others may have a similar problem, and they may resolve theirs, but yours hangs on. You may have been plagued with ill health while others recover quickly. You never land the job that gives your family continual financial security. Your child always has trouble with grades, or fitting in, or making the team. Despite all your love, your husband is unfaithful. There are deep cutting family arguments that make every holiday or family celebration miserable. We ask over and over again, “Why me?”

Job essentially asked and was asked the same question. It is imperative that every Christian have a firm understanding of this book and be able to apply the principles learned there to his own life. Job is the prototype of every person on earth and Job ran into a wall. It made no sense to him. We know why Job was tried. It was to test his faith. And his faith was tested. His friends tried to give him logical reasons for his suffering, but they were wrong. Even his wife told him to curse

God and die. As the afflictions increased, Job cried out in utter frustration, “Why am I suffering?” God’s answer is magnificent: “Job, you do not know enough to ask me anything. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4) Job, aware of his insignificance humbles himself in the presence of our superior being and repents of his question and his attitude. Meekly, he understands that no matter what problems come along in life, it is not necessary to understand, only to obey. “I will ask Thee, and do Thou instruct me” (Job 42:4). After which, Job was restored every earthly thing he had lost (a point often overlooked that I have noticed.)

Our problem will not necessarily be answered with earthly gain, although it could be. However, we are already rewarded more than Job because we have God’s completed revelation, the Bible, which tells us how to handle our wall.

God allowed Satan to put the wall in Job’s life for the same reason he allows Satan to remain on this earth today. Will we continue to serve God, no matter what? The wall in your life gives God the opportunity to see if you will choose him or leave him. Thus, it becomes your salvation or your destruction.

Everyone can be a wonderful, faithful Christian when things are going his way. What happens when life goes sour and you are at its mercy? James says the trying of our faith worketh steadfastness (Jas. 13; 5:11). However, we don’t want patience, we want answers our own answers and right now. Every person from Eve on has wanted to be smart enough to handle everything. The wiley serpent said, “Eat this and you will be as smart as God” (Gen. 3:5). The pride of life is a monumental wall to overcome. Man’s will is a stumbling block for many. Like Job, we want an answer or a better solution. God gives us an answer and it is this. As Job found, the answers were not within’his own realm of thinking, and God’s answers are the same today as for Job.

I don’t have to know everything. I don’t have to understand everything. My faith gives me optimism and hope. I can believe that “all things work together for good to those who love the Lord” (Rom. 8:28). With hands uplifted and head humbly bowed, with a spirit that is broken, we say, “Here’s my wall, Lord. You take it. I cannot handle it anymore. I acknowledge that I am weak and you are strong, and whatever you want me to do, I will. I trust you to know what is best for me.”

The Lord God who made heaven and earth can take this burden. Each time I try to take it back, I am defeated. But when I give it to God, I have won. It does not matter how the problem is resolved, for I am at peace when I give it to him. I will continue to serve God for there is no problem that is great enough to come between us.

The Lord has triumphed again! Satan and the problems he presents in our life are frustrating and painful, but we are not caught by them as long as we remember to give them to God. Be thankful for your wall. It may be your gate to heaven.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 9, p. 280
May 5, 1988

By Kenneth Thomas

No one is a spokesman for what the church of Christ believes and/or practices. The New Testament church of Christ doesn’t have authority to formulate doctrine. The New Testament is “the faith once delivered” (Jude 3; Rom. 16:26; Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:5; 1 Tim. 4:1; etc.).,

When individuals due to their faith in God the Father and His Son, submit their will to the will of Christ in gospel obedience, they become part of his purchased possession, his blood-bought body (Acts 2:22-38,41,47; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:22-25). Having accepted Jesus as the Lord of our lives (Acts 8:37; Phil. 2:11; Jn. 20:28), we are from that day forward submissive to his authority both in our individual and our collective lives if we are to walk before him acceptably (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 3:22-23; Col. 3:17).

The only entity for collective church action authorized by Christ is the local congregation (Phil. 1:1-2; Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:15; Heb. 13:7,17; Acts 20:17,28,32; Phil. 4:15-16; 1 Cor. 16:1,2). Since each of these entities is self-governing under Christ’s rule as “chief shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4), 1 cannot even speak for what any particular congregation may support, propagate or defend. I would hope that only the pure word of Christ would be taught and respected (Jn. 12:48; 2 Jn. 9-11; Gal. 1:6-9). It will be if they are to remain churches of Christ in fact, not only in name (Rev. 2:4-5; 3:1-5; Rom. 16:16-18). 1 am responsible to know exactly where the congregation with which I am affiliated stands concerning the will of Christ (Acts 17:11; Eph. 5:11; 2 Jn. 9-11; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Gal. 2:2; Phil. 2:16). For the sake of saving space in this study as objectively as possible read each Scripture cited.

They Are Ignorant Or Malicious!

Folks who are either ignorant of the previously stated facts or just mean and maliciously inclined for whatever the reason, frequently misrepresent what we as members of the churches of Christ believe about any number of things. Often this is because we have exposed their unscriptural activities and unlawful origins, organizations, etc. “And they stirred up the people . . . they also set up false witnesses” (Acts 6:9-14). You see this practice is nothing new among the opposition!

If some of the tales I have heard about those of us who call ourselves just Christians and members of Christ’s body, his church, were true, I would not consider them as being representative of true and faithful followers of Christ myself and would not want anything to do with such folks. But let me assure you that much of what you have heard about us that is uncomplimentary is blatantly false. Much of it is designed to prejudice you against us so you will not listen to what we desire to show you from the word of Christ. See Acts 13:6-12.

What You’ve Heard vs. What Is True

1. “You folks are against music. ” Every so often someone will say to me, “Oh, you’re with those folks who do not believe in music in worship.” My answer shocks them usually when I say, “Why certainly we believe in music. Where did you ever get such an idea as that?” “Well, you don’t have a piano or organ, etc. in your services, do you?” The answer to that is you are exactly right. Faithful New Testament churches of Christ limit the music we use in worship to the kind of music Christ authorizes in his New Testament in both our assemblies and in our private devotionals. A study of everything said about music in the will of Christ will convince the honest heart that Christ authorized only vocal music for Christians in worship. He said he would send the Holy Spirit to guide his chosen writers into “all the truth” (Jn. 16:12-13). Every passage of Scripture in the New Testament concerning music specifies vocal music (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Jas. 5:13; 1 Cor. 14:15). There are four more Scriptures mentioning music in worship and they too say in no uncertain language what must be interpreted as vocal music. Music is very much an emotional, instructive and thrilling part of our worship assemblies as we worship “in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:23-24) as well as daily as we praise his name in song and as we honor his choice in music.

2. “Don’t believe Old Testament. ” You are wrong again! We believe as Paul stated by inspiration that “all scripture inspired of God . . . is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, throughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

We frequently use the Old Testament in sermon illustrations to teach the nature of God and the principles he revealed and preserved from these stories to teach us in this age as we follow him serving Jesus Christ. Paul said, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). We look at Israel of old and learn from their mistakes so as not to repeat such today by not doing as Christ teaches in his will (1 Cor. 10:11-12). In fact the faithful, obedient believers listed in Hebrews 11 are said to be a “great cloud of witnesses” and we are admonished by looking at them to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1-2). Yes, my friend, faithful Christians believe the Old Testament and use it as the Lord intends it to be used today. It is not our rule of faith and practice however, since Jesus “took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14). In Christ we receive the fruition of all the promises toward which the Old Testament pointed (Gal. 2:21-29; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Col. 2:9-10; 2 Cor. 3:15-18; 2 Tim. 3:15).

3. “You all don’t believe in the Holy Spirit. ” Just because we reject the idea of a direct operation of the Holy Spirit separate and apart from the word of God in conversion doesn’t mean that we reject the Holy Spirit in conversion or as being one of the three divine beings in the Godhead. We believe in the Holy Spirit’s working in every case of conversion. He works through the agency of the Word which he inspired. Paul told Christians to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). This is why Jesus said to his apostles, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16). The gospel is God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16-17). We are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:13-14). There are no conversions by the Spirit where the word he inspired has not been taken. Jesus said as it had been prophesied, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me” (Jn. 6:44-45).

Also since we reject miraculous divine healing, so-called tongue speaking and other of the spiritual gifts which were exercised by Christians in the first century, we are charged with rejecting the Spirit. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

God is all powerful. He could if he chose today as in days past, grant his followers to raise the dead as did Peter and Paul (Acts 9:36-41; 20:7-12). They were given power to make a man who had never walked immediately leap and walk as in Acts 3:1-11. He could grant that a poisonous viper’s bite would bring no harm whatsoever to demonstrate his power and to cause them to listen to his servants (Acts 28:1-5). You see the people then of which we are speaking didn’t have a New Testament like you and me. The word of Christ dwelt miraculously in the men of God so the people would listen to their word, obey Christ and be saved. The miracles simply confirmed their word (Mark 16:1720; Heb. 2:14). Today we believe, based on the evidence revealed in his word. We believe on Jesus as the Christ not because we saw his miracles or were eyewitnesses to his resurrection from the dead but by what is written concerning these things (John 20:30-31). Faith comes to men today by hearing, not seeing. So Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

When the word was completely revealed and confirmed, the day of miraculous divine intervention ceased along with the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12. (See 1 Cor. 13:813; James 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3.) God works today through his providence to accomplish whatever he desires in keeping with his revealed will. To expect a miracle today is to show one’s lack of confidence in the completed work of the Holy Spirit in the word and a lack of faith in God’s ability to work providentially.

4. “You all believe in salvation by works, not grace. ” If by works you mean obedience to conditions to receive grace, we plead guilty to the charge of “salvation by works.” We do not plead guilty to the charge that we somehow claim we are saved by works of human merit that negate God’s grace. I resent any person saying we reject God’s grace. We believe and stress salvation by grace through faith as taught in the New Testament (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:6-8; John 3:16-17; Heb. 2:9, etc.). We deny salvation by grace only or faith only because such is at odds with the teachings of Christ.

Obedience has never negated grace or faith in any age of God’s dealing with man. Even faith is a work (John 6:28-29). Faith as any other of God’s commands must be exercised by man to please God (Heb. 11:6; John 8:24). Such doesn’t negate grace! James shows, in his epistle, how saving faith is demonstrated before God (1:21-25; 2:14-26). Here he shows that obedience proves our faith and uses Abraham’s “ample of fulfilling what Scripture called his salvation by faith, when he offered his son (or was willing to) to God (James 2:21-23). Christ is the “author of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Heb. 5:9). The only one who will enter the church of our Lord Jesus Christ, and ultimately heaven itself, is he who “. . . does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:2 1). Godly sorrow worketh repentance (2 Cor. 7:10), but I must do the repenting or perish (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Pet. 3:9). My repenting does not in any way negate God’s grace. The same can be said of every command of Christ in the New Testament. I must confess Christ before men or he will not confess me before his father in heaven (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) but that confession does not mean I reject grace or faith. Then there is the command to be immersed in water (baptism) for the forgiveness of past sins by Christ’s authority (Acts 2:22-38,41; Luke 24:47; Acts 19:5). The gospel is called “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). But Paul by inspiration says the ones who do not obey the gospel will suffer eternal destruction. Let’s read the passage just here: “when the Lord is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:6-10). Obedience unites grace and faith. In fact in Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, obedience is called faith and disobedience is called unbelief (Heb. 3:12-19; 10:39). Therefore, faithful members of churches of Christ accept and believe every passage which says we are saved by faith as well as every passage which says we are saved by grace. There is no passage however which says one is saved at the point of faith or by faith alone! Nor is there a passage teaching salvation by grace alone! Salvation simply cannot be by grace alone and faith alone at the same time! If it’s by “grace alone,” then we don’t have to believe. If it’s by “faith alone,” there’s no need for grace. Yet in the creeds of men, both statements are made and neither is true. They are perversions of the will of Christ and should be opposed by any and all who know the truth (Eph. 5:11; Jude 3; 2 John 9-11).

5. “You all believe in water salvation. ” I marvel that some could be so misinformed on just about everything with which we have been charged! A person is as wrong as it is possible to be if he thinks that members of the churches of Christ believe in water salvation! We place our hope in the blood of the sinless Son of God for the remission of past as well as present sins (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:22; 2:9; John 3:16-17; 5:6-9; Heb. 4:14-16; 1 John 1:5-9; Eph. 2:13-16). The above charge is made because we accept believe and practice the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 which is done for the same reason for which Jesus shed his precious blood on Calvary’s hill, “for the remission of our sins” (Matt. 26:28; Acts 2:38).

What Does The Word Of God Say?

	Belief	Repentance	Confession	Baptism
Pentecostians Acts 2:36	X		X
Samaritans   Acts 8:12		X	X
Ethiopian Eunuch   Acts 8:36-39	X	X
Saul   Acts 9:1-6, 22:16	X	X	X
Lydia   Acts 16:14	(attended)	X	X
Philippian Jailer   Acts 16:30-33		X	X
	John 8:24   Heb. 11:6	Luke 13:5   Acts 17:30	Rom. 10:9-10	Gal. 3:27   Mark 16:16

• (): obtained from the passages in the left column

( X ): obtained from the passages in the bottom row

Please study the above chart carefully and see for yourself what Christ’s word teaches. Consider what I say here and come stand with us.

6. “You believe only members of the church of Christ are saved.” This statement is made frequently in an attempt to prejudice people. It works pretty well, too, I must admit. My answer to the charge is simply the following: I believe just about what every Bible believer says he believes. I believe and teach that one must follow the teachings of Jesus to be saved eternally, as well as to be saved from alien sins (Matt. 7:13-29; John 12:48). Christ purchased his church with his own blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25). Men are reconciled unto God in one body by the cross (blood) of Christ (Eph. 2:13-26). The one body is the church (Col. 1:18). Christ is the Saviour of the body (Eph. 5:23). When Christ returns his church, which is the saved (Acts 2:38,41,47; Col. 1:13-14), is going to be received unto himself as a pure chaste bride (Eph. 5:27), then he will deliver it to the Father in heaven (1 Cor. 15:24; cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Yes, my friend, I believe Christ will receive only his bride unto himself; he is not a spiritual polygamist. He has only one, not hundreds of brides (2 Cor. 11:2-3; Eph. 5:22-33). If you are in a “plant the Lord did not plant,” you will be left outside. Come with us back to the Bible and be just a Christian, a part of the church that Jesus built (Psa. 127:1; Matt. 15:13). The church doesn’t save one, my friend, the church is the saved (Acts 2:47).

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 9, pp. 275-277
May 5, 1988