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Peter wrote, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness
and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15). And in the next chapter, he wrote, "If any man speak, let
him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11).
These verse tell us that we are to give a reason for what we teach and practice, and that reason must come from the word of God. We are accused of many things by the religious world and I sometimes feel like Paul when he said, "...Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me" (Acts 24:13). But, are we wrong in what we teach? That's the question I pose in this study. Are we wrong to preach that there is only one way to heaven? Jesus said, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14). Does this sound like there is more than one way to heaven? Are we wrong when we teach that Christ is that way? "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6). Do you know of another way to heaven? Are we wrong when we teach there is no salvation outside of Christ? Paul wrote, "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Tim. 2:10). Again, he wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). And of Christ, Paul said, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph. 1:7). Are we wrong to say that the only into Christ is by baptism? There are only two passages of scripture which tell us how to get into Christ. Paul wrote both by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death" (Rom. 6:4), and "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). The scriptures nowhere teach that there is another way into Christ. As one is out of a coat until he puts the coat on, so one is out of Christ until he puts on Christ — and the only way to do that is in baptism. Are we wrong to say that there is one body? Inspiration says, "there is one body" (Eph. 4:4). In fact, it says, "but one body" (1 Cor. 12:20). Could language be any plainer? Are we wrong when we say the body is the one church? We read, "And he is the head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18). "And hath put all things under his feet, and given him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). Are we wrong when we say that Christ built only one church? Jesus said, "...upon this rock I will build my church..." (Matt. 16:18). Have you ever read where he built another or more than one? Are we wrong when we say Christ adds the saved to the church? Acts 2:47 says "the Lord added to the church daily, those who were being saved." To which church does He add them? Based on the last question, are we wrong when we say no one is saved outside the church? If Christ adds the saved to the church — and He does — how can anyone be saved and not be in Christ's church? Paul said both Jew and Gentile are reconciled unto God "in one body" (Eph. 2:16). If reconciliation is "in one body," how can anyone be reconciled to God outside that one body, the church? Are we wrong to teach that one must believe and be baptized in order to be saved? What does Mark 16:16 teach? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Please diagram that verse and the truth can be easily seen. Are we wrong in teaching the urgency of one repenting and being baptized for the remission of sins? Please read Peter's answer to the Jews on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Can we be wrong in telling people to do what he told them to do? [ Matt. 28:18-20, Ed. ] Can we be right if we offer remission of sins on any other terms? Seriously consider these things. Don't go to judgment unprepared to meet God. Please don't let prejudice keep you from seeing and obeying the Truth. |