God planned the Church to be Christ's way to effect salvation
WHEN SIN CAME into the world, humankind fell from God’s grace, lost the privilege to serve Him, and was appointed by Him to punishment on Judgment Day (Rom. 5:12; Isa. 59:2; Rom. 3:19; Heb. 9:27).
However, God gives humanity the chance to regain what it has lost. Through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ there is redemption and forgiveness of sins so that people can become acceptable in God’s sight (Mal. 3:7; John 3:16; Heb. 9:22, 14; Eph. 2:13; Col. 1:20-21).
Hence, all are being exhorted by Christ to enter by Him so that they can be brought together in Himself and be saved (John 10:9). Anyone can enter by Christ by becoming a member of His body, which is the Church that He built and redeemed with His blood (Matt. 16:18; I Cor. 12:27; Col. 1:18; Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation).
BELONGING TO GOD AND TO CHRIST
The lost privilege to glorify God cannot be regained by anyone without first becoming a member of Christ’s true Church. However, there is a very dangerous belief, which, if others accept to be true, will certainly prevent them from regaining what was lost:
“51. Do I have to go to church to be saved?
“To be saved, one must accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. There is no other way. Going to church will not save a man but it is essential for his spiritual growth. The church, being the body of believers in Jesus …”
(Reference: The Answer: 100 Questions Filipinos Ask, p. 67, Emphasis Mine)
It is true that a person will not be saved if he rejects Christ. On the other hand, it is absolutely false to assert that, “Going to church (referring to the body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ) will not save a man.“
However, it does not mean that all churches are needed for salvation. What man needs, as testified to even by others, is the true Church Of Christ in the Bible:
“Question: What is the Church of Christ?
“1. The Descriptions given of the Church in the Bible.
(a) God’s very own people (Exod. 6:7; II Cor. 6:14-18; Rev. 21:2, 3). …
(j) Christ’s flock (Heb. 13:20; Acts 20:28).
(k) The Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:14-27; Eph. 1:23; 5:30; Col. 1:24).
“2. The member of the Church are chosen by God the Father.
(c) Being chosen, they are called by God to be members of Christ’s Church (Rom. 8:28-30; 9:11, 24; 11:5; Gal. 1:15; I Thess. 1:4).
(d) The Church is made up of those who have been called of God, out of darkness into His marvelous light (Rom. 1:5, 6; II Tim. 1:9; I Pet. 2:9).
“3. The members of the Church are cleansed from sin through Christ’s blood.
(a) The Church was purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25; Heb. 9:12).
(b) Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, that she might be cleansed and sanctified (I Cor. 6:11; Eph. 5:25-27). …
(d) Thus the Church is made up of those who were once alienated from God by sin but have been brought nigh to Him through the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:11-13).
“4. …
(a) Members of Christ’s Church were chosen that they should be holy and blameless before God (Eph. 1:4), conformed to the image of God’s Son (Rom. 8:29), and purified (Titus 2:14).
“5. …
“(a) The Church belongs to God (Gal. 1:13; I Tim. 3:15).”
(Questions on the Christian Faith Answered From the Bible, pp. 86-87)
(Reference: Questions on the Christian Faith Answered From the Bible By Derk Prime, Pub. 1976, pp. 86-87, Emphasis Mine)
The descriptions given about the Church Of Christ―that it is needed in order for a person to belong to God and to Christ―are truths attested to in the Bible.
THE CHURCH THAT IS CERTAIN OF SALVATION
Only the people who were put right with God through Christ’s blood are the ones certain of salvation:
“But God has shown us how much he loves us–it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God’s anger!”
(Reference: Rom. 5:8-9 Good News Translation, Emphasis Mine)
The reason the Savior’s blood is needed for a person to be put right with God and be saved is that redemption is through Christ’s blood (Eph. 1:7 New International. Version). With His blood, Christ redeemed or purchased His Church:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Reference: Acts 20:28 Lamsa, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, to teach that the Church Of Christ is not important and not needed for salvation is a gross mistake and a very harmful belief. Christ purchased the Church and the people who join it will be forgiven of sins and be saved on the appointed day.
Hence, it comes as no surprise that others also testify that people must belong to theChurch Of Christ in order to be saved:
“The Church Of Christ, the Church that He loved and for which He gave Himself …
“… The Church is the body of Christ, and Christ is the Saviour of the body; then all who are saved are in that body, and outside that body there is no salvation.”
(Reference: A Time to Unite By David Middleton, Pub 1968., pp. 29, 31, Emphasis Mine)
Christ loves the Church and gave His life for it; it is His body and He is its Savior; all who are saved are in that body (Eph. 5:23, 25-32; Col. 1:18). Thus, the Church that is Christ’s body is what He will save. That is precisely why people should reject the false notion that the Church Of Christ is unnecessary to partake of the grace of salvation on Judgment Day.
IN CONCLUSION
1
One must be a member of the true Church of Christ because the church is Christ’s body, which Christ is the head of (Col. 1:18), and as the head, it is responsible for the sins of its body; thus, when we become members of the one body we essentially become a part of Christ as His body and by doing so we are saved by its Head―Christ on Judgment Day.
2
WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine original teachings of Christ and His apostles, just as taught in the first-century Church. Through the link below, you will be introduced to the various misconceptions and false teachings about salvation:
The Truth About Salvation
CHRISTIANITY IS A RELIGION with over 2.4 billion followers worldwide. It is composed of diverse faiths with thousands of denominations, such as Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Adventist—the list goes on. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that there are over 45,000 denominations globally, with more than 200 in the United States alone. Each denomination has its own unique set of beliefs and doctrines, especially when it comes to how one can achieve salvation. Do any of these religions truly teach the proper way of salvation?
Reach Out
If you wish to acquire a deeper understanding of our Church Doctrines and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to direct you to one of our local resident ministers in your vicinity. Kindly include any queries you may have so that we may forward your inquiry in advance. Thank you.
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(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)