Salvation---In The Church, Or Out Of It?
Opinions Of No Value
Christianity is a realm in which we walk by faith, and not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7) Therefore my opinion or your opinion, of whether we may be saved out of the church of Christ, is of no value. Questions like this arise because someone has preached opinion rather than the scriptures. The average man, with no help whatsoever, can read the book of Acts and answer this question for himself. In fact, without some help this question would never enter his mind. He would see clearly that every saved person this side of the cross of Christ has been a member of Christ's church. But some preachers insist on preaching what they think about what God hasn't said, which is opinion, and thus these questions arise.
What Does The Bible Say?
Those who believe the Bible want the answer to this. They care not what I think or what any other man thinks, but strive to learn what God's book says about the matter. The Bible teaches that the church was a part of the eternal purpose of God. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Eph. 3:10-11) The church was not an afterthought with God. It was not inaugurated as a substitute for anything, but was in God's eternal purpose. God always meant that there should be a church.
God sent Christ into the world to establish the church. "He came to take away the old Covenant and make a new one." (Heb. 8:7-13) "And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Heb. 9:15) Those who receive eternal inheritance are those called under the New Testament. New Testament law began to be preached on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. (Acts 2) "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is if no strength at all while the testator liveth." (Heb. 9:16-17) Peter refers to pentecost as "the beginning " (Acts 11:15)
Now in the beginning about 3,000 souls were baptized for the remission of their sins and were added to the church of Christ. (Acts 2:41-47) In this, the Bible teaches, the eternal purpose of God was fulfilled. Christ added the saved to his church as they were being saved. They did not join the church of Christ. When one believes in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of them, as these people were, his baptism puts him into Christ. (Gal. 3:27) "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ." "Putting Christ on," getting "into Christ," and being "baptized for the remission of sins " all mean exactly the same thing. It is impossible to be saved and not be in the church, for the Lord adds the saved to the church.
The Church Is The Body Of Christ
"And he is the head of the body, the church...." (Col. 1:18) "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head of all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1:22-23) "There is one body...." (Eph. 4:4) These passages declare that the body is the church and that there is one body. Therefore, the Bible teaches that there is one church which is the body of Christ. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the savior of the body, which is the church." The Ephesian elders were told to feed "the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) All these passages together show that the blood of Christ was shed to purchase, or save, the body which is the church of Christ. If one can be saved out of the church of Christ, he can be saved without the blood of Christ, which was shed to purchase the church.
Aren't you "Unchristianizing Everyone Else?
No, we are not! If I had my wish everyone would obey the gospel of Christ and thus become a member of his church. I do all I can to convince men to do so. If they refuse, the Lord is the one who rejects them. He made the sacrifice to save them. His blood was shed for them and he made the conditions under which he will save. Jesus said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." (Matt. 13:13) Phariseeism, the leading religion of his day, was the human plant which he had in mind as he spoke these words; and he indicated that every other human system would also perish, Religions, of which God is not the author, are vain (Matt. 15:9) Those who refuse to be Christians after the New Testament order, "un-Christianize" themselves.
Do You Have The Proper Attitude Toward The Church?
"He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (I Cor. 8:17) Those who are joined to the Lord do not speak lightly of the Lord's church. They realize that to speak lightly of the church is to reflect upon the integrity of the Bride of Christ, (Eph. 5:22-23) and minimize the importance of his blood. "Jesus loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Membership in such a body is a great honor and privilege. Why should anyone not want to be saved in it? Churches of human origin are worthless. Their preachers admit you can be saved outside of them. But do not confuse them with the glorious church of the Bible. The church of Christ is necessary to your salvation. You will find salvation therein. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...." (Rom. 8:1) "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 3:24) — Pekin, Indiana