A Saint — But Not Canonized
The Holy Spirit requires of every child of God that he be able to give a reason to everyone who may ask concerning the hope that is within him. In this article I propose to tell you what I am religiously, and what I am not.
Not "Faith Only" Advocate
I am a believer, but I do not believe in the popular doctrine of salvation by "faith only". I believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the divine Son of God. That is exactly what Peter believed and confessed. (Matt. 16:16) It is identically what the Ethiopian eunuch believed and confessed. (Acts 8:37) I believe in salvation by faith. The Bible teaches that we are saved by faith, that we are justified by faith in Christ. (Rom. 3:28; 5:1; Gal. 2:16)
There is a vast difference, however, between the doctrine of salvation by faith as taught in the scriptures and the popular and erroneous doctrine of salvation by "faith only" as taught by many religious denominations. The popular doctrine is that a person is saved the very moment he comes to believe in Christ. For that reason, we hear radio preachers say, "if you would be saved, just kneel down by your radio and pray". That initial and simple belief of this kind is not sufficient to save is the overwhelming testimony of the scriptures. The Holy Spirit plainly teaches that faith without works will not save (James 2:14); that faith without works is dead (James 2:17); that faith without works is as dead as the body without the spirit (James 2:26); that if "faith only" were the only essential to salvation, even the devils would be saved because "the devils believe and tremble" (James 2:19); that we are not justified by faith only (James 2:24); and that faith is made perfect by works (James 2:22).
Not A Sectarian
I am a Christian, but I am not a sectarian. I am a Christian because I have complied with the requisites set out in the New Testament for becoming a Christian. I have heard the gospel (Rom. 10:17); I have believed the gospel (I Cor. 15:1-4); I have obeyed the gospel by repenting of my sins (Acts 2:38), confessing my faith in Christ (Rom. 10:10), and by being baptized into Christ for the remission of my sins (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:1-4). Since I am a Christian, I wear the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and strive daily to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord.
I am not a sectarian. I am not a member of any denomination on earth. The New Testament has imposed upon me the obligation of becoming a Christian; but it has nowhere directed me to become some particular "brand" of Christian. Therefore, I am simply a Christian, a Christian only, and only a Christian. I wear the name of Christ, but I do not wear the name of any denomination. There is salvation in the name of Christ (Acts 4:12), but there is no salvation promised in any denomination.
I have never joined any denomination, nor do I intend to. A denomination is a sect, a party, a division, a faction. The very name "denomination" indicates that. The New Testament condemns denominationalism and sectarianism as a sin of the flesh in the same category as murder, adultery, lasciviousness, and other vile sins.
All division among the followers of Christ is expressly and vigorously condemned by the Holy Spirit (I Co 1:10). Sectarianism is listed among the "works of the flesh"—"idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations seditions, heresies" (Gal. 5:20) The word "sect" is from the same Greek root as the word which is here translated "heresies".
Not A Canonized Saint
I am a saint, but I have never been "canonized". The New Testament repeatedly refers to all Christians as saints (Acts 9:13; 26:10; Rom. 1:7; I Cor. 1:2). Saints are those who have been sanctified. To be sanctified is to be separated, to be set apart and dedicated to the service of God. To be sanctified is to be dedicated to a holy purpose and use. When one becomes a Christian he is sanctified, that is, he is set apart to the service of God.
Although I am a saint, I am not perfect. Sanctification is not synonymous with perfection. There is a religious doctrine that teaches that sanctification means sinless perfection. This doctrine is taught in the face of the plain teaching of John, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (I John 1:8)
I am a saint, but I have never been "canonized". There is not one word in the New Testament that authorizes or even mentions the "canonization" of anyone as a saint.
Not A Mary Worshipper
I am a worshipper of God, but I am not a worshipper of the virgin Mary. There are those who teach that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also the "mother of God", "spouse of the Holy Spirit", etc., and is to be worshipped equally with Christ and God.
The Bible teaches that Mary was a woman of flesh and blood, that she recognized God as her Savior (Luke 1:47); that she did not hold a superior position in the early church (Acts 1:4). Mary told men to obey Jesus not her (John 2:5). Jesus recognized her as a human being, and spoke to her in language he never used in addressing God (John 2:3,4) The Bible does not teach the doctrine of the "perpetual virginity" of Mary. (See Matthew 12:46-49; 13:55; Mark 3:31-35; 6:3; John 2:12; Gal. 1:19).
—O—
He has no enemies, you say;
My friend, your boast is poor.
He who hath mingled in the fray of duty Which the brave endure must have made foes.
If he has none, small is the work which he has done.
He has bit no traitor on the hip, He has cast no cup from tempted lip;
He has never turned the wrong to right, He has been a coward in the fight.
—O—
Americans last year spent more than $9,000,000,000.00 (that's right—billions) for alcoholic beverages.