Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
August 10, 1967
NUMBER 14, PAGE 10

Religious Errors And Bible Answers

Guthrie D. Dean

This material is taken from an attractive little booklet of 59 pages, which may be ordered from the Gospel Guardian. Price 35 cents per copy.

Baptism

1. ERROR: Baptism is not commanded.

Answer: "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." Acts 10:48. See John 14:15; 15:14; I John 2:4.

2. ERROR: We are sprinkled and poured in baptism.

Answer: "Buried with him in baptism." Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-5.

3. ERROR: Baptism is non-essential to salvation.

Answer: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Mark 16:16. I Peter 3:21: "Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism." American Standard Version. See John 3:5 and Hebrews 10:22.

Believe

4. ERROR: One can believe INTO Christ, and therefore doesn't have to be baptized.

Answer:

(a) Belief is UNTO. Rom. 10:10.

(b) Repentance is UNTO. Acts 11:18.

(c) Confession is UNTO. Rom. 10:10..

(d) Baptism is INTO. Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27. All of these steps are essential; but baptism is the final act which puts one INTO Christ. One must be in Christ before he can be saved. II Cor. 5: 17; Eph. 1:3,7.

Bible

5. ERROR: The Bible is not our all-sufficient guide.

Answer: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." II Tim. 3:16-17. See also II Peter 1:3 and James 1:25.

Birth

6. ERROR: The new birth requires Spirit only.

Answer: John 3:5: "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." See verse 23.

Calling

7. ERROR: The alien sinner calls on the Lord through prayer.

Answer: The alien calls on the name of the Lord by submitting to baptism in his name. "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts 22:16. See also Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; and 19:5.

8. ERROR: God calls us by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit.

Answer: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Thess. 2:14. See Acts 2:39.

Church

9. ERROR: The church is non-essential.

Answer: "Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his won blood," Acts 20:28. See also Eph. 5:25-27.

10. ERROR: We join the church.

Answer: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47.

11. ERROR: The church was built by John the Baptist. Answer: John was beheaded in Matt. 14:10; later in Matt. 16:18 Christ said: "I will build my church." See Psa. 127:1 and Zech. 1:16.

12. ERROR: There are many true churches (bodies.)

Answer: The church is the body of Christ. Col. 1:18; 1:24; Eph. 1:22-23; I Cor. 12:27. "There is BUT one body." I Cor. 12:20. See also I Cor. 10:17; 12:12,13; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:16; Col. 3:15.

13. ERROR: It is scriptural to refer to the church as "our" church.

Answer: (A thing is not scriptural unless it is taught in the scriptures.) It is Christ's church, not ours. He said, "my church" (Matt. 16:19); and "my kingdom" (John 18:36.) Heb. 3:6 calls it "his own house." It is "the body of Christ" (I Cor. 12:27); and the bride of Christ (Rev. 21: 9; 22:17.) Since we cannot call it "our" kingdom, it follows that we cannot call it "our" church or "our" congregation.