As we continue with a review of this letter, the writer states: "No church involvement is required for Salvation. It is a gift from God And there is lots more Scriptures that Teach Eternal life without Baptism."
Some of the scriptures given were, John 3:15-16 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," and 2 Tim 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Note the terms "in him" and "in Christ Jesus," are location terms, that is, they identify where salvation and eternal life is. In II Tim. 2:10 we read: "...that we may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus..." Eph 1:3 states, that "all spiritual blessings" are "in Jesus Christ." Therefore, there are no spiritual blessings outside of Christ. Eph. 1:7: "In whom [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins...." I John 5:11: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." II Tim. 1:9: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus..." Note: "eternal life; everlasting life; salvation; redemption; the forgiveness of sins and grace," are stated to be "in Christ." One might ask, what does it mean to be in Christ? Eph. 1:22-23: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body..." Col. 1:18: "And he is the head of the body, the church:" To be "in Christ" is to be in his body. To be in "his body" is to be in "the church." The writer states "no church involvement is required for salvation." But the Bible says, salvation is in the church. Note further: Acts 2:47: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be [ASV those that were] saved."
One might say, but Christ shed his blood for the sins of the whole world (Matt. 26:28; I John 2:2). And that is true, but does that mean all will be saved? In Acts 20:28 we read where Paul instructed elders to "feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood." What did he purchase with his blood? The church. Suppose I purchase a candy bar for 50 cents. In order to receive any benefit from my 50 cents, I must get it from the candy bar. Christ purchased the church with his blood. In order for one to receive any benefit from the blood of Christ, he must get it from what he purchased, and that is the church. "Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25). If one is saved outside the church, he is saved without the blood of Christ.
The act that puts one into Christ (the church) is the very act where the blood is applied. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death [he shed his blood in his death]. Therefore we are baptized with him by baptism into death [blood cleanses] : that like as Christ was raised from the dead...even so we also should walk in newness of life"(Rom. 6:3-4). When does one begin the new life? When he is raised up from that watery grave of baptism. What happened in that baptism? The blood of Christ [not the water] washed away the sins (Acts 22:16). There is no salvation without baptism and none are saved outside the Lord's church. Study the scriptures very carefully.
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God"(I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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