LET THE BIBLE SPEAK We Should Ask Ourselves

We Should Ask Ourselves

If all churches are right, why does the Bible make it so plain that there is only one church? "But now are they many members, yet but one body" (I Cor. 12:20). "There is one body..." (Eph. 4:4). We know the one body is the church (Col. 1:18), that Jesus said he would build (Matt. 16:18).

If Jesus is the head of all churches (plural), why did he say, " I will build my church..." (singular) as stated in Matt. 16:18?

If Christ wanted different denominations, why did he pray "that all may be one..." (John 17:21)?

If God has promised salvation outside the church, why did Christ die for it? "Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).

If the church has nothing to do with our salvation, why does the Lord add the saved to the church (Acts 2:47)?

If one is saved by faith only, why were the devils not saved: "...the devils also believe and tremble" (Jas. 2:19).

If faith comes in answer to prayer, why does the Bible teach, faith cometh by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17)?

If "faith alone is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort," why did James say "Faith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:20)?

If one can be saved without complete obedience to the gospel of Christ, why did Paul say the Lord Jesus will take "vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thess. 1:8)?

If one can be saved by just believing on Jesus Christ, why did He say, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21)?

If Christ will save anyone as long as he is sincere and good, why did He promise "salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:8-9)?

If the Lord will save us without baptism, why did he command it (Acts 10:47-48)?

If one is saved without baptism, why did Peter say, "baptism doth also now save us" (I Pet. 3:21)?

If one can receive remission of sins without baptism, why did Peter say baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38)?

If one can be saved and not be baptized, why did not Jesus say, "He that believeth and is not baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16)?

If one can get into Christ without baptism, why did Paul say we are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27)?

If baptism is a Christian duty, please give one place in the Bible that shows one example where a Christian was ever commanded to be baptized.

If one is saved before baptism, he is saved before his sins are washed away (Acts 22:16).

If, when we search the Bible, we fail to find the name of any denominational church, why should anyone remain in it (I Cor. 1:10-13)? Did Christ die for it?

Please study to see whether these things are so (Acts 17:10-11). God condemns those who are "ignorant," having a "zeal of God, but not according to knowledge" (Rom. 10:1-3).

"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).

Don H. Noblin

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