Garden City Church of Christ - ARE THERE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES?

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ARE THERE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES?

Intro.
1. Our denominational friends often ask:
  1. "Aren't there saved people in all churches?"
  2. And, the most often asked question: "Why do you believe you are the only ones who will be saved?
2. If a person is very prejudice, it is probably best to give no answer at all. (These people believe that one church is a good as another, but they exclude the church of Christ!)
  1. However, we could answer:
    1. The Bible plainly teaches there is only one church.
    2. We believe that only those who are members of the N.T. church will be saved.
3. Some people insist on a "yes" or "no" answer." How could we give a satisfactory answer when we are not in agreement on what the church is?
1. FIRST OF ALL, IT CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED BY SCRIPTURE THAT THERE ARE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES.
  1. We would readily believe it (saved people in all churches) is it were taught in the Word of God.
    1. We are taught -- 1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Pet. 1:10
  2. Some ask," What about John 15? Doesn't it teach that Christ is the vine and the various churches are the branches?"
    1. In John 15, the individual disciples are the branches, not churches.
  3. Some say, "The church is the great mystical body which includes all churches. All churches make up the body of Christ."
    1. However, the N.T. clearly shows there was only one church. Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23
    2. Jesus established only one church. Matt. 16:18
      1. People became members by obeying the gospel. Those who obeyed became the body of the saved. (Acts 2:41,47)
  4. Questions:
    1. What denominations did the early Christians belong to? There were none.
    2. Can one be a Christian without being a member of any denomination? If so, they are not needed.
    3. Does the Bible require a Christian to join a denomination? If so, which one?
  5. Illustration of how a church was started in the early eighteen hundreds. There was a protracted Union Meeting conducted by several denominational preachers. Obedience to the gospel was emphasized. A very large number obeyed the gospel during this Meeting. When the Meeting was over the preachers told the new converts to join the church of their choice. However, they reasoned: We are now members of the body of Christ and are united. If we join various denominations, we will be divided. Thus, they decided to be just members of the body of Christ and not join any denomination. This is how a church of the Lord had its beginning those many years ago.
    1. We are Christians who are determined to be simply Christians without being members of any denomination.
2. AGAIN, ARE THERE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES? NO, BECAUSE MOST HAVE NOT DONE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SAVED INDIVIDUAL.
  1. Who is a saved person? The Bible teaches: Faith, John 8:24; Repentance, Acts 17:30; Confession, Matt. 10:32; Baptism, Mark 16:16.
    1. This is the only way to be saved as ordained in the Scriptures.
    2. A saved individual is one in the body, church, kingdom, etc.
  2. Many have never followed the simple steps of the gospel and thus are not saved.
    1. For example, some have been sprinkled as infants. An infant can't believe, can't repent (has no sins to repent of), can't confess; therefore is not a candidate for baptism.
    2. Some have believe there are saved at the point of faith. They are baptized, but it is only to symbolizes that they are already saved.
  3. We are aware of the fact that it is possible for one to become a Christian and then join a denomination.
    1. The minute one does so, he transgresses the Word of God. It is "iniquity" "acting without law." Matt. 7:23
      1. There is a weakness in man to get into things they should stay out of. For example, joining Masonry or any such like organizations.
      2. As long as one is in a group that holds to or teachers error, he is associated with error and is having fellowship with error. (1) To repent of error, one must completely give up error. Eph. 5:11
3. NO, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IDENTICAL TO THE N.T. CHURCH AND, THEREFORE, CANNOT BE THE N.T. CHURCH.
  1. This is the church which Jesus established.
    1. To be the N.T. church we must be identical to the one in the N.T.
  2. Churches which differ have not followed the pattern.
    1. A study of Religious history shows that denominations resulted from corruptions of these basic things.
    2. Example, in organization. Acts 20:29-30
      1. Once corrupted, they continue for centuries. Remember Jeroboam and the Samaritans. 1 Kings 12:26-33; John 4:19-22
    3. There are so many corruptions today that error is being taught or every doctrine and principle taught in the N.T.
      1. All denominations of our time would be abolished if people would get back to the teaching and practice of the N.T.
4. NO, BECAUSE THEY ALL CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER.
  1. It would make God the author of confusion.
    1. It would mean that God saves people who believe and practice different doctrines. 1 Cor. 14:33
    2. Ex., "Peter was a pope." A Catholic book, page 82 says, "Any church that does not recognize Peter as its foundation stone is not the Church of Christ..." (The Faith of Our Fathers' by James Gibbons, p. 82)
      1. All other churches say, "Peter was not a pope."
    3. Our question, Does God teach both? Does God accept both? Would God sanction a lie?
  2. Distinguishing doctrines is what makes up the various denomination churches.
    1. That churches plainly contradict one another no one can deny.
      1. Ex., most Methodist churches teach that sprinkling is baptism; most Baptist churches fervently deny it.
      2. Jehovah's Witnesses teach there is no hell; Presbyterian church rigidly affirm there is one.
    2. What if you went into a store and you find an unmarked coat, and you ask a clerk the price, and she says, $59. You ask another clerk and she says, $99. You then go to the manager and she says, "Just pay the price of your choice, because one price is as good as another."
      1. Such foolishness would not work in the financial world. That store would not stay in business long.
    3. In the denominational world, if you like drinking liquor, homosexuality, witchcraft, just choose the church of your choice.
      1. However, if want to please God, follow His doctrine. 2 John 9; Matt. 15:9
5. NO, BECAUSE THIS WOULD SANCTION DIVISION WHICH THE BIBLE CONDEMNS.
  1. Division is condemned in the Bible.
    1. There is to be no schism in the body. 1 Cor. 12:25
    2. Christ is not divided. 1 Cor. 1:10-13
    3. It's going against the prayer of Christ. John 17:20-21
    4. Those who cause division are to be marked and rejected. Rom. 16:17
    5. "Heretics" Titus 3:10 "A self-willed opinion, contrary to truth, which leads to division and the formation of a sect or party." (Vine)
  2. Thus, all separate and distinct bodies are clearly and strongly condemned in the N.T.
    1. The entire denominational system is based upon perversions of the Word of God which have lead to divisions.
    2. Christians are to oppose division and earnestly contend for the purity of the faith. Jude 3; 1 Tim. 6:12; 1:18; Titus 1:13-14
      1. We, as Paul, are set for the defense of the gospel. Phil. 1:17
      2. We teach and encourage people to come out of denominations, and be simply N.T. Christians.
Concl.
1. Thus, we have given five reasons why there are not saved people in all churches.
  1. It cannot be established by Scripture.
  2. They haven't been saved to start with.
  3. Their churches are not identical to the N.T. church.
  4. Their churches contradict one another.
  5. It would sanction division.
2. Anytime one obeys the gospel, he becomes exactly what people were in the N.T., a saved individual, a Christian, a member of the body or church of Christ.
  1. He must then work and worship with other Christians under the direction of God's Word.
  2. To do something other that this is to cause division (Denominationalism), and is to transgress God's Word, and thus cannot be pleasing to God.

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ARE THERE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES?