Shall Only Those in the Church of Christ Be in Heaven? By Jimmy Pettigrew This is a question that is asked of the members of the church of Christ from time to time. I feel the best way in answering this question is with some questions. Jesus did this often when He was confronted with scribes and elders. Notice one example in Mark 11:27-33: “And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders; and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But should we say, From men — they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet. And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.” So, let us use the same tactic that Christ used in answering this question with some questions. Do you believe there is one God? Where did you get your answer? There is not but one place that anyone can go to answer this question: THE BIBLE! Notice these passages: “The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, the Mighty One, God, Jehovah, he knoweth; and Israel he shall know: if it be in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah (save thou us not this day,)”; “The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof”; “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?”; “Yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him”; “For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, (himself) man, Christ Jesus”; “One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all” (Joshua 22:22; Psalms 50:1; Malachi 2:10; I Corinthians 8:6; I Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 4:6). After analyzing these passages there is only ONE ANSWER. Yes, there is one God, the Father. Now, tell me how did we achieve this answer? It is clear that the answer came from God’s word, the Bible. Why would you teach that there is one God? You would respond, "Because the Bible says so." Right! Let look at some more questions. Is there one Spirit? Yes, there is one Spirit. How did you arrive at that conclusion? From the Bible, (Ephesians 4:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Why would you teach that there is one Spirit? You would respond, "Because the Bible says so." Right! Is there one faith? Yes, there is one faith. How did you arrive at that conclusion? From the Bible, (Ephesians 4:5; Jude 3; Galatians 1:6-9). Why would you teach that there is one faith? You would respond, "Because the Bible says so." Right! Is there one Lord? Yes, there is one Lord. How did you arrive at that conclusion? From the Bible, (Ephesians 4:5; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46; Acts 2:36; Romans 10:12; Colossians 3:17). Why would you teach that there is one Lord? You would respond, "Because the Bible says so." Right! Is there one body? Yes, there is one body. How did you arrive at that conclusion? From the Bible, (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23; Colossians 1:18, 24). How many bodies are mentioned in these passages? ONE. Since the body is the church and there is only one body, how many churches are there? ONE. Once again how did you arrive at that conclusion? From the scriptures. Is there only one way to be saved? Yes, there is only one way to be saved. How did you arrive at that conclusion? From the Bible, (John 14:6; 6:44-45; Acts 4:12). Why would you teach that there is only one way of salvation? You would respond, "Because the Bible says so." Right! The Bible teaches that is there is only one way of salvation. You might ask, “What is this one way of salvation?” Well, where will we find the answer to this question? Again, from God’s word. What then does the word of God say about what one must do to be saved? a. One must hear God’s word (Romans 10:17; Acts 2:37). b. One must believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God (John 8:24; Mark 16:16). c. One must repent of his/her sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38). d. One must confess that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10). e. One must be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). Now, if you have not done the things mentioned above for salvation, are you saved?NO! Why? You would respond because the Bible says you must do the things mentioned above to be saved. Right! Will only the saved be in heaven? Yes, only does who are obedient to the will of Christ will be saved. How did you arrive at that conclusion? From the scriptures,(Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46). Those who are in Christ, will they be in heaven? Yes, only those in Christ will be in heaven. How did you arrive to that conclusion? From the Bible (Romans 8:1; 1 John 5:11; Revelation 14:13). The Bible teaches one must be in Christ where salvation is found (Acts 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:10). How does one get into Christ? By being baptized into Christ. How did you arrive to that conclusion? From the scriptures (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27). The same act that puts one into Christ (baptism) puts one in the body which is the church. Wait, how did you arrive at that conclusion? From the scriptures, “For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Okay, we are baptized into Christ, and this also puts us in the one body, the church. Now, is Jesus the savior of the one body the church? Yes! “Christ also is the head of the church, (being) himself the saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). Seeing that those who are in Christ are those in the one body which is the one church, in which Jesus is the saviour of, would you say one must be a member of the church to go to heaven? YES! “Shall only those in the church of Christ be in heaven?”YES! Just because one obeys the gospel and becomes a part of the church does not mean he will automatically go to heaven. One must be faithful to the end (Revelation 2:10). For one to have a chance to go to heaven, one must be a member of the church which Jesus purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28); one must be a member of the church of Christ!
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 22:51:50 +0000
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