Recently a preacher declared that a person does not have to be a member of any church to be saved. The only thing I can say to this is, if he is talking about a man made denomination, then he might be right. But then if one can be saved outside such a denomination, may I ask, “why be in one?” If he is referring to the one church (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 4:4), that Christ promised to build and bought with his own blood (Acts 20:28), then he is dead wrong. The apostle Paul tells the church members at Corinth that they were bought with a price (I Cor. 6:19,20). As we have noted before, the price paid was the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). Therefor if one can be saved apart from the blood of Christ, then I fear we are bringing a railing accusation against God, accusing him of causing the shedding of the innocent blood of his son for a useless institution. I for one would be most fearful to bring such an accusation against my Creator. We know from the scripture that Christ is head of the church, and the savior of the body (Eph. 5:23). We also know the church and the body are one and the same (Col. 1:18), and Christ has promised to save that body. What does this say for the ones, outside the body, that have no such promise?

The Lord himself adds those who are being saved to the church (Acts 2:47), so to put it simply, the requirements for being saved and for being added to the church are the same. Why would God add souls to the church if they were saved outside that body? Only the ones God has added to his church will be saved, and by the same token, all who are outside his church will be lost. I realize this will not make me any friends, but I must believe God, for his word is truth (John 17:17), and it is impossible for him to lie (Heb. 6:18). God hath delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear son (Col. 1:13). Since we know from our studies that the church, the kingdom, and the body are one and the same (Matt. 16:18,19 Col.1:18), if we are outside the church, we are outside the body and still under the power of darkness and are thus numbered with the lost. I would ask again, how can one be saved outside the body when Christ is savior of the body (Eph. 5:23)? It’s like being saved without obeying the gospel when Christ says he will render vengeance on them that obey not the gospel (II Thess. 1:8). It is like being saved without being converted, but one must be converted to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:3). It is like being saved without baptism, when the bible clearly teaches that we are saved by baptism (I Peter 3:21).

Why do some keep arguing with God, when his word is as plain as day? We should never accept the word of any man without checking with the truth of God. Please remember that this same word will judge us all on the last day (John 12:48). Would it not be better to know what God requires of us now, rather than when it is too late, and we are lost for all eternity?

We invite all who would, to come together with us to study God’s word and worship him in spirit and in truth. We are the Church of Christ, Kedron congregation on the Coopertown Road, Russellville, KY. We neither add to God’s word or take from it. Bible study at10:00, Worship at 11:00 each Sunday morning. If you have questions please call, 270-657-2455 or 270-755-2005.