Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

The statement, "We're not the only Christians, but we're Christians only," has always puzzled me. It is like a double negative. If we are not the only Christians, then who are? It's like saying we are not the only Jews, but we're Jewish only. It just doesn't compute. Those that are blood-bought, who have been buried with Christ in baptism, are the only Christians. I believe this statement is widely used by some in the brotherhood to say there are Christians in denominations. Are there Christians in denominations? If so, can they remain there and still be a part of the body of Christ?

God has, from the beginning, taught the law of reproduction. This law states that those of like kind will reproduce in like manner. In other words, a denomination can only produce what? Now you got it. It can only produce in the likeness of its own image. Brethren, denominations only produce denominational people. In like manner, Christians can only produce Christians.

Now you might not like God's law, but it won't be changed for you or anybody else. Let' s suppose that you don' t like the law of gravity. You say, "I don't believe it. I despise it. I'm going to do exactly as I feel like doing." Before you go up on top of a skyscraper, trying to act like Superman, you had better understand that there are penalties for disobeying God's law. The same is true with any of God's laws.

God' s law says there is one Lord, one faith, one body, and one baptism. You might not like that either, but you can't change it. Jesus didn't have a speech impediment when He told Nicodemus that he must be born of the water and the spirit. Paul had no problem in II Cor. 6:17-18 when he said, "Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will RECEIVE YOU." Will He receive us if we either enter or remain in communion with unbelievers? If He will, then let me go back to the Catholic church. They have bigger buildings, gambling, and the coldest beer. But that is not what Paul taught. He said to come out from among them—not join them in their disobedience of God's word.

The Bible frequently states a big word, "if." "If" we are faithful; "if" we continue in the doctrine; "if" someone preaches another gospel let him be accursed (Gal. 1:8). Paul states in I Cor. 15:1-2, "Moreover brethren, I declare unto the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which ye are saved IF ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain." What does that mean to you? It means that if we don't keep what Paul preached, we will be lost. How can we be in a denomination and be saved? It is impossible according to His word.

I am in great fear for the brotherhood. Just as the apostle penned in II Cor. 11:3-4, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, ye might well bear with him." I fear that the serpent is beguiling the bride of Christ. He's trying to make the gospel popular instead of Godly. He's trying to make us bend from a Godly perspective to a denominational perspective. For if someone is a Christian in a denomination, then let him remain there. There is no purpose to try to win him.

Those who hold to the idea that there are Christians in denominations have forgotten about repentance. In Acts 26:20 the Bible states that all should repent and turn to God and do the works meet for repentance. When you truly repent, it will cause you to turn from sin. Brethren, denominationalism is sin! It is a departure from the Holy Writ. Denominationalism is a prostitute carrying those that are associated with it to their destruction.

Let us reason together. If we run around on our wife, are we not committing adultery? Yes. Can we get to heaven while continuing to live in sin? No. What do we need to do? Repent. Is there not one bride of Christ? Yes. If we are in "bed" with another, are we not committing spiritual adultery? Even James called those who loved the world more than God adulterers and adulteresses (James 4:4). Brethren, are not denominations of the world? They are definitely not From God. They are man-made institutions that can neither save anyone nor keep anyone saved.

A brother asked me, "What about a person who has followed the plan of salvation correctly and then left the Lord's body for a denomination?" I can only give a biblical answer. When Simon the sorcerer became a Christian and then turned away, Peter told him in Acts 8:22 to repent. Again Peter says, "Repent!" In II Peter 2:20-22 Peter shows how terrible it is for a person to have known the way of truth only to turn away from it. Peter says it would have been better if he would have never known the way of righteousness. Does this sound like those who have turned away are saved?

Brethren, let's put our salvation on the rock, and let's stand on His word—not on some catchy saying. Why? Because the books will be opened, and we will be judged according to what is written.