Part 5
You meet a great many people who claim to take the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice, but when you press them to cite the scriptural authority for certain of their practices they are utterly unable to do so. If one takes the Bible as sole authority in religion, then he ought to be able to point to the Scripture which gives the authority for everything he does. So don’t let a man get by with a mere statement “We take the Bible as our guide.” If you talk to him a few minutes, you will possibly find that he is following some preacher, following his feelings, or following the church to which he belongs. You may hear him use such expressions as, “What does your church believe on this point?” or “What does the church of Christ teach on a certain matter?” Well, I don’t have any church. And the church of Christ doesn’t teach anything on a certain point. If it did, its teaching would not necessarily be of any value. Such questions, such expressions betray a wrong conception of the church. The question should be: “What does the Bible teach in reference to a certain matter?”
If you can’t find authority in the Bible for your position, you’d better not depend upon it. Most of the people who are at worship this very hour belong to a church whose name they cannot find in the Bible. Yet the preachers who preach in those churches will tell you, “Yes, we take the Bible as our only guide.” To refute their claim you need only ask them one question: “Where did you get your name?” They would probably say, “It’s a nickname. Someone else gave it to us.”
“Well, how come you to acknowledge it?”
“Oh, we just got tired of objecting to it so we finally acknowledged it.”
“You didn’t get it out of the Bible then.”
Friends, think about how ridiculous it is for a man to say, “We follow the Bible, and the Bible only,” when the very name of the church to which he belongs cannot be found from Genesis to Revelation. The sad part of it is that a great many of the members don’t know the difference. I have asked people who wore an extra-Biblical name if they could find their name in the Bible. Frequently, they say, “Yes. I don’t know where it is but I’m sure it is in there somewhere.” It just isn’t there. I knew it wasn’t there, but the poor folk thought it was because they had heard some preacher say they were following the Bible.
Again I protest the statement that denominations are caused by people’s being unable to see the Bible alike. That is an insult to my God and I object to it. It is because many are following something besides the Bible. They may deny it but they are. Otherwise there could be only one church on this earth because there is only one church in the Bible.
If you belong to something this morning that you cannot read about in the Bible, won’t you come out of it? Won’t you say, “From this morning on, I will take the Bible as my guide. I will take one step at a time as that step is revealed in God’s word until it leads me home to heaven at last”?
Now, if you will do that, the way is simple. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb. 11:6). So if you are going to follow the Bible, the first thing you must do is believe. Again Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). So the next thing you will do is repent.
I heard a man say this week that the only thing you had to do in order to be saved was just believe, but the Bible says, “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish,” and repentance is not believing. Repentance is at least one thing you must do after you believe or else the Bible says you will perish and have no chance to be saved.
And then on the day of Pentecost Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). It is not hard to see that. People who refuse to do it simply don’t want to see it or just don’t want to do it after they see it—one or the other! If you want to follow the Bible, the way is plain, isn’t it? If you take something else for your guide, then no telling where you will land.
But someone may say, “What is baptism?” Let the Bible answer. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein ye are also risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Hence, according to the Bible, baptism is a burial and a resurrection. If you weren’t buried when you were baptized, then you were not baptized; because the Bible says we are buried by baptism. A so-called baptism which doesn’t involve a burial isn’t the kind of baptism the Bible talks about. If you do something else, you don’t get it from the Bible. If you stick to the Bible, you have the matter settled. You can’t get anything else from it except a burial. It doesn’t say anything else.
Incidentally, do you know where the doctrine of sprinkling and pouring came from? It came from the man who is called the Pope of Rome! At the Council of Vienna, A.D. 1311, by no higher authority than the Roman Catholic Church, it was decided that sprinkling and pouring might be practiced for baptism. Most often today the people who accept sprinkling or pouring instead of baptism do not realize that they are following the man over in Rome who claims to be greater than the Bible. You probably got it from your parents, your parents from theirs and their parents from some preacher and so on, but the chain leads back eventually to the Roman Catholic Church. It has no higher authority. The Bible condemns it.
I beseech you in the name of Jesus Christ that you submit unto His will as revealed unto us in the Holy Bible. If you will follow Him, He will take you home to rest at last.
V WHICH CHURCH IS RIGHT?
(Note: As this sermon was being presented the outline seen below was on the blackboard before the audience.)
Which Church Is Right?
_Introduction_: This is a question that concerns every person. I. _God Has Only One_ A. See Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4; Cor. 12:20; Eph. 1:22, 23. B. There are more than two hundred in America. C. Which one belongs to God? II. _The One That Follows the Bible_ A. Obviously they don’t all follow the Bible. B. The Bible is a sufficient guide (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Gal. 1:8, 9; 2 John 9; Rev. 22:18, 19). C. What does it teach? III. _Conditions of Membership_ A. Same as condition of salvation (Acts 2:47). B. Faith (Acts 16:31-33; Rom. 10:14; Acts 2:36). C. Repentance (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30). D. Confession (Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37). E. Baptism (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:47; 1 Pet. 3:21). IV. _Worship_ A. Prayer (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:36). B. Giving (1 Cor. 16:1, 2). C. Studying and teaching (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; etc.). D. Vocal Music (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). E. Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20-34; Acts 20:7). F. In spirit and truth (John 4:24). V. _Daily Christian Living_ (Tit. 2:12; Jas. 1:27; Mark 12:30, 31; Matt. 7:12). VI. _Bible Names for God’s Church_ A. The Church (Eph. 1:22, 23; 5:25; Rev. 1:4). B. The Church of God (1 Cor. 15:9; 1 Thess. 2:14; 1 Cor. 11:16). C. The Church of Christ (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16). VII. _Organization_ (Acts 14:23; 20:28; Phil. 1:1). VIII. _Charity and Evangelistic Work_ (Acts 11:27-30; 12:25; 24:17; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; Acts 11:19-21; 11:22-26; 13:1-4; etc.). _Conclusion_: The church that follows the Bible on all points is the one that is right.
By actual count there are 217 people present for this Sunday evening worship. We are glad you are here. Your presence is a distinct encouragement. It helps. We can have better work by your being here than we could if you were not here. We have some visitors and you are very welcome. May you enjoy with us all the blessings that are to be had here and help us make these services even better!
At the close of the lesson we shall sing “Come to Jesus,” for the purpose of encouraging you to accept the Lord’s invitation. The invitation comes from Jesus Christ. By his authority and by the power of the Holy Spirit the doors of the church were opened nearly 2,000 years ago on the day of Pentecost, and the doors of the _Lord’s_ church have been standing wide open ever since. Whosoever will may come. We sing this invitation song for the sake of the exhortation it contains and to give you a convenient opportunity to come forward and make known your desire to obey the Lord. Backsliders are invited to return to God, confessing their sins, repenting of them, and praying for forgiveness. Those who have never been born again are taught by the Bible to believe in Christ, repent of their sins, confess their faith, and be baptized for the remission of sins. We are prepared to assist you in carrying out your obedience of these commands. If you will come forward and make your wishes known, we shall be glad to help you in every way we can.
I promised to speak to you tonight upon the topic “Which Church Is Right?” That is a very important question, and the timeliness of it is evident by the fact that in the United States there are more than 200 churches. Just for the sake of a round number, we’ll speak of them as 200. That is, indeed, enough. In fact, too many! For, in the Bible, there is only one. Now, you just think about that—200 in the United States alone, to say nothing about other parts of the world, and only one in the Bible!
I One Church in Bible
On the board tonight I have an outline of the lesson and the Scriptures which shall be used. I would like for you who are interested to write these Scriptures down, that you may give them further study. Search the Scriptures, as the noble people of Berea did, to see whether these things are true. There are many Scriptures which show that there is only one church in the Bible. Here are a few of them listed under No. 1. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, referring to the confession that Peter had just made, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” He used the singular form of the word. He didn’t say “my churches,” but “my church.” Therefore, Jesus Christ built only one. He bought and paid for only one with his blood, and he has only one tonight. “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4). There is “but one body” (1 Cor. 12:20). That body is the church. “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23). Since there is but one body, and that body is the church, then it naturally follows that there is but one church. Only one church in the Bible, and more than 200 in America! Therefore, we must face the question, “Which Church Is Right?”
Please remember that this is no more my problem than it is yours. I’m not to blame for all these churches’ being in the world! I did not start them. None of you started them. We found them here when we were born into this world. They are here. We are not responsible for their beginning. Some of you may be responsible for helping to keep them going, but we found them here, and we have found that in the Bible there is only one. To decide which one is right is as much your problem as it is mine.
You may think that tonight I shall undertake to prove that the group of people with whom I am associated is the right group and that all the others are wrong. Well, I’m frank to say that I believe I’m right. If I didn’t, I would change! Some people think they are criticizing me when they say: “Oh, well, you just think you’re right and everybody else is wrong.” I believe that’s a compliment. Of course I believe I’m right! If I didn’t, I would change. A man who continues in a way which he does not believe to be right is a hypocrite! For one to teach what he sincerely believes is not conceit but sincerity. It’s not egotism but honesty. Not only do I believe that what I teach is right, but I stand ready to change it whenever anyone can show me wherein it is wrong. But I promise not to make a prejudiced or biased approach to this question.
II The Church That Follows the Bible Is Right
Suppose you were to undertake to examine all the creeds of Christendom, and eliminate them one by one to see which church is right. That would take a very long time. You might even die with old age before you had finished the task. I believe there is a much shorter and more practical approach to the solution of the question. Just go directly to the Bible and see what it says and follow its teaching; then you will naturally be right.
If I were going to answer my question tonight in just one brief statement, I would say that the church which follows the Bible is the one that’s right. At first thought this may sound like a very trite statement. Somebody would reply by saying, “Well, all the churches claim to follow the Bible.” Such a claim demands investigation! It’s easy to make such a claim, but you notice that I did not say that the church which _claims_ to follow the Bible is right, but that the one which _follows_ the Bible is right.
There may be a big difference between claiming to follow the Bible and actually following it. If you will talk to some of these people who claim to follow the Bible, you will hear them using expressions like these: “Well, I think so and so”; “I feel like that’s all right”; “My church teaches this and that”; “I heard my preacher say so and so”; and “My mother and father or grandparents always belonged to this church.” To such standards as these many people are clinging. Friends, such expressions betray the fact that the man who uses them is not taking the Bible as his one and only guide! They betray the fact that he is following something else besides the Bible. Before we accept at face value a man’s claim along that line, we’d better look behind it. We’d better listen to the man talk for a few minutes and see whether he does actually take the Bible to be complete and final authority in matters religious.
The following Scriptures show that the Bible should be our guide: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good work” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8, 9).
“Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). Then that well-known Scripture in the last chapter of the Bible, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18, 19).
Many other Scriptures could be used, but these are enough to show us that _the Bible should be our guide_. It is sufficient and furnishes the man of God completely unto every good work. Those who claim to be following the Bible and the Bible only should be expected to defend that claim, in the light of the Bible. Frequently, I announce publicly that I stand ready to put my finger upon the Scripture that furnishes the authority for everything we do and teach and believe in matters of religion. I always stand ready to make this claim good. Everybody is invited to check me on this basis. If you can find something for which I cannot give scriptural proof, then I will cease to teach, practice, or believe it. A preacher, who is not willing to make such a statement, evidently knows that he is not taking the Bible as his one and only guide, and yet I believe you will agree that most of the preachers in this city will not make you this proposition.
Not very long ago I heard a man boldly declare that his preacher preached the Bible and nothing else. I began to name several things which the Bible teaches and asked him one by one if his preacher taught those things. In every instance he had to answer in the negative. He had not fully realized what was comprehended in his statement. Another lady came to me and said, “I just believe that all of us ought to go back to the Bible and take it as our guide.” I reminded her that in that case she would have to give up the unscriptural name which she had been wearing and make a number of other changes. She said, “Well, now, let’s don’t get back too far.” The truth was that she didn’t really want to take the Bible as her only guide! I mention all these facts to show that you mustn’t be too quick to accept the claim mentioned a moment ago. You’d better examine it. For, as a matter of fact, if we were all following the Bible there would be but one church on the earth, because there is but one in the Bible. There’s just no escaping this conclusion.
So, I believe that my statement is apt. It is appropriate to say that the church which follows the Bible is the one that’s right. Therefore, if you want a scriptural answer to our question tonight, you don’t need to examine all the different creeds separately; just take the Bible and examine it. Follow its teaching and directions step by step. This course will lead you into the right church, and into heaven at last. You won’t need to investigate all the religious organizations which exist about us without Scriptural authority.
III Conditions of Membership
Let us see what the Bible actually teaches concerning the doctrine and practice of the church. Then we shall know which is right so far as these items are concerned. I want to say now, and repeat many times as we go along, that a church may be right on one point and wrong on another. A church may follow the Bible on one point and not follow it on another, and a church is right to the extent that it follows the Bible. It’s wrong to the extent that it fails to do so. No church is _all_ right until it follows the Bible on _all_ points.
First of all, let’s look at the conditions of membership in the church we read about in the Bible. Acts 2:47 shows that the conditions of membership in God’s church are identical with the conditions of salvation. “The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Since the Lord adds to His church all saved people, the conditions of membership and the conditions of salvation are exactly the same.
We learn from the Scriptures listed here (speaker points to the board) that the first thing one must do in order to be saved is to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Philippian jailor said to Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all of his, straightway” (Acts 16:20-33). In answer to the jailor’s question then, the inspired preacher said first of all, “Believe”; then he taught him the word of the Lord, which led to his repentance, evidenced by the fact that, whereas he had a few minutes ago placed stripes across their backs with a heavy whip, he now washed those stripes.
Then Paul taught him and his household to be baptized, and taught them that baptism was urgent, because they were baptized the same hour of the night. They did not put it off a month or a week or even until daylight, but were baptized immediately, or straightway, even the very same hour of the night.
Faith is emphasized also by Acts 2:36 where Peter concluded his great Pentecost sermon by saying, “Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” (Rom. 10:13-14). “Without faith it’s impossible to be well pleasing unto God” (Heb. 11:6). Therefore, the first condition of salvation is faith.
The second one is repentance. Acts 2:38 says, “Repent”; Acts 3:19 says, “Repent”; and Acts 17:30 says “Repent.” You can go home and read these Scriptures and you’ll find the commandment to repent in each of them, and it’s given as a condition of salvation.
Furthermore, we are taught that “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10). And in the eighth chapter of Acts we read that when the Ethiopian eunuch said, “See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? and Philip said, If thou believest with all of thine heart, thou mayest, and he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Therefore, confession is a condition of salvation.
When the Pentecostians inquired what they must do to be saved, the inspired apostle Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Ananias told Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). No one, who knows the Bible, can have a good conscience toward the Lord until he has been baptized. Baptism is the answer to the quest for a good conscience.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Friends, there are a thousand ways to go to hell; one of them is to disbelieve. But suppose I ask you who will be saved. You cannot give me a Bible answer to save your life without mentioning baptism. For Mark 16:16, the word of Jesus Christ, says, “He that believeth _and is baptized_ shall be saved.” To leave out baptism would be to omit part of the Lord’s answer. No sane person ought to take the responsibility of taking away part of God’s word. You cannot give a Bible answer to the question without mentioning baptism!
According to the Bible, therefore, faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are the conditions of salvation. Since all saved people are added to the Lord’s church by the Lord, then these are also the conditions of membership in God’s church. The church, which teaches this, is right on this point. It might be wrong somewhere else, but the church which teaches these facts is the right church as far as the conditions of membership are concerned. Any church which leaves off any one of them or adds something to them just lacks that much, at least, being right.
IV Worship
Let us look next at the acts of worship. There’s no place in the Bible which says in so many words, “Here are the acts ye shall perform as worship to Jehovah”; but there _are_ certain acts commanded, which are, by their very nature, acts of worship. Therefore, God does state for us the acts which the members of His church shall perform in worship unto Him.