IF WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE…

IF WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE…

INTRODUCTION:

Generally speaking, most people who profess any religious affiliation believe the Bible to be the word of God. I write this piece with the presupposition of it being true. The differences lie perhaps in what version one may use and the interpretation of scripture. Interestingly, while most people profess their belief in the Bible, their doctrines come from the creeds and manuals of men. Or, with most, it is a failure to “rightly divide” the scriptures with the understanding that we now live in the New Testament era and under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Concerning matters of salvation, God has spoken with clarity the one message to save all men. If we are going to be saved, we must all be saved in the same manner. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10: 34-35).  No one can create his/her own Bible to contradict the message God teaches. Whatever the Bible teaches, it teaches the same message for all. In this tract, the leading statement will be: “If We Believe The Bible”, followed by the simple and plain truths God has set forth in His word.

IF WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE…We will not accept the doctrine of faith only. The Bible teaches that while one must have faith (e.g., Hebrew 11: 6; Romans 10: 10; John 3: 16), faith only will not save anyone. Those who believe the Bible have been taught that salvation by faith only saves. But the Bible teaches that “faith without works is dead” (James 2: 14-26). No one has ever or will ever be saved by faith only. Jesus said, “He that believes [faith] and is baptized [works] shall be saved” (Mark 16: 16). Please pay careful attention to the conjunction “and” in the verse. If a person believes in the doctrine of “faith only” then that person implies salvation by a dead faith; for faith without works is dead. But salvation is not by a dead faith; therefore the doctrine of faith only is a false doctrine. The Bible teaches, “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10: 35). Further, notice the teaching in John 1: 12. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in His name” (John 1: 12). Now, what does this passage teach the believer has the right to become? Answer: Children of God. Believers in Christ are not yet children of God; they have the right, they have the liberty of action to become children of God. You cannot become what you already are. You cannot become a child of your mother and father. You are already a child of your mother and father. Therefore, if believers have the right to become children of God, they are not yet children of God. The one and only time we find the language of faith only is found in James 2: 26 where the Bible teaches us, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” There is not a single case in the New Testament where a person(s) were saved by faith only…If We Believe The Bible.

IF WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE… We will not accept the different “churches” in existence today. Today, there are hundreds of different denominations wearing different names and teaching different doctrines. These churches are conspicuously absent from the Bible. But notice the plain Bible teaching concerning the church. The Bible teaches that there is only one body (Ephesians 4: 4). The Bible teaches that the body is the church (Colossians 1: 24). Therefore, there is only one church. Christ promised He would build His church (Matthew 16: 18). Therefore, the one church is the church of Christ, i.e., the church that belongs to Christ. Christ adds the saved to the church (Acts 2: 47). Therefore, the church that Christ adds to is the one church that Christ built. Every person who obeys the gospel is added to the church of Christ for it is the only church in Bible where one can be saved and where the saved are located…If We Believe The Bible.

IF WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE…We will not accept the different, conflicting and contradictory doctrines taught by men from their different manuals and creeds. To the Jews of Jesus’ day, He quoted from Isaiah the prophet and said: “This people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15: 8-9). This principle is well and alive today. The Bible teaches that there is one faith (Ephesians 4: 5). This one faith is the system of faith which teaches one message. Paul wrote: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1: 8). John wrote: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). As we said in our introductory remarks, the majority of people—unknowingly—are following the creeds and manuals of men. Whatever the denomination, there is a creed or manual that makes them such. The Bible cannot and does not teach the conflicting and different doctrines that makes men denominationalist. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10: 17). Where there is no hearing there can be no faith; and where there is no word of God one cannot come to faith. The Bible teaches: “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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3: 16-17). The Bible and the Bible alone contains the saving message that all men must hear and heed…If We Believe The Bible.

IF WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE…Then we will not believe in what has been commonly called the “sinners’ prayer.” The great concern for all men is the salvation of their souls. Usually, at the concluding of the sermon, the preacher will extend the invitation to come and “accept Jesus in your heart.” What follows is the utterance of some form of what is called the “sinners’ prayer.” The Bible no where teaches such a prayer. No one has ever prayed their way into Christ.  In the book of Acts no one was ever found praying for salvation. The Bible teaches that baptism stands between the sinner and his sins being forgiven. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter told those hearers to “repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins” (Acts 2: 38). In Acts 9: 11, Saul of tarsus was praying and when Ananias came to him he said, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22: 16). It was in the act of being baptized to wash away his sins that Saul was “calling on the name of the Lord.” Paul (formerly Saul) told the Galatians how they came into Christ. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3: 27). In Acts chapter 8, The Ethiopian eunuch rejoiced after he was baptized (Acts 8: 39). In Acts chapter 10, Peter commanded them to be baptized (Acts 10: 47-48). In every case in the New Testament where sins needed remitting, baptism for the forgiveness of sins was called for. And is it not interesting that Christ can only come into the heart after one has been baptized? And he does this via the Holy Spirit per Acts 2: 38! The “sinners’ prayer” is not taught in the Bible nor was any sinner ever converted this way…If We Believe The Bible.

CONCLUSION:

The aforementioned mentioned matters come from an honest study of the scriptures. God enjoins all of us to be students of the Bible. To study our way into truth (2 Timothy 2: 15); and to be an honest seeker with an honest heart for the truth (Acts 17:11; Luke 8: 15). May God richly bless your sincere efforts to find and obey his truths as recorded in scripture.

∼By Stacey Mobley