(Note: As this sermon was being presented the outline seen below was on the blackboard before the audience.)
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 theLord’schurch 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 desireto 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!
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 onechurch 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 arewrong. 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.
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. Atfirst 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 whichclaimsto follow the Bible is right, but that the one whichfollowsthe 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 thatthe 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 somethingfor 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 scripturalanswer 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.
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 isallright until it follows the Bible onallpoints.
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 membershipand 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 theresurrection 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 believethand is baptizedshall 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.
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 therearecertain 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.
First, they shouldpray. Acts 2:42 states that the church at Jerusalem continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. Acts 20:36 gives us an example of public prayer. At the seaside the apostle Paul knelt down with those who were gathered with him and prayed unto God. Prayer by its very nature is an act of worship.
We also learn in First Corinthians 16:1 and 2, that we shouldlay by in storeupon the first day of the week as we have been prospered; and that itself is an item of worship. Giving or sacrificing unto God for the sake of God is an act of worship.
From Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7, and many other Scriptures that could be listed, we learn thatteaching and studying the Bibleare also commanded of God’s children; and that, likewise, is worship.
In Ephesians 5:19 we read these words, “Speaking unto yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart tothe Lord.” And in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” These Scriptures command us tosingpraises to God and admonitions unto each other, which is naturally an act of worship.
And then, finally, we are taught to eat the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:17-34; Luke 22:19-20). Acts 20:7 tells us that this shall be done on the first day of the week. The church at Troas, under apostolic guidance, met uponthe first day of the weekto eat the Lord’s supper. And, friends, “the sabbath day,” as the expression was used in the Old Testament, meant every sabbath day, and by the same line of reasoning, “the first day of the week” means the first day of every week.
Tomorrow students will be registering out at Peabody and Vanderbilt. Their schedules will state that a certain class meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They will not state that it meetseveryMonday andeveryWednesday andeveryFriday, but even a college freshman will understand what is meant! When we are told that a class meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we know that it meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of every week.
If you were to search the New Testament to find out how often we should eat the Lord’s supper, you would not find the slightest suggestion that it should be eaten once a year. You would find no sort of hint that it should be taken upon the first of every quarteror upon one Sunday out of each month. The only Scripture which throws any light whatsoever upon the question puts it upon a weekly basis.
John 4:24 shows that all these acts of worship must be done in spirit and in truth. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
That’s what the Bible teaches about the worship of the Bible church. The church which does these five things in spirit and in truth is the right church as far as the worship is concerned. A church might be right in worship and wrong in doctrine, or vice versa; but the church which, in spirit and in truth, teaches and practices these five items and only these, is right in its worship; and the church that preaches and practices anything different from this is wrong. The Bible is right. This is what the Bible teaches. The church which does this is consequently right; the one which doesn’t is wrong.
A church is responsible for its teaching in respect to how its members should live. It cannot force the members to do according to its teaching and we must distinguish between the conduct of the church as a whole and the behavior of individual members. If the church teaches the truth and attempts to persuade its members to obey it, and properly disciplinesthem when they disobey, the church as a whole cannot be held accountable for their misbehavior.
Concerning Christian living the Bible says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (Jas. 1:27). “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). And then in Matthew 7:12, we have what is called the Golden Rule, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
These are general commandments governing Christian behavior, and the church which teaches and impresses these Bible lessons upon its members is right that far, but the church which fails to condemn worldliness and ungodly living lacks that much being right. It may be ever so sound on doctrine and worship, but if it fails to properly admonish its members and hold up before them the divine standardof Christian conduct and insist that they follow it, it lacks that much being right.
Friends, here’s (speaker points to board) what the Bible teaches on Christian behavior. The church which teaches this is right on that point because the Bible is right and this is what the Bible says.
We come now to the name. You know, there are a lot of churches right here in Nashville tonight which simply cannot find their names in the Bible. They could look from now till the end of the world and they couldn’t find the names they wear in the Bible to save their lives! That, to me, is an astonishing fact. It looks as if anybody ought to know that the Bible cannot guide you into a church which isn’t even mentioned in the Bible. A road map cannot direct you to a town which is not shown on the map. A Tennessee road map cannot show you how to find a town in Texas, and so the Bible cannot guide you to a church which isn’t even found in the Bible. That’s a very simple test which you might apply in your search for the right church.
What does the Bible say about the name? In Ephesians 1:22 we find that Christ has been made head over all things untothe church. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.” And so, first of all, it is simply calledthe church. Then in Revelation 1:4we read about “the sevenchurches” of Asia, meaning the seven different congregations which are specified in chapters three and four. In a general sense, including all saved people on the earth, it is simply calledthe church. In the plural form this name refers to the various local congregations of that great body.
We learn also from First Corinthians 15:9 that it is called thechurch of God. Paul said he was not fit to be called an apostle, because he persecuted thechurch of God. First Corinthians Cor 11:16 says, “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” So in the singular and comprehensive sense, it is called thechurch of God; not as a denominational title, but as an expression of ownership. It is the church which belongs to God. And in Matthew 16:18 Christ said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” It is, therefore, the church which belongs to Christ. And in the plural form, we read in Romans 16:16, “The churches of Christ salute you.”
Friends, we learn from the Bible, then, that in the broad, general sense, including all saved people, it is called the church, or the church of God, or the church of the Lord, the church which belongs to Christ. Referring to different local congregations, those same terms are used in the plural form. This leads me to believe that anything bigger than a local congregation and smaller than all God’s people throughout the world or some specific geographic area, cannot scripturally be calledthe church. That’swhere denominationalism comes in. The only way this universal institution can scripturally be broken down into different parts is to do it on a geographical or congregational basis. Splitting it up on any other basis results in sectarianism or denominationalism—creates different parties and sects.
I have two pictures drawn here to keep that before your mind. Here’s the Bible picture (speaker points to board). The big ring includes all of God’s people throughout the entire world. These small dots represent various congregations like the church at Laodicea, the church at Smyrna, the church at Ephesus, the church at Madison, the church at Chapel Avenue, the church at Columbia, Tennessee, and so on around the world—different local congregations. This is purely a geographical grouping.
But here is the best figure I can draw on denominationalism and it’s not entirely accurate (speaker points to board again). When a group of these congregations, even if they have all been scripturally baptized—which they have not—draw a ring about themselves and say, “We are the ‘A’ Church,” another group says, “We are the ‘B’ Church,” and another says, “We are the ‘C’ Church,” each group of congregations distinguishing itself from other similar groups by a distinguishing title—that is denominationalism, pure and simple! That picture doesnotrepresent ageographicdistribution, for we have all those different denominations right here in Nashville. It’s not a geographical division, but a division based on difference in teaching, practice, and faith.That’s not the Bible picture (speaker continues to refer to board). Here is the Bible picture.
The church which wears these Bible names, and only these, is the right church as far as the name is concerned. But, friends, any church that calls itself by any other name, any name not in the Bible, is not the right church because the Bible is right. When a church has a name upon their building which cannot be found in the Bible, they need not claim that they are taking the Bible as their one and only guide, for the very name on the church building denies that claim. Just think how foolish it is for a preacher to stand up and say, “We take the Bible as our guide,” when, out in front of the building, in great big letters, is a name which cannot even be found in the Bible! That’s one reason I think we had better examine a man’s claim to follow the Bible. Here’s what the Bible teaches on the name, and the Bible is right. The church that wears these names and only these is right on that point.
But merely wearing the right name will not make a church right. It may wear the right name and still be wrong in other respects. I used to preach in a town where there was a great big church building which had a name in bold letters that you could see almost all over town—Central Church of Christ. But if you went to their worship, you’d find something that’s not listed here at all (speaker refers to section of outline on board). They were not following the Bible on worship. They had the right name but they didn’t have the right worship. They were right onone point but wrong on another. There are churches over the country called “Churches of God.” That’s a good name, but they have items of doctrine that cannot be found in the Bible. For instance, they preach that you have to be baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to be saved, and that’s not in the Bible. Consequently, they are wrong on doctrine; and to merely wear the right name does not atone for their false teaching on what one must do to be saved.
Just one more item or two and then we’re through. Number 7 here refers to the organization of the church. According to the Bible every local congregation is entirely independent under God to manage its own affairs, with its elders overseeing its work. Acts 14:23: “When they had ordained them elders in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Acts 20:28 says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” In addressing the church at Philippi Paul speaks of all the saints at Philippi “with the bishops and deacons.”
According to this simple but effective organization of God’s church, every local congregation is entirely independent, supervised and tended, under God, bya group of men known as overseers or pastors or elders. Now, that’s what the Bible teaches on church organization. The church which follows this plan is right on that point. Wherever you see a group of congregations tied together by some inter-congregational organization, that group’s wrong on their organization. I know some groups that maintain congregational independence, but are wrong in some other way. Remember that in order for a church to be the right church, it must be right on all these items.
And then, finally, the Bible teaches that God’s church should be active in beneficent and missionary work. It is the duty of the church to feed the poor and to preach the gospel unto the entire world. I have a long list of Scriptures here which authorize this statement (Acts 11:27-30; 12:25; 24:17; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; Acts 11:19-21; 11:22-26; 13:1-4; etc.). Even though a church may be right in every other way, including Christian living, including the name, and including the organization, if it doesn’t do what it can to take care of the poor, and if it doesn’t make a scriptural effort to preach the gospel to all the world, it lacks that much being right, and cannot justify its claims to be known as the church of Christ!
Now, friends, let me repeat again that here’s what the Bible teaches. The church which does these things is right, because the Bible is right; but thechurch which deviates from these, leaves off some of them or adds something to them, lacks that much being right. And even though a church followed this plan in every item except one, it would still be wrong.
What practical application shall we make? Simply take your Bible and follow out this plan, study it for yourself, see that this is what the Bible teaches, and then identify yourself with the congregation which does the same. You say, “Maybe I cannot find one that follows the Bible plan.” I believe you can in this town, but I’ll admit there are some towns where you can’t. Then what would you do? The answer is very simple—just start one! That’s one of the easiest things in the world to do. Study your Bible, follow its simple pattern, and the result will be a church after the New Testament order. If you can find even one person who is willing to follow this plan and work it with you, then you’ll have a congregation which pleases God. Jesus says, “Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them.”
And, friends, I believe that the most practical and effective missionary work that we could possibly do would be for all church members who move away from Nashville and other places where the church is strong, to faithfully and persistently follow thisBible program wherever they go, even though they have to meet and worship in their own homes. There are too many who forsake this plan when they go away to a strange city.
If all who move away from places where the church is strong, would simply take Christ and the Bible with them and start a congregation wherever they go, it would be the most far-reaching, the most effective, the most practical, and the most economical missionary work that could possibly be conceived! It would not only be all of that, it would also be scriptural. What more could you expect? That certainly is enough to recommend it to us all. So, friends, simply take this plan, if you know of a congregation that’s following it, then identify yourself with it. If you can’t find one, then start one, with the determination to follow the Bible; and then you’ll be in the right church. You may forget about all these 200 different denominations, except to do whatever you can to lead them out of error into the truth!
I told you I would do no boasting tonight and I shall do none, but I will say this: I sincerely believe it is the earnest determination of the congregation at Chapel Avenue to follow this simple Bible plan, and I believe I speak the truth when I say that if you can point out to the overseers of this congregation that they are failing to follow the Bible on any single item, they will change their practice immediately. That should be the attitude of everyone who loves the truth, and they will not embarrass youor rebuff you if you approach them on the question. If you eventhinkthey are failing on some point, they would welcome an interview and pledge themselves to make any sort of alteration or change that is necessary to bring the teaching, the practice, and the name of this congregation into harmony with the Bible plan. If that were not true, I would not continue to preach for this group except long enough to do what I could to get them to reform.
Friends, above everything else, I want to go to heaven when I die and I know that the only way to do that is to follow the Bible; so I still insist that it is entirely proper and appropriate to emphasize that the church which follows the Bible is the one that’s right. This simple test, if faithfully and honestly applied, will eliminate every church in this town which cannot find its name, its doctrine, and its practice in the Bible. Are you willing to live up to the claim that you take that Bible as your one and only guide? If so, just follow this (speaker refers to outline on the board) step by step, believe that Jesus is the Christ, repent of your sins, confess your faith, and then be baptized for remission of sins. Then go on, worshiping God as the Bible directs, behaving yourself as the Bible teaches, supporting the church which wears the right name, which is scripturally organized, and which takes the Bible as its one and only guide.
If, after having been scripturally baptized, you have failed on one or more of these items, the Bible teaches that if you will repent, confess your sins and pray for forgiveness, God will surely forgive you. Aswe stand and sing the song announced, we entreat you to accept the invitation of our Lord, who says, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”
Religious people seem to realize more keenly than before the importance and even necessity of Christian unity. But before we can have the unity which the Bible teaches and demands, some practical means of attaining it must be employed. It seems to me that it would be well to begin by emphasizing some points of agreement—in other words, let us see how close together we are, at present, and then we will be in better position to discuss the points of difference. I believe in religious debates, have engaged in such myself and shall be glad to do so again whenever the opportunity presents itself, but in this sermon I want to emphasize the truth upon which most religious people are already agreed.
I believe we can say that most of those who claim to be followers of Christ are agreed upon the following points:
If we agree upon these five points, then, we also agree that there is a plan of salvation, for these points imply such a plan. It may be that we can get closer together upon the items of this plan than you have thought we could. We will all agree that faith is the very foundation of the plan (John 3:16). All accept the fact that repentance is essential (Acts 17:30). Everyone agrees that the plan of salvation includes the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matt. 10:32, Acts 8:37, Rom. 10:10). Some make additions to this simple Biblical confession, but I have never heard of anyone’s subtracting from it. When the comprehensiveness of the term “Christ” is understood, it is obvious that no additions are needed. Everyone who agrees on the foregoing will also agree that Jesus commanded baptism and promised salvation to those who believed and were baptized. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). We will all agree that Peter said, as the Holy Spirit prompted him, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). We will agreethat Ananias said to 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), and also that the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Peter, “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 Peter 3:21). It is also generally agreed that when one has been immersed he has been baptized. There are some who believe that sprinkling or pouring will do as well, but all agree that immersion is safe. Furthermore, it is generally agreed that when one believes and repents, confesses his faith, and is immersed for the remission of sins in the name of Christ, he is saved. Some believe one is saved before completing this program, but all will agree that he is saved when he has completed it. So here again we find the ground of unity.
C.Christian Worship
The next question is, “What should one do by way of worship and Christian service after becoming a Christian?” In these realms, also, there are many important points of agreement. In reference to public worship all will agree that it is proper for Christians to meet upon the first day of the week and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and make melody in their hearts unto the Lord; lay by in store as they have been prospered; pray unto their Father in heaven; teach and be taught; and eat the Lord’sSupper in memory of Him who died for them. Some dare to add to these items of worship, some dare to subtract from them; but all agree that they are scriptural and sufficient. When Christians come together upon the first day of each week and perform these five Biblical items of worship to God, doing so in spirit and in truth, they know that their worship has pleased their Maker and Redeemer. This, then, is the ground of unity in our worship on the Lord’s Day. In such a program all Christians could take part and go away believing that they had done all that was required and nothing that was condemned.
D.Christian Service
In reference to Christian service there is general agreement upon the broad principles that should govern. Everyone will subscribe to the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31) and to the Royal Law (Jas. 2:8). We agree that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world, that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, and that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
The above is a brief outline, then, of points upon which there is very general agreement. Let me ask you, dear friend, if you can think of anything essential to salvation which is not covered, at least in ageneral way, in this outline. If one follows the plan presented here, do you not agree that he will be saved in heaven at last? Can you think of anything else which is needed to insure one’s eternal salvation? I believe you cannot.
Upon the sufficiency of this plan I am sure we are agreed. This being true, would it not be wrong to include anything else? Would it not be wrong to insist upon adding something to this simple Bible plan and thereby cause division and destroy the possibility of the unity that the Bible requires? If the above plan is sufficient to take one to heaven, what more do you desire? Why add anything to it? Would it not be wrong to add anything else?
Another question: “What will the following of this plan make of one?” I am sure we will also agree that it will make him a Christian and only a Christian. Let it be noted that one can do all that is suggested above and which we have agreed to be sufficient unto salvation without belonging to any denomination. You can believe, repent, confess your sins, and be baptized without belonging to any denomination. You who have done so can meet in groups upon the first day of the week and worship God as the Bible directs without becoming members of any denomination, and you can certainly perform your duties in the field of Christian service without joining a denomination.
But while we are in this agreeing business, let us take it even further. In this country there is a large religious community known as the Baptist Church. This group includes many fine people. Many of them are honest, intelligent, cultured, refined, and good citizens. They have taken their denominational title from their emphasis upon immersion as being the only scriptural baptism, in contrast to those who accept something else. I agree with the Baptists that immersion is baptism and that nothing short of immersion will meet the definition of baptism found in Romans 6:4 or Colossians 2:12. I agree with them that the Greek word “baptidzo” is properly translated by the word “immerse.” But I can agree with them upon this great truth without belonging to the Baptist denomination. I can fully accept the very truth from which the Baptist Church has taken its name and still be just a Christian.
The Methodist Church is one of the largest in this country. I have more kinspeople in that denomination than in any other. For all of their good points I give them due respect and credit. Because of their insistence upon method and system in their religious work, they were nicknamed Methodists many years ago. This name was later accepted by them as their denominational title. I agree with the Methodists that system and method are important. I endeavor to be systematic and orderly in every phase of my workand activity. I believe that the Lord’s work should be carried on orderly. “Let everything be done in decency and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). We should use order, then. We should use the Bible order. But one can certainly do this without belonging to the Methodist Church.
Why should one exalt the name of this one aspect of Christian activity to the point of adopting it as a religious title? One can be methodical without being a Methodist. Just as one can be systematic without being a Systematist. One can be just a plain Christian and practice everything the Bible teaches in reference to order and system.
When I was attending the Union Theological Seminary, one of my professors told me that the New Testament churches were “congregational presbyterian.” He explained his statement by saying that each congregation was independent of all other congregations and that each was overseen by a group of men known as elders or presbyters. I agree with him exactly. According to his explanation his statement was entirely correct. But I am not a member of the Presbyterian Church. One can believe all the Bible teaches upon the presbytery and practice the same without belonging to the Presbyterian denomination. Why should this characteristic of church government or organization be exalted by using it as a religious or denominational title? One can be just a Christian and still believe and practice what the Bible teaches in reference to the presbytery. One does not haveto be a member of the Presbyterian Church to obey God concerning the presbytery.
One can believe in the universality of the Gospel without being a Catholic or Universalist. One can believe in the second coming of Christ without belonging to the Adventist denomination. One can teach and practice holy living without belonging to the Holiness Church. If one had to join the Baptist Church because he believed in baptism and the Methodist Church because he believed in method and the Presbyterian Church because he believed in the presbytery of the local congregation (1 Tim. 4:14) and so on down the list, what would he be when he had finished? One can agree with the denominations on the very truth from which they have taken their names, insofar as they have taken their names from truth, without belonging to any of them.
One can believe all truth and obey every commandment of God without belonging to any denomination. Can you think of an exception to this statement? Can you think of any truth which you cannot believe or any commandment that you cannot obey without joining a denomination? I don’t believe you can. Can you think of any truth which you cannot accept or any commandment which you cannot obey while being just a Christian?
Isn’t it sufficient to be just a Christian? Isn’t itwrong to be something different from or more than a Christian? Since one can be a Christian without joining any denomination, then why join one? Would it not be wrong to join one, since denominationalism is division and division is wrong? Let me emphasize the statement that I can believe all truth either in the Bible or out of the Bible and obey every commandment of the Lord without joining any denomination.
This being true, what then does it take to make one a member of a denomination? Believing truth will not make one a member of a denomination, because he can believe all truth on the outside. Obeying God will not make one a member of a denomination, because he can obey God on the outside. If believing truth and obeying God will not make one a member of a denomination, then what will do so?
To become a member of a denomination, it is obvious that one must believe something besides the truth or do something besides obey God. Since believing all truth and obeying all God’s commands will not put one in a denomination, then he must believe something different from the truth and do something which God has not commanded or leave off something which He has commanded, in order to become a member of a denomination. It seems to me that these conclusions are inevitable and unanswerable.
But it may be that some of my hearers are already in some denomination; hence, I raise this question: “What must you do to get out of a denomination?”The answer is, retrace the steps which you took in going into it. Some seem to think that in order to give up denominationalism and to be just Christians that they will have to forsake all that they have ever held as dear and precious in the field of religion. This is a mistake. Believing truth did not put you into a denomination. In order to come out of it, you will not have to forsake any truth. It will only be necessary for you to reject the error which you accepted in becoming a member of a denomination.
In order to come out of a denomination, you will not have to cease obeying God upon any point. It will only be necessary for you to change your conduct on those points where you have been disobeying Him. Since believing truth did not put you in, you will not have to forsake truth in coming out. Merely give up the error that you accepted, believe the truth revealed in the Bible and obey God; then you will be a Christian, not a denominationalist.
In order to come out of a denomination, you will not have to quit believing that God is, that the Bible is His word, that Jesus is His Son and the Savior of the world. You will not have to quit believing in, and teaching, and practicing, faith, repentance, confession and baptism as the conditions of salvation. You will not have to forsake any of the five items of worship outlined in the Bible. You will not have to forsake any scriptural service to your fellow-man.
Again I repeat, one can believe all truth, obey every command of God, be a Christian, live the Christian life, die in the Lord and be saved foreverwithout belonging to any denomination. Since it is unnecessary to be a member of a denomination, it is wrong to be so. Any non-essential which causes division is wrong. “Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord. Touch no unclean thing” (2 Cor. 6:17). “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Pet. 4:16). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).