Church of Christ is a false religion too…

 

 Church Of Christ 

What Damns A Person? 

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

• When a man wants to teach salvation by water baptism he ignores half of the verse. 
• He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved! Most definitely. 
• But who is damned? “He that believeth not”. 
• As a general rule most people who believe will also be baptized. 
• But it is “he that believeth not shall be damned”. 

• The thing that damns a person is UNBELIEF! It isn’t failing to be water baptized. 
• Plenty of verses prove this fact. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

What Saves A Person? 

• It is unbelief that damns a person. So what saves a person?

Act 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

• Paul plainly says “believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
• He said nothing about water baptism when the jailor asked how to be saved. 
• The book of Acts isn’t my primary choice to show someone how to be saved but it is the Campbellite’s favorite place. So we will be referring to it a lot. 

• Notice it isn’t until AFTER the man he is saved that he gets water baptized. 

Act 16:32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Act 16:33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

• Water baptism is one of many good things a person does after they believe. 
• Just because you see people being water baptized following their belief doesn’t mean it is part of their salvation. 

• Paul let’s us know that salvation has to do with a heart belief on the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

• Paul says nothing about water baptism here. He plainly says “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness”. 
• He is “made righteous” the moment he believes. He doesn’t need water baptism to do anymore “cleansing of sin”. 

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 

• Water baptism would definitely count as a “work of righteousness”. 

Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Mat 3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Mat 3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

• We are not saved by our own works of righteousness. It is only by the grace and mercy of God that we can be saved. 
• Through his mercy and grace he allows us to believe from the heart and receive the free gift of salvation. 
• So how are we saved? By believing on JESUS CHRIST! 

1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1Pe 3:21  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:

• The C.o.C will use these verses to teach that “water saves”. 
• Since Noah was “saved by water”. Take into consideration that Noah was never “water baptized.”
• Remember also that the water never touched him. He was in the ark. 
• He was “saved by water” in the sense that we are “saved yet so as by fire” at the judgment seat of CHRIST. The fire never touches us. 
• Also notice how baptism is not “the putting away of the filth of the flesh” but it is the “answer of a good conscience toward God”. 
• My conscience bothered me about getting water baptized after I got saved, so I did it! 
• It didn’t save me from my sins, it saved me from having a bad conscience. 

What Gives Forgiveness?

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, 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 Ghost. 

• “For the remission of sins”. Are they getting baptized to get “remission of sins” or because they already have it?
• For example. When you “take Tylenol FOR a headache”, is it to get a headache or because you already have it?
• Also remember Acts is a transition book. So are we going to let Acts 2:38 over rise all the clear gospel presentations Paul gives in his epistles? 
• Also take into consideration in Acts 2:37 the people are asking Peter “what shall we do” and not “what must I do to be saved” as in Acts 16:31. 

• Water baptism isn’t getting you forgiveness. What does? 

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

• Only the blood of Jesus Christ will get you forgiveness for your sins. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

• If you say that the blood of CHRIST is applied when you are water baptized by a church of CHRIST elder…
• That puts the church of CHRIST elder in charge of the blood of Jesus Christ…
• If he doesn’t baptize you than your just out of luck. 
• If he isn’t around than your out of luck. If your about to die in a plane and you want to be saved, your out of luck. 
• If you don’t have access to a church of Christ pastor than your just out of luck. 

• That is all nonsense. 

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

• Want forgiveness? Put your faith in his blood. 

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

• A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law! It isn’t of works. 
• I understand water baptism isn’t “the law” but it is a good work in the New Testament. 
• If the Old Testament law can’t make a man righteous than how would keeping New Testament practices make a man righteous? 

What Washes Away Your Sins? 

Act 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

• They want to teach that it is the “baptizing” that washes away thy sins. 
• Notice how it is worded. Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD. 
• The “wash away thy sins” part is connected to “calling on the name of the LORD”. 
• This makes sense because when you compare scripture with scripture…

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

• Also Notice in Acts 22:16 who is talking. It is Ananias. He is a devout man “according to the law”. 

Act 22:12  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jewswhich dwelt there,

Act 22:13  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

Act 22:14  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

Act 22:15  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

Act 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

• Acts is a transition book and an historical book. In Acts 22:16 the Holy Spirit is recording exactly what Ananias said. 
• The church of CHRIST would rather take a quote from Ananias and use that as one of their greatest proof texts than to use a verse from Paul in his epistles. 
• Paul gives doctrine directly for the church in his epistles. He plainly says in Romans 10:13 “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved”. 
• Why would you go to Acts 22:16 to show someone how to be saved before you would go to Romans 10?!

When Do You Get The Holy Ghost?

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

• Paul clearly shows us that we have the Holy Ghost the moment we believed! 
• It wasn’t when we were water baptized. 

Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

• Notice they “received the Holy Ghost” before they were baptized. 

Act 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

What Is The Gospel?

1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

• Paul clearly lays out the gospel and shows how it is something we receive, believe, and says it is this gospel “by which ye are saved”’ 
• The gospel he proclaims is that JESUS Christ died, for our sins, was buried, and resurrected. 
• He says nothing about water baptism. 
• Now let us look at 1 Corinthians 1…

1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

• If it is water baptism that causes you to come in contact with the blood of JESUS Christ than why is Paul thankful that he baptized none of them except Crispus and Gaius. 

1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

1Co 1:16  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

• So JESUS CHRIST sent Paul “not to baptize” but to “preach the gospel”. 
• This show water baptism has nothing to do with the gospel. 
• Notice the focus is on the cross and not water baptism. 
• If water baptism saves, How could Paul have “begotten them through the gospel” …if he didn’t baptize them? 

1Co 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 

What Is The Spirit Baptism?

• When the “church of CHRIST” sees the word baptism they always think it is “water baptism”. 

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

• Notice it says “for by one SPIRIT”. It isn’t a man doing the baptizing here, it is the SPIRIT. 
• At salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes you into the body of CHRIST. 

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

• This is one of the C.O.C’s favorite proof texts for “baptismal regeneration”. 
• The context shows it isn’t a “water baptism” but rather THE SPIRIT BAPTISM! 
• One of the major problems for them is they ignore the CONTEXT! 
• Notice verse 28 says “there is neither jew nor Greek, neither male nor female”. This shows this is spiritually speaking. 
• In CHRIST your neither make nor female but spiritually speaking you are still MALE or FEMALE! 
• In the context of the entire chapter it is about spiritual things and being “baptized into CHRIST” is the “spirit baptism”. 
• It has nothing to do with water. 

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom 6:4  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.

• Once again this is the “spirit baptism” and not water baptism. 
• Notice that We are “buried with him by baptism into death”. 
• Cross reference this with Colossians 2:11-13 and it proves it is the spirit baptism…

Watch…

Col 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

• Notice a “spiritual circumcision” because it is the “circumcision made WITHOUT HANDS”. 

Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

• You can easily see the Paul refers here to the “spirit baptism” and not water baptism. As he did in Romans 6:1-4. 
• Water baptisms doesn’t “baptize you into CHRIST”. 
• Water baptism is a picture, a good testimony, and a good thing but it doesn’t do anything for you SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING! 

• You physically drive to church, physically walk to the front, physically change into different clothes, physically get dunked by the pastor, physically get wet, everyone sees you physically doing it, and then you physically dry off. 

• There is ONE BAPTISM that saves and that is the SPIRIT BAPTISM. 
• It has nothing to do with water, you didn’t even realize it happened when it did, and the Spirit did the baptizing. 

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all

• When the C.O.C approaches this verse they make the “one baptism” to be “water baptism”. 
• They claim there is no “spirit baptism” since there is only “one baptism”. 
• Listen, there is “one baptism” in the sense that there is “one Lord.” 
• There are many gods and many lords. There is only One God and One LORD that is the real one, the main one, and the one that saves. 

1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 

• there are many faiths but only “one faith” that saves a man. 
• There is “one baptism” that saves, it is the main one, and it is the Spirit baptism. 

What Is The Church?

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

• This verse shows that the Church is the Lord’s body. So does Colossians 1:24. 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

• The church is not a building. It is the Lord’s body. Once again…

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

• The “one body” back in Ephesians 4 is THIS BODY. One Spirit, the Holy Spirit, baptizes you into this body with the ONE BAPTISM because of your “faith”, which is the “one faith” that saves. 

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

• The church, which is His body is made up of every born again believer. 
• Whether they currently go to a Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, church of CHRIST, baptist, seventh day Adventist, Mormon, or Jehovah’s Witness assembly. 
• The fact that they are deceived and hooked up with the wrong people has nothing to do with anything. 
• If they have believed on the LORD JESUS CHRIST than they are “in the body” spiritually even if they are physically in a satanic biker gang. 

• So the church is made up of every born again believer even if they don’t even attend a church. Even if they haven’t been water baptized. 
• There are also “local churches.” 

What Are Local Churches?

Rom 16:16  Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 

• Saying I’m Baptist because of “John the baptist” doesn’t make good sense. 
• We don’t even teach the same thing John taught today. 
• However, saying your baptist because of John the Baptist makes as much sense as “the church of CHRIST” saying they are in the Bible because of Romans 16:16. 
• There is “the church which is His body” and it is made up of every born again believer(no matter who or where they are). 
• It doesn’t matter where they “go to church” as long as there was a time when they believed on CHRIST. That is what put them in “The church, which is his body!”
• There are also local churches…

For example…

1Co 16:19  The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 

1Co 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, 

• The saints are a part of the church which is his body, but we also assemble ourselves together locally with other Christians who are a part of the body. 

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

• The church of CHRIST basically just uses verses about “the church” as proof texts for their local churches that are based on false doctrine. 
• The church of Christ(as they call themselves) are not “the church” built on the Rock. 
• They are nothing but “local churches” that just don’t claim to be a “denomination”. 
• They are nothing more than local churches with bad doctrine. 
• If “the church of Christ” is “The Church” than why do I see 3 of them on the same road?
• I see “Liberty church of christ”, “Central church of Christ”, etc. 
• And they may or may not believe each other are “the true church”. 
• There is a lot of pious talk involved. They say “you are a denomination and we are THE CHURCH”. 
• They say you are a “baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian, but WE are CHRISTIANS!” 

• Did you know “the church of CHRIST” as a title never even occurs in the Bible?
• Yet they teach they “speak where the scriptures speak and are silent where the scriptures are silent?” 
• What about “the church of God”. That is actually a title given to THE CHURCH in the Bible!
• Does that mean only “the church of God”(Pentecostals) are “the true church”? ABSOLUTELY NOT! 
• The church is called several different things but NEVER “THE CHURCH OF CHRIST” 

“1. “The church of God” (Gal. 1:13; 1 Cor. 10:32)

2. “The church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15)

3. “The church, which is His Body” (Eph. 1:22–23)”

“4. “My church” (Matt. 16:18)

5. “The church” (Matt. 18:17)”

• “The church(ES) of CHRIST” are local churches in Romans 16:16 and not “THE CHURCH” 
• The name “church of CHRIST” came about in the 1800s by Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell. 
• It isn’t really a big deal what you call yourself, they make it a big deal by claiming they aren’t a denomination and are just “THE CHURCH”. 
• Otherwise I wouldn’t even bring up their name because we all know you can’t find “baptists” in the Bible..
• However you find Paul, and men through history, all the way back to the apostles who taught salvation was “by grace through faith without works”. 
• You don’t find men going around teaching “water baptism” for salvation(other than Catholics) until the 1800s. 
• So this would mean that God didn’t show men the way of salvation for over 1000 years until Campbell showed up teaching “baptismal regeneration”. 
• The church of CHRIST is similar to Catholics in that they claim to be “the true church” and that OUTSIDE OF THEM there is no salvation. 
• Whether they realize it or not ..They claim to be in control of the blood of Jesus Christ. They teach the blood isn’t applied to you unless you are baptized in water by one of THEIR elders. 

• Get this straight. Being in “the CHURCH” has nothing to do with who you are, where your from, what “local church” you go to, water baptism, or how your living. 
• It has to do with…have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

How Do You Get In The Church, Which Is His Body?

 – First off, who did the work that made it possible for you to get in the body? Jesus Christ! 

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

• the way into the body of CHRIST was made possible at the cross. 
• Jesus Christ did all the work that was required for you to get saved. 
• You just have to BELIEVE! 

Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

Col 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

• JESUS CHRIST died on the cross to pay for your sins. He shed his blood. 
• If you will come to him as a guilty sinner and believe on Him and his finished work on the CROSS than you can be SAVED. And you will be baptized into the church, which is his BODY! 

Physical vs Spiritual Birth

• The C.O.C gets all messed up in John chapter 3. 
• They don’t understand that Jesus Christ is referring to a man’s fleshy birth when he was born of his mother and then his second birth, which is his spiritual birth. 
• Your first birth was NO GOOD! You were born a sinner. 
• Your second birth is when you got saved and that is what put you into the family of God. 

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Joh 3:2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

• Jesus is telling him that the first birth is NO GOOD!  He wants him to know a man has to be BORN AGAIN! 

Joh 3:4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

• Nicodemus thinks JESUS is referring to two fleshy births. He doesn’t understand the second birth is a spiritual birth. 

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

• When the C.O.C hits this verse they claim that “born of water” means water baptism. 
• They completely ignore the context. Look at the next verse and it defines what “born of water” means. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

• “Born of water” is “born of the flesh”. What happened when your mother had you? Her water broke. Being born of water is your first birth, the fleshy birth, when you were born of a woman. 
• That birth was no good because you were born a sinner. 
• The second birth is when you are “born of the spirit” and that is what got you in the family of God. 

Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

• How do you get born again and into the family of God? You guessed it…

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

• More proof that “born of water” is the fleshy birth is in…

1Jn 5:6  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 

• “came by water and blood” has to do with JESUS CHRIST coming in the flesh. 

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

WATER BAPTISM

• Remember that in 1 Corinthians 12:13 it said “for by one SPIRIT” are we all baptized into one body. That is the Holy Spirit baptism. 
• When a man baptizes another man in water, that is something completely different. 
• In Matthew 3:11 John said “I” indeed baptize you. John himself was doing the baptizing and not the SPIRIT! 
• In Matthew 3:13 Jesus came to John to be “baptized of HIM”.  It had nothing to do with a “SPIRIT BAPTISM”. 
• Water baptism IS A WORK!  .
• Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Doctrine Of Baptisms

Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 

• This shows there is more than one baptism in the Bible. 
• And not all of them have to do with water. 

1 – John’s baptism (John 1:31)

2 – Spirit baptism (1 Cor 12:13)

3 – Of Fire (Matthew 3:11-12)

4 – Red Sea Crossing (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)

5 – Peter’s baptism or Israel after they crucified their messiah (Acts 2:38)

6 – Of suffering (Matthew 20:22-23)

7 – Believer’s baptism (Acts 8:36-38, Acts 10:47, 1 Cor 1:14-17)

The Thief On The Cross 

• The story about the dying thief definitely isn’t the first place I’d go when showing someone how to be saved. 
• However it points out inconsistencies in the church of Christ doctrine. 
• They teach that as soon as Jesus Christ dies that things begin to operate just like they are in operation today. 
• They ignore the transitional nature of the book of Acts. 
• They claim that the dying thief getting “saved” without water baptism doesn’t count because it is under the Old Testament. 

Luk 23:42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Luk 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

• Here the LORD clearly tells the dying thief that he will be in PARADISE! This proves he got saved. 
• The church of Christ claims that this doesn’t count because it is under the Old Testament because Jesus hadn’t died yet. 
• This is still under the old testament, that is correct…

Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 

• However don’t forget that the thief DIED UNDER THE NEW TESTAMENT! Jesus died before he did. 

Joh 19:32  Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

Joh 19:33  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

Joh 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Joh 19:35  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

Joh 19:36  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Since he died under the New Testament, this proves water baptism isn’t required to be saved under the New Testament. 

Comparing Water Baptism And Circumcision. 

• During Paul’s day the big fight was on whether or not circumcision was required for salvation. 
• Today it isn’t about circumcision but rather water baptism. 
• I want you to look at these verses and think about water baptism. 
• If the physical sign of circumcision isn’t required for salvation than why would water baptism be required!?

Rom 4:1  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Rom 4:2  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Rom 4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom 4:4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom 4:6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Rom 4:7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Rom 4:8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Rom 4:9  Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Rom 4:10  How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

Gal 6:12  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Gal 6:13  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

The Transitional Nature Of The Gospels and The Book Of Acts

• The church of CHRIST ignores the transition period and takes verses from the transition period to over ride clear doctrinal verses from the Pauline epistles. 

• They take Mark 16:16 as their primary doctrine for today but ignore the context and the next two verses. 

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

• They ignore the transitional nature of Acts and don’t care that men were getting the Holy Spirit in different ways throughout the book…

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, 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 Ghost. 

Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Act 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 

They mess up by Interpreting The Clear In Light Of The Unclear!

Don’t Get Played Like A Fiddle or a Banjo 

• The church of Christ teaches their people that musical instruments are not allowed in the local church. 
• Which is funny because they are “playing you like a fiddle” the whole service by telling you that. 
• They say that since instruments aren’t mentioned in the New Testament that you can’t use them. 
• That is a horrible way to live your Christian life. So they take away the banjos. 
• What about Lemonade ? I don’t see Lemonade in there. Does that mean you can’t drink it?
• You have an air conditioner at the local church of christ. 
• I see a church of christ right next to my house that has an elementary school. Where is that in the Bible? 
• Just because something isn’t in the Bible doesn’t mean it is wrong. Just because something isn’t in the New Testament doesn’t mean it is wrong. 
• The two verses that the “church of Christ” use to be anti-instruments are…

Eph 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 

Col 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. 

• If we can speak to ourselves in “psalms” than the greatest song book would be the “book of Psalms”. 
• That is a hymn book built into your bible. 
• Sure Psalms is in the Old Testament but Paul said  “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms”.
• Like what Psalms says..

Psa 150:4  Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 

Psa 33:2  Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Psa 33:3  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

• You say well, Psalms don’t count, that is Old Testament…
• Wellll…Paul thought they counted. He quoted them

       The Church of Christ is a false church.  They require good works for salvation.  The Church of Christ is just as dangerous as Catholicism, Jehovah's Witness, or the Mormons, because they claim to be "Christian"; BUT they are not!  Whereas religions like Islam and Black Muslim openly deny the Christian faith; the Church of Christclaims to be Christian, and so Satan uses them to seduce people into Hellfire.  

The following doctrinal statement is taken directly from the Church of Christ website:

How does one become a member of the church of Christ?

In the salvation of man's soul there are 2 necessary parts: God's part and man's part. God's part is the big part, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift if God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Ephesians 2:8-9). The love which God felt for man led him to send Christ into the world to redeem man. The life and teaching of Jesus, the sacrifice on the cross, and the proclaiming of the gospel to men constitute God's part in salvation. 

Though God's part is the big part, man's part is also necessary if man is to reach heaven. Man must comply with the conditions of pardon which the Lord has announced. Man's part can clearly set forth in the following steps:

Hear the Gospel. "How shall they call on him whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). 

Believe. "And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:6). 

Repent of past sins. "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent" (Acts 17:30). 

Confess Jesus as Lord. "Behold here is water; What doth hinder me to be baptized ? And Philip said, if thou believeth with all thy heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37). 

Be baptized for the remission of sins. "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). 

Live a Christian life. "Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). 

SOURCE: Who are the churches of Christ?

There is much heresy in the preceding statement.  

First, salvation is of God alone, and not men.  This is plainly stated in John1:12-13, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  Man has no part in God's salvation.  

In Philippians 2:12 the Apostle Paul states, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."  Carefully notice that the Bible says "work out YOUR OWN salvation"; it does not say anything about God's salvation.  When God saves a man, it is then up to that man whether or not he is going to obey God or not.  God saves us by faith, but then it is up to us to allow the Lord to live the Christian life through us.  This has nothing to do with salvation.  So many heretics today are trying to add holy living to faith for salvation.  No sir!  As we see in 1st Corinthians 5:5, some believers live in unrepentant sin; yet, they are still saved.  How can this be?  It's because eternal life is a "free gift" (Romans 5:15) not conditioned upon our lifestyle.  I don't know why so many people can't seem to grasp the concept of a GIFT.

The only part that man has in God's salvation is to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). In Psalm 51:12, after David had sinned horribly, we find David asking God for forgiveness... "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."  David knew that salvation was of God alone... THY SALVATION!

Second, there is NOT one Scripture in the entire Bible that tells us to "repent FROM sin" to be saved.  You can't find it.  The word repent in the Greek simply means "to change one's mind."  So a person need only repent OF their sins to be sins; and NOT FROM their sins.  A lost sinner only needs to realize their GUILT of sin, and condemnation under the Law of God, and their justly deserved penalty of Hellfire to be saved.  The change should come LATER, after a person is saved and the Holy Spirit convicts them (2nd Corinthians 5:17).  

Repentance in the Bible is always towards God... "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."  According to Granville Sharp's Rule of Greek Exegesis these events are one and the same, i.e., repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  To place your faith in the Lord to forgive your sins is repentance.  You have realized your guilt of sin, and have TURNED to the Lord for salvation.  This is the simplicity of God's salvation (2nd Corinthians 11:3).

Third, confessing Jesus as Lord is very different than confessing that He is the Son of God.  Yes, we must recognize Jesus as the Son of God to be saved; BUT, we certainly do not need to make Him the Lord (Master) of our life to be saved.  This truth is evidenced by the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  Paul calls them "brethren," and yet they haven't presented their bodies as a living sacrifice for the Lord yet.  That is to say, they haven't surrender their lives to God yet in Christian living.  The Bible is filled with examples of Christian who ran from God, such as Jonah, Samson, Lot, and many others.  Making Jesus the Lord of one's life has nothing to do with being saved.  Again, God's salvation is a free gift, paid for by Jesus' precious literal blood. 

Fourth, Baptismal Regeneration is a lie of the Devil.  The very notion that a person is required to be water baptized to go to Heaven is absurd.  The Apostle John tells us in 1st John 5:13 that he wrote his Epistle "so that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life"; YET, he never mentions baptism even once in the Epistles of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd John.  The Apostle Paul plainly stated that Christ did NOT send him to baptize; but rather, to preach the Gospel (1st Corinthians 1:17).  No one in the Old Testament was water baptized; yet we read in Genesis 15:6 that Abraham believed God and it was COUNTED unto him for righteousness.  You see friend, you need HIS Righteousness to go to Heaven.

Fifth, living a Christian life is not a prerequisite for being saved.  If it were, then God would be a liar and eternal life certainly not a "free gift" as Romans 5:15 calls it.  To say that a lost sinner must persevere in holy living to be saved is to spit upon the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to insult God, and to negate Christ's work of redemption.  Let me quote to you Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."  Salvation is so simple.  God simply asks us to believe on Jesus, i.e., He that justifieth the ungodly.  Our faith by itself is counted for (or is equivalent to) a life of righteousness.  This is because Jesus imputes (or places) HIS righteousness upon our eternal record the very moment that we place our sole faith in Him.  The Word of God is clear... TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT.  
 

Max Lucado, Church of Christ Minister, Teaches Baptismal Regeneration

Max Lucado is a best-selling pseudo-Christian author and well-known minister. Lucado's ministry is of the Devil, teaching a false Gospel (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15). Sadly, Lucado has written 60 books with over 30 million copies in print, and currently serves as senior minister at Oak Hills Church(formerly Oak Hills Church of Christ) in San Antonio, Texas. 

Lucado was named “America's Pastor” by Billy Graham's apostate Christianity Today magazine and in 2005 was named by Reader's Digest as “The Best Preacher in America.” He has been featured on The Fox News Channel, NBC Nightly News, Larry King Live, USA Today, and a bunch of other worldly demonic shows. 

James 4:4 identifies Max Lucado as an enemy of God, since he is a friend of the carnal world. Lucado's books are regularly on the New York Times Best Seller List. He has been featured speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast (where so-called “prayers” are read from a piece of paper, prewritten and not from the heart). It's all a bunch of formalism, sinful hypocrisy and ecumenical uniting by error. God wants us to divide over truth rather than unite by error (Matthew 10:34). 

Tragically, Max Lucado is an ecumenical false prophet, who teaches the Church of Christ's false doctrine that salvation comes only after baptism. Lucado deceitfully claims that he doesn't believe in Baptismal Regeneration; yet he teaches that water baptism is essential to being saved...

"Baptism effectively seals our salvation."

"In baptism God signs and seals our conversion to him."

SOURCE:http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/baptism.upwords.pdf

Baptismal Regeneration is a demonic doctrine of devils, a works-based salvation. The Bible NEVER tells anyone to be water baptized in order to be saved. Max Lucado teaches that baptism seals our salvation. That is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that those who BELIEVE are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”

Photo to right: Max Lucado's 2009, FEARLESS, clearly showing the Masonic pyramid.  Just as Rick Warren, who is an Illuminati plant, so is Max Lucado. These are dangerous Ecumenical false prophets. Ecumenical meaning they want to unite all denominations in error; speaking the truth in one breath, while uniting with liars in the next.

The bottom line is that Mr. Lucado teaches a false gospel, requiring water baptism for salvation, which Galatians 1:9 says brings God's curse upon him. The Apostle Paul warns believers that Satan is subtle and strives to corrupt the simplicity that is in Jesus Christ. The Apostle John wrote the Epistle on 1st John so that believers could KNOW that they are saved (1st John 5:13); yet John NEVER mentions the word “baptism” even once. Water baptism is only symbolic of the Lord's death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4-5); and is our public profession of faith. It in NO WAY is required for eternal life. 

To ADD water baptism as a requirement of salvation is to CORRUPT the Gospel into a lie of Satan and condemn men's souls to the Lake of Fire forever. Salvation is serious business to God. God will punish all those who die in their sins, having failed to obey the Gospel of Christ (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9). Matthew 7:21-23 evidences that there are false paths, which seem to lead to Heaven; but lead straight to Hell. 
 

Conclusion

Where does the Church of Christcome up with all their heresies?  They surely didn't find them in the Bible.  God said what He meant, and meant what He said.  Jesus said in John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."  There is NO controversy if you believe the Bible.  The Church of Christ is straight from the pits of Hell.  I plead with you not to become a victim of their damnable religion.

The Word of God teaches that eternal life is a FREE GIFT (Romans 5:15; 6:23).  If you keep that in mind at all times, then you'll see right through the lying words of such false prophets as Church of Christministers.  Eternal life is a "gift" that cannot be earned, merited, or deserved.  We all deserve to burn in Hellfire for our sins; but God in His wondrous love sent Jesus Christ into the world, to pay for our sins with His own literal precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19).