In the world today there are many churches each one claims to be ok with God and most of them are doing good works in the community and are attracting good, honest, people as members. So, what is wrong with this picture; why would anyone criticize such an apparent good thing? It seems, that many churches are doing good for the community and there are many good people that belong to them. As we look at these many different churches from a purely humanistic point of view, it seems that everyone would be content with what is being done religiously in the world and go along with the situation. I believe that many people look on the religious scene in the world today through rose colored glasses; they only see the good works being done in secular society and miss the greater and more important aspect of true religion. There is nothing wrong with any institution that does good works and advance man’s physical well being. Yet, a failure to advance the principles of true religion while accomplishing these humanistic goals is a total failure in God’s plan.
PLEASING GOD: The greatest failure of the kind of religious diversity that exist in the world today is the fact that God does not approve of division (i.e. a plurality of diverse philosophies on the doctrine of the Bible, etc.) religiously and that He never has approved of it – cf. John 17:21, “that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, (art) in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.” (ASV) Since the Lord does not approve of religious division, it behooves man in his religious pursuit to work diligently for its eradication from all religious pursuits, To eliminate religious pluralism is to object to the religious division that is acceptable to most of the world’s population today. You see; there are literally thousands of religious people in all nations of the earth practicing some kind of religion, many of these religions are completely in contradiction one with the other – they cannot all be practicing true religion. The only religion that has God’s approval is authorized by His Book and His Book’s doctrine the Bible.
HOW IT IS REVEALED: God has provided mankind with three major dispensations of true religion (i.e. each possessing its unique doctrine and actions – each being established for those that lived under the 3 contrasting religious concepts.
The Patriarchal – This period began with Adam and continued to be binding upon mankind until the – SECOND – The Law of Moses was instituted.
The Law of Moses – This period began with God’s giving of the Ten Commandments and subsequent laws and rituals – this law was binding upon those that lived and died under it. This law of God was in vogue until Christ established His Church on the first Pentecost after His resurrection.
The Law of Christ – This period began at Acts 2:1-47 and brought to an end the Law of Moses. This new law united both Jews and Gentiles in to one Body (i.e. the church of Christ). This law will be binding upon all humanity until the trumpet of God sounds and time will end as we know it.
1 Cor 15:22-29, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his coming. Then (cometh) the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.” ASV
As is surely apparent to even the casual reader the first two periods of God’s dealings with mankind are no longer in vogue (i.e. are unacceptable to God for establishing and maintaining an acceptable relationship with HIM)
As we have established God requires obedience from man in order to receive the benefits of God’s grace. Since the grace of God is already available to man, he ought to do whatever is necessary to acquire its benefits. NOTE THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Acts 2:37-38, “37 Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (ASV)
John 6:66-68, “66 Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, Would ye also go away? 68 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (ASV)
In the passage just answered, we see the great question that is on the heart of each person sometime in his/her lifetime. Indeed, that question is; “What shall I do to be saved from my sin?”
THE TRUTH IS SALVATION FROM SIN IS AVAILABE TO EVERYONE TODAY
Even though everyone in the world may be saved from their sin, all will not be saved because they will not come to Jesus Christ on His terms.
Hebrews 5:8-9, “8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” (ASV)
Mark 16:15-16, “15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.”
Acts 2:38, “And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (ASV)
WHAT CHURCH? We have already stated that there is only one true church (i.e. religious movement), that one true church is found in the New Testament.
Its origin:
Isaiah 2:2-4, “And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (ASV)
Its Builder:
Matthew 16:17-20, “ And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.” (ASV)
Its beginning:
Acts 2:37-47, “Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, (even) as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added (unto them) in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them (i.e. the church) day by day those that were saved.” ASV