Salvation! Things Taught?

By Paul L. McElroy

Jesus taught: (1) Come to Me– "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Matt. 11:28.

There is no load as heavy as unforgiven sin! (2) Repent– "I tell you no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3). (3) Confess Me before men– "Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32).

Basic facts of the Gospel– " .. That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Without the death, burial, and raising of Christ there could be no salvation from sins.

And this is what the apostle Peter preached on the day the church had its beginning. Those who believed asked "What shall we do"– The answer– "Repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38). "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47).

Since those things (Coming to Christ, repentance, and public confession of Jesus) and (Faith, repentance, and baptism) brought salvation from sin and The Lord adding the saved to His church) it will also do the same for obedient people today. What more should we want?

However, some teach different things today. (1)

Belief only brings salvation (with church membership received by baptism.) (2) Baptism (actually sprinkling) brings salvation (with faith to come later). (3) Jesus, a good man (but not divine), Jehovah will choose only 144,000 to go to heaven. (4) A man claimed to have found some "golden plates" with rules for a different church in America.

Let us remember that the apostles were guided directly by the Holy Spirit (King James version says Holy Ghost). Notice what Jesus said to His apostles about the Holy Spirit

– "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you of things to come." (John 16:13). Obey the Holy Spirit,

- Paul L. McElroy preaches for the Columbia Church of Christ in Columbia, MS. He may be contacted at cc0c@bellsouth.net