A Mistake With Deadly Consequences

 

By David Bragg       On June 29, 2024, BBC News reported a tragic incident involving four Sri Lankan fishermen who died after consuming liquid from unlabeled bottles they found floating in the ocean (Aleks Phillips, BBC News). Their fishing boat, the Devon, was operating over 300 miles off the coast of Sri Lanka when they discovered the bottles. Mistaking the contents for alcohol, they drank the liquid and shared it with other fishing crews in the area. As of the reporting time, in addition to the four deaths, two other fishermen were critically ill from the unidentified liquid. This tragic mistake had deadly consequences.     This story, while heartbreaking, serves as a powerful metaphor for the false and misleading information about the New Testament’s teachings on salvation that circulates in the religious world. Just as the fishermen were unaware of the danger in the bottles, many people are unaware of the spiritual dangers in the various doctrines presented by different denominations. How can one discern which teachings are safe to follow?     The answer lies in adhering to and teaching the plan of salvation that has Jesus’ “seal of approval.” When scriptures are “properly divided” (2 Tim. 2:15), it becomes clear that New Testament baptism (immersion) is the act through which one’s sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). Salvation today is only found by joining in Jesus’ death (Rom. 6:1-3; 1 Pet. 3:21). To consume any other gospel is to make a mistake of eternal consequences (Gal. 1:8-9).

- David Bragg is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/