John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
One of the most accursed Satanic religious cults in the United States is the
CHURCH OF CHRIST! I'd say that next to the Jehovah's Witness' (JW's) cult, Church
of Christ are the most aggressive at seeking new converts to their religion.
They are adamant that you must turn away from living in sin to be saved, and
that you must be water baptized. Neither of these things are required by
God's Word to be saved.
According to the North Terrace Church of Christ in Chattanooga, Tennessee...
The Scriptures are very clear about what it takes to become a child of God. Here is the simple plan revealed in God's word:
Step 1: We must HEAR the Word. Without first hearing the Word of God we would never know we are sinners and that the "wages of sin" is death Romans 3.23; Romans 6.23. Without hearing, we wouldn't know of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins and our need for him. It's also where our faith comes from Romans 10.17! Further, we should only listen to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Matthew 17.5; Hebrews 1.1-2; Matthew 28.18.
Step 2: We must BELIEVE what we hear. Merely hearing the Word of God doesn't save. We must believe what we hear or we are not likely to obey God's commands. In John 8.24, Jesus says, "...if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." Yet, belief is not enough James 2.24, we must "do" what God demands, that is, His will Matthew 7.21!
Step 3: We must REPENT of our sins. Sin is what separates us from God Isaiah 59.2. Therefore, if we intend to seek God's forgiveness, we must be willing to repent of our sins. Repentence means "turning away from sin" and making the effort to sin no more 1 Corinthains 6.9-11. If we aren't willing to repent of our sins, we cannot be saved Acts 3.19; Acts 17.30-31. [typos theirs]
Step 4: We must CONFESS our faith. Those that wish to be saved must confess their faith in Jesus Romans 10.9-10. It was Jesus Christ Himself who said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" Matthew 10.32. The Scriptures give us an example of one who confessed their faith Acts 8.26-39, note verse 37.
Step 5: We must be BAPTIZED. There is considerable religious confusion about baptism. Some think baptism isn't necessary, others believe we are saved before we are baptized. Note what the Scriptures say baptism does:
SOURCE: https://northsidehillsboro.com/about/what-must-i-do-to-be-saved
In sharp contrast to the Church of Christ, the Holy Bible only requires us to “BELIEVE” the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and bodily risen the third day (1st Corinthians 15:1-6). There are no extra requirements to turn away from sinful behavior, publicly confess the name of Jesus, nor to be water baptized to be saved. These are all manmade additions which cannot produce the new birth by the Holy Spirit of God.
Church of Christ can be aggressive at times, like JW's. They've all got baptism on the brain! Once religion gets inside a person's head, it is like trying to extricate gooey bubblegum out of a child's hair! Fortunately, the method of soulwinning never changes from one person to the next. People often ask me how to witness to a Catholic? Others ask me how to witness to a Jewish person? Some want to know how to witness to a Mormon? My answer is always to simply give them 'THE GOSPEL.' Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The Holy Bible does not give different methods of soulwinning for different sinners—salvation is to “HIM THAT BELIEVETH”!!!
Kindly, here is another heretical quote from the North Terrace Church of Christ's website...
Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation?
03/28/13 - BaptismWhat is meant by the question.
The question means, is baptism in water necessary for one to be saved? To expand that more, is it necessary to be baptized before one is forgiven of sins? Put simply, is it necessary to be baptized before a person is separated from his sins by the blood of Jesus. [emphasis added]
SOURCE: https://www.ntchurch.com/resources/articles/2013/03/28/is-baptism-necessary-for-salvation
BLASPHEMY! Nowhere in the Holy Scriptures are we taught that water baptism is necessary, before a person is separated from their sins by Jesus' precious blood. What saith the Scripture? ...
Romans 3:23-28, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
That is beautiful! There is no mention of baptism! It couldn't be more obvious and plain to see from this passage, that we are SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF THE CRUCIFIED ONE!!! By the way, here is a great song by “The Gospel Plowboys” called, what else, “Saved By The Blood” (please select song #3 from the playlist). GOOD STUFF!!! Yes, we are SAVED BY THE BLOOD, and not water baptism! Folks, water baptism is like a wedding ring, that is, it symbolizes the marriage commitment, it doesn't consummate the marriage. You could throw your wedding rings down the river, gone forever, but you would still be married! Just like water baptism, wedding rings don't make a person married, they only represent the real thing! Water baptism is an outward snapshot of what has inwardly happened in one's soul, that is, they have placed their faith in Jesus' death on the cross, burial and bodily resurrection. That is THE GOSPEL!
If you examine the arguments that Church of Christ followers use to justify their heresy, you will find that they almost always take single passages of Scripture text out of context, thus creating a new pretext. For example:
What did Peter teach?
As we saw on Page 4, Peter preached the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost. He taught about Jesus' death and resurrection and called upon those Jews to believe in Him. When they asked what they must do, Peter told them "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Act 2:38
Some have asked if baptism in this passage is baptism in the Holy Spirit rather than in water. Consider the following verses.
Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" In this verse we see that the apostles were told to go and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The apostles baptized people in water. The Bible says Jesus is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11)
Acts 8:14-16 "Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Here we see people who had been baptized in the name of Jesus but the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them.
These two passages should answer the question fully enough. Baptism in the name of Jesus is water baptism. So Acts 2 teaches that before the remission of sins is granted by Jesus, one must believe (v 36), repent and be baptized (v 38).SOURCE: https://www.ntchurch.com/resources/articles/2013/03/28/is-baptism-necessary-for-salvation
Whoever authored the preceding article is deceitfully taking Acts 2:38 by itself, and basing an entire strange doctrine upon it, which claims that water baptism is required for salvation. What saith the Scripture? There are several dozen passages throughout the whole of Scripture, that teach us to simply BELIEVE to obtain salvation. The Gospel of John is God's Gospel tract. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” In the Gospel of John we find the word “BELIEVE” mentioned 87 times, without any mention of baptism of any sort associated with it. Clearly, water baptism is NOT necessary to be saved. Eternal life is a gift. It is ridiculous to think and teach that God would actually deny someone entrance into Heaven, merely because they didn't get wet in some baptistery. I hope you are not that naive and gullible. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Getting water baptized is a ritual. The act of water baptism is a believer's first step of obedience in their new Christian faith, but it is not essential for redemption. Pastor Jack Hyles explains this truth in his classic sermon titled: “THEN, SATAN.”
Beware of the Church of Christ cult, lest they take you to Hell with them. They are an aggressive bunch! I recommend that you don't argue or debate with them, because they are indoctrinated like the Jehovah's Witnesses. The apostle Paul gave it two tries to get someone saved, but then didn't waste his time after that. ...
Titus 3:9-11, “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
Adherents of the Church of Christ are blinded by the Devil. They have a false hope. They have baptism on the brain! The Bible says there is more hope for a fool than a conceited person. Proverbs 26:12, “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” An unsaved man simply needs to receive the Gospel to be saved, but an unsaved religious person first has to repent of their false hope, admitting that they were wrong, and that is very difficult for many people to do, because of tradition. Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Church of Christ are LIARS!!!
“Satan is to be avoided as a lion; dreaded as a serpent; but he must be feared as “an angel of light”! —Pastor Charles Spurgeon
“Why, the very spelling of the Devil's name shows what he is—Devil, evil, vile, ill, hell!” —Pastor Charles Spurgeon
SOURCE: “Punch Lines,” page 37 (here's a partial version of the book on Google)
In classic cult fashion, Church of Christ pervert the Scriptures. One of their favorite Scripture passages to corrupt in an attempt to justify water baptism for salvation is in Romans 6:1-5, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Carefully notice the key words “LIKE” and “LIKENESS.” Verse four reveals the context of this passage, which is to compel us to “WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE,” just as Christ has died and risen from the dead. The apostle Paul likens discipleship to the Gospel, but only in the LIKENESS of it. This passage in no way teaches that water baptism is required for salvation. Although it is true that water baptism symbolizes the Gospel (i.e., Christ's death, burial and bodily resurrection), and it is one's public profession of faith, it is NOT necessary to receive the free gift of eternal life.
Let me share with you another example from the Epistle of Galatians...
Galatians 3:22-27, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
The word “baptized” in Galatians 3:27 does not refer to water baptism, made clear by its use. The Bible says by faith we are “BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST.” The word “baptize” simply means “immersed.” We are immersed into Christ by faith. The children of Israel were baptized (immersed) unto Moses under the cloud and in the Red Sea. ...
1st Corinthians 10:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
So please keep in mind that when interpreting the meaning of “baptism” in the Bible, we must always examine the surrounding Scriptural context for the proper meaning. The apostle Paul is abundantly clear in the Epistle of Galatians that salvation is BY FAITH ALONE IN JESUS CHRIST! The word “baptized” is only mentioned ONE TIME in the entire Epistle, and simply means that we are baptized (immersed) into Jesus Christ by faith. This is exactly what is meant in Acts 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.” This particular passage of Scripture has caused much debate and speculation among Bible students and scholars, trying to interpret its proper meaning. However, the meaning becomes clear when we examine the Word of God AS A WHOLE. Throughout the Gospel of John we are taught simply to “BELIEVE” on the Lord Jesus Christ, without any mention of water baptism.
Furthermore, the sole purpose for the writing on the Epistle of 1st John is to encourage professed believers to self-examine ourselves, to see if we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. 1st John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1st John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” So here we plainly see that God wants us to KNOW that we are saved, and He authors this Epistle to help us settle the matter. Carefully notice, then, that no mention whatsoever is made of “baptism” of any sort in this Epistle! That speaks volumes against the damnable heresy of Baptismal Regeneration. If water baptism were necessary for salvation, then John certainly would have mentioned it, but he didn't! And keep in mind that this is the same apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, who penned the Gospel of John.
Nobody in the Old Testament was ever water baptized. Unless there are two different plans of salvation, then water baptism obviously is not necessary to be saved. What saith the Scripture? Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” With the abundance of Scripture passages (such as the one I just quoted to you), which teach us emphatically that the way to be saved is simply TO BELIEVE, it ought to be clear to you dear reader that Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ and Seventh-Day Adventists (who all require water baptism for salvation) are ALL LIARS!!! We are not saved (regenerated by the Holy Spirit) from water baptism! We are saved BY FAITH!
