A Call Back
to the Word of God
Over the past 2,000 years
the teachings within what is commonly thought of as the church has changed
drastically. To take one point for example, even modern critics of baptism will
acknowledge that the very first Christians taught that baptism was for the
purpose of having one’s sins forgiven and washed away. Baptism back then, was
for the purpose of being reborn and entering into Christ after a person heard
the gospel message, believed, and repented of his or her sins. With this
acknowledgement, critics will then deny that baptism for the forgiveness of
sins is something for us today, even though the Apostle Peter in his very first
recorded sermon explained that “The promise is for you and your children
and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts
Is God calling you right now? Yes! He is! And
therefore this promise is for you as
well! (Acts
Up until the Reformation,
baptism was always taught as being essential for salvation. This is undeniable.
Even in the early stages of the Reformation, most of its leaders still
acknowledged baptism was required for salvation. The teaching that baptism is
not required for salvation has only been around for perhaps 5 or 600 years.
A careful study of church
history will reveal, among other things, that the early Christians:
1.) taught baptism was
essential for salvation and one was not saved until they were baptized
2.) only administered
baptism to those who were old enough to understand the gospel message, believe
it, and repent of their sins, deciding to commit their life to Christ
3.) did not baptize infants
because they taught infants were born pure into the world and without sin
4.) only had one baptism and
it was in water
5.) were organized in local,
self governing, autonomous congregations, governed by elders and deacons
6.) did not use instrumental
music in worship
7.) met on the first day of
the week (Sunday) to partake of the Lord’s Supper and to worship
They did not pray to saints,
only to God. They did not worship Mary. There was not yet a “pope” (which means
‘father’). Peter would allow no one to even revere him (Acts 10:25-26). They did not call anyone else on earth
“father” and took very seriously the Lord’s instructions in Matthew 23:9. In fact, they would sooner die than
blaspheme God. And large numbers laid down their lives rather than compromise.
They were chained, mocked, ridiculed, scorned, spit on, laughed at, beaten,
stoned, stabbed, speared, eaten by wild animals, hacked to pieces with swords,
burned alive, sawed and torn in two, boiled, buried, beheaded, crushed,
tortured, dragged, hanged, tarred, and drown. They died in any manner that man
in his evil could dream up. They lived in caves and holes in the ground. They
often lived as wanderers, homeless, naked, and hungry. This world did not
deserve them. But they did these things and underwent these agonizing tortures
because they knew Him who took the nails for them, who died in their place, who
gave up His place in heaven, and loved them so much as to die on a cross so
that they might be saved. They had such an allegiance to Jesus Christ that
nothing could remove it from them.
Today, “Christians” are
split into thousands of different denominations. There have been many
traditions and teachings added that are not in the Bible. Today, it is possible
to be a Christian and a Christian only. But in order to be obedient to the will
of Christ we must put aside our traditions, and come out of Denominationalism,
come out of Catholicism, come out of Judaism, come out of Islam, come out of
all false religions, come out of the world, and restore the pure teachings of
the New Testament. To do this, we must:
●Take
the Bible as the Word of God and our sole source of God’s truth
●Reject
doctrines, teachings, and practices introduced after the close of the New
Testament
●Seek
to be Christians only
This is the one and only way to unite all who are
seeking to follow Jesus Christ.