ARE THERE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES?

By David J. Riggs

                        
Intro.
   A. Our denominational friends often ask:
      1. "Aren't there saved people in all churches?"
      2. And, the most often asked question: "Why do you believe
         you are the only ones who will be saved?
   B. If a person is very prejudiced, it is probably best to give no
      answer at all. (These people believe that one church is as good
      as another, but they exclude the church of Christ!)
      1. However, we could answer:
         a. The Bible plainly teaches there is only one church.
         b. We believe that only those who are members of the N.T.
            church will be saved.
   C. Some people insist on a "yes" or "no" answer. How could we
      give a satisfactory answer when we are not in agreement on what
      the church is?

I. FIRST OF ALL, IT CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED BY SCRIPTURE THAT THERE ARE
   SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES.
   A. We would readily believe it (saved people in all churches) if  
      it were taught in the Word of God. 
      1. We are taught -- 1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Pet. 1:10
   B. Some ask, "What about John 15? Doesn't it teach that Christ is
      the vine and the various churches are the branches?"
      1. In John 15, the individual disciples are the branches, not
         churches.
   C. Some say, "The church is the great mystical body which incudes
      all churches. All churches make up the body of Christ."
      1. However, the N.T. clearly shows there was only one church.
         Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23
      2. Jesus established only one church. Matt. 16:18
         a. People became members by obeying the gospel. Those
            who obeyed became the body of the saved. (Acts
            2:41,47)
   D. Questions:
      1. What denominations did the early Christians belong to?
         There were none.
      2. Can one be a Christian without being a member of any
         denomination? If so, they are not needed.
      3. Does the Bible require a Christian to join a denomination?  
         If so, which one?
   E. Here is an illustration of how a church was started in the     
      early eighteen hundreds: There was a protracted Union Meeting
      conducted by several denominational preachers. Obedience to the
      gospel was emphasized. A very large number obeyed the gospel
      during this Meeting. When the Meeting was over the preachers
      told the new converts to join the church of their choice.      
      However, they reasoned: We are now members of the body of      
      Christ and are united. If we join various denominations, we    
      will be divided. Thus, they decided to be just members of the  
      body of Christ and not join any denomination. This is how a    
      church of the Lord had its beginning those many years ago.
      1. We are Christians who are determined to be simply
         Christians without being members of any denomination.

II. AGAIN, ARE THERE SAVED PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES? NO, BECAUSE MOST  
   HAVE NOT DONE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SAVED INDIVIDUAL.
   A. Who is a saved person? The Bible teaches: Faith, John 8:24;
      Repentance, Acts 17:30; Confession, Matt. 10:32; Baptism, Mark
      16:16.
         a. This is the only way to be saved as ordained in the
            Scriptures.
         b. A saved individual is one in the body, church, kingdom,
            etc.
         c. See Chart: What does it mean to be a member of the
            church?
   B. Many have never followed the simple steps of the gospel and    
      thus are not saved.
      1. For example, some have been sprinkled as infants. An infant
         can't believe, can't repent (has no sins to repent of),     
         can't confess; therefore is not a candidate for baptism.
      2. Some have believed they were saved at the point of faith.
         They are baptized, but it is only to symbolizes that they   
         are already saved.
   C. We are aware of the fact that it is possible for one to become 
      a Christian and then join a denomination.
      1. The minute one does so, he transgresses the Word of God. It
         is "iniquity" "acting without law." Matt. 7:23
         a. There is a weakness in man to get into things they
            should stay out of. For example, joining Masonry or any
            such like organizations.
         b. As long as one is in a group that holds to or teachers
            error, he is associated with error and is having
            fellowship with error. 
            (1) To repent of error, one must completely give up
                error. Eph. 5:11

III. NO, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IDENTICAL TO THE N.T. CHURCH AND,      
   THEREFORE, CANNOT BE THE N.T. CHURCH.
   A. See chart: Building according to the Pattern. This is the      
      church which Jesus established. 
      1. To be the N.T. church, we must be identical to the one in   
         the N.T. 
   B. Churches which differ have not followed the pattern.
      1. A study of Religious history shows that denominations
         resulted from corruptions of these basic things.
      2. Example, in organization. Acts 20:29-30
         a. Once corrupted, they continue for centuries. Remember
            Jeroboam and the Samaritans. 1 Kings 12:26-33; John
            4:19-22
      3. There are so many corruptions today that error is being
         taught on every doctrine and principle taught in the N.T.
         a. All denominations of our time would be abolished if
            people would get back to the teaching and practice of
            the N.T.

IV. NO, BECAUSE THEY ALL CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER.
   A. It would make God the author of confusion.
      1. It would mean that God saves people who believe and
         practice different doctrines. 1 Cor. 14:33
      2. Ex., "Peter was a pope." A Catholic book, page 82 says,
         "Any church that does not recognize Peter as its foundation
         stone is not the Church of Christ..." (The Faith of Our
         Fathers, by James Gibbons, p. 82)
         a. All other churches say, "Peter was not a pope."
      3. Our question, Does God teach both? Does God accept both?
         Would God sanction a lie?
   B. Distinguishing doctrines is what makes up the various
      denominational churches.
      1. That churches plainly contradict one another no one can
         deny.
         a. Ex., most Methodist churches teach that sprinkling is
            baptism; most Baptist churches fervently deny it.
         b. Jehovah's Witnesses teach there is no hell; Presbyterian
            churches rigidly affirm there is one.
      2. What if you went into a store and you found an unmarked
         coat, and you ask a clerk the price, and she says, $59. You
         ask another clerk and she says, $99. You then go to the
         manager and she says, "Just pay the price of your choice,
         because one price is as good as another." 
         a. Such foolishness would not work in the financial world.
            That store would not stay in business long.
      3. In the denominational world, if you like drinking liquor,
         homosexuality, witchcraft, just choose the church of your
         choice.
         a. However, if want to please God, follow His doctrine. 2
            John 9; Matt. 15:9

V. NO, BECAUSE THIS WOULD SANCTION DIVISION WHICH THE BIBLE CONDEMNS.
   A. Division is condemned in the Bible.
      1. There is to be no schism in the body. 1 Cor. 12:25
      2. Christ is not divided. 1 Cor. 1:10-13
      3. It's going against the prayer of Christ. John 17:20-21
      4. Those who cause division are to be marked and rejected.
         Rom. 16:17
      5. "Heretics" Titus 3:10 "A self-willed opinion, contrary to
         truth, which leads to division and the formation of a sect  
         or party." (Vine)
   B. Thus, all separate and distinct bodies are clearly and strongly
      condemned in the N.T.
      1. The entire denominational system is based upon perversions
         of the Word of God which have led to divisions.
      2. Christians are to oppose division and earnestly contend for
         the purity of the faith. Jude 3; 1 Tim. 6:12; 1:18; Titus   
         1:13-14
         a. We, as Paul, are set for the defense of the gospel. Phil.
            1:17
         b. We teach and encourage people to come out of
            denominations, and be simply N.T. Christians.

Concl.
   A. Thus, we have given five reasons why there are not saved people
      in all churches.
      1. It cannot be established by Scripture.
      2. They haven't been saved to start with.
      3. Their churches are not identical to the N.T. church.
      4. Their churches contradict one another.
      5. It would sanction division.
   B. Anytime one obeys the gospel, he becomes exactly what people
      were in the N.T., a saved individual, a Christian, a member of 
      the body or church of Christ.
      1. He must then work and worship with other Christians under
         the direction of God's Word.
      2. To do something other that this is to cause division
         (Denominationalism), and is to transgress God's Word, and
         thus cannot be pleasing to God.

Chart #1
Are There Saved People In All Churches?
1. It can't be established by Scripture.
2. They haven't been saved to start with.
3. Their churches are not identical to the N.T. church.
4. Their churches contradict one another.
5. It would sanction division.

Chart #2
Referring To The Church?
John 15:1-6
vs. 2 - branch...branch
vs. 3 - Ye (plural)...you
vs. 4 - branch...ye...ye
vs. 5 - ye...branches...He ...him...ye
vs. 6 - man...he...they
vs. 7 - ye...you...ye...you
vs. 8 - ye...ye...disciples

Gal. 6:1-10
vs. 1 - man...ye...one ...thyself...thou
vs. 2 - ye...one another's
vs. 3 - man...he...himself
vs. 4 - man...his...he ...himself
vs. 5 - man...his
vs. 6 - him...him
vs. 7 - man...he
vs. 8 - he...he (personal judgment)
vs. 9 - us...we...we 
vs. 10 - we...us

James 1:18-27
vs. 18 - begat...us...we ...firstfruits
vs. 19 - brethren...man
vs. 20 - man
vs. 21 - your souls
vs. 22 - ye doers...your own selves
vs. 23 - any...he...man...his
vs. 24 - he...himself... man...he
vs. 25 - whoso...he
vs. 26 - man among you...his...his...man's
vs. 27 - himself
Note: Gal. 6:8 speaks of personal judgment; the church will not be
judged as a group, thus showing the individual application of the
verses.

Chart #3
What Does It Mean To Be A Member of the Church?
Mark 16:16 - Saved - Acts 2:47 - Adds to Church
1 Cor. 12:13 - The Body - Eph. 5:23 - Savior
Acts 2:38,41,47 - The Church - Acts 20:28 - Washed by Blood
Rom. 6:3-4 - In Christ - Eph. 1:3 - All Spiritual Blessings
John 3:5 - Kingdom - 1 Cor. 15:24 - Will be Delivered Up
Gal. 3:26-27 - In Family - Gal. 4:7 - If Son, then Heir
If one is not in the church, he is not saved, washed by the blood,
in the kingdom, etc.

Chart #4
Building According To The Pattern
1. Name -  Acts 11:26; Rom. 16:16
2. Foundation - I Cor. 3:11; Matt. 16:18
3. Law - I Cor. 14:37; II Tim. 3:16-17
4. Membership - Acts 2:38,47; Gal. 3:26-27
5. Organization - Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; Eph. 4:11
6. Worship - Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; Acts 20:7
7. Discipline - Matt. 18:17; I Cor. 5:4; Rev. 2:14-16
8. Love of brethren - I Pet. 1:22; Heb. 13:1; John 13:34-35