No one can deny that the religious world is in a state of confusion. People who claim to love God, believe in Christ, love the Bible, and believe they must obey God are divided over many different subjects. The main reason for this is the many so-called religious teachers of the day who give men choices where God did not. Let me share with you some very simple examples.
How many churches are there? The answers vary, depending on how many different religious people you ask. Can men settle this dispute? Apparently not, but God's word certainly can. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." {Matthew 16:18} How many "churches" did Jesus plan to build? "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." {Ephesians 4:4-6}
Notice there is only ONE body. What is that body? "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." {Ephesians 1:22,23} How do we know the body, the church, is the one He promised to build? "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."{Acts 20:28} According to 1 Corinthians 11:3, Jesus is the foundation of the church. The Bible gives us the answer -- there is just ONE church, Jesus is its head, and He purchased it with His own blood. If the group to which you belong does not accept these facts -- it is not His church!
How does one enter His church? Again, we hear a variety of answers. Some say faith alone will get you into the church; some say God's grace provides the access; and still others say you can pray through. God's word is clear concerning this subject. We must:
- HEAR. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." {Romans 10:17}
- BELIEVE want we hear. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." {Hebrews 11:6} But faith alone cannot help, unless it mingles with obedience (James 2:14-26).
- REPENT. "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." {Acts 17:30}
- CONFESS our belief in Christ. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."{Romans 10:10}
- Submit to BAPTISM. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." {Romans 6:3,4}
Men may scoff and ridicule this simple plan, but it is right because we can find it, and examples of men following its pattern, in God's word.
God's word can settle the confusion surrounding any Bible subject -- acts of worship, work of the church, use of the Lord's money, organization of the church, conduct of our lives, relationship with the world, and a host of others. That's all there is to it. If we turn, with open minds, to the Bible, the answers will come. God's word can be understood, and confusion can become clear if, and only if, honest hearts allow God to have the last word in spiritual matters.