Questions and Answers

Q: Why do church of Christ people believe only they will be saved?

A: Our scriptures tell us one must be a member of the body of Christ in order to secure their salvation. The belief that “all churches” are Christ’s church is a fallacy disproven many time in our scriptures. It is the doctrines taught that determines the true body of Christ, regardless of what they may call themselves! Our Lord established only one way of doing this. In doing this he eliminated all other ways. The way he speaks of is nothing more than conditions (the things he commanded) which must be met in order to do so. Matt 28:20. Anyone failing to comply with these God-given commandments will not be acceptable to him. If a person has met all of the conditions (obeyed the gospel and lives a faithful life) why wouldn’t they be saved?

Common sense alone would dictate everyone calling themselves the “Lord’s church” cannot be so, as they contradict his word as well as each other 98% of the time. It just so happens some call themselves “The church of Christ” because they believe; a) scriptural things have scriptural names; b) it is his body and a (scriptural) name that shows proper ownership, c) there is no other name given wherein we must be saved…acts 4:12.That’s all. Any name chosen that gives God or his Son the honor and glory he deserves (e.g., the church (ecclesia) of the first born Heb 12:23). Those in the congregations of our Lord don’t believe using the names of any man is in accordance with God’s word or shows proper ownership. Evidently, these names were given in order to identify the different kinds of denominations, not the Lord’s called out! We should keep in mind first century Christians met for years without calling themselves by any name other than, disciples, saints or followers of Christ. Historical evidence suggests the people of Antioch gave them the name “Christian” while Paul was teaching there; because their lifestyles reflected the principles Christ taught and stressed all should live by. Acts 11:26.

J.D. Williams~

Q: why does the church of Christ put so much stress on “being baptized” especially by immersion?

A: Because of the importance of it to one’s salvation! They are correct in this and the Lord’s ecclesia firmly believes, teaches and practices this also. Here is the reason why: The Greek word, for baptize (baptize) comes from the root word (bap) meaning “to dip, plunge or submerge.” And in every case where salvation is mention in connection with baptism, this word is used. Matt 28:19, Mk 16:15-16, acts 2:38, just to name a few. Baptism by immersion was practiced in the first century, it was what made one a member of Christ’s body and will do so today. God has stated through Jesus and the apostles these are the only conditions under which he will forgive sins. Therefore, if one is not baptized or correctly baptized (by immersion), salvation (becoming a called out member of the body of Christ) or forgiveness of past sins cannot be had. Because that is the purpose of being immersed! Baptism is a command (see above quotes); therefore God expects his commands to be followed. It is a mystery to me that some denominations believe one should be baptized after they are saved in order to show they have been (?) and that baptism is really not necessary for salvation and one may be saved without it; when every scripture teaches you must in order to receive salvation! See article “saved by faith only?”

Sprinkling (Greek, raino, to scatter in little drops), and pour, (Greek, eckeco, to pour out in a stream), were never used in connection with salvation. It does not describe the action demanded in the word baptize, which is to immerse! This was the practice for three or four hundred years until the Catholic denomination (which also practiced immersion for centuries) slowly made unauthorized changes in its meaning and begin to allow sprinkling as a substitute for scriptural immersion.

They say they have the authority to change God’s word, we find no such authority given to them or anyone! The only person allowed to change a law is the one who first gave it. In this case…God! He never turned control of his body of believers over to any one man (pope) or a group of men (elders) and told them to run it anyway they wished; yet, the majority of the Christian world operates as though he did! I fail to see the logic behind resisting such a simple command of immersion as this. Why take a chance with your soul’s salvation based solely on man’s authority and follow a practice that is in doubt to say the very least, when we can definitely know we are correct by following what is plainly taught in our scriptures and be immersed for remission of sins?? Evidently those teaching contrary to God’s will have forgotten who is the potter and who is the clay! See a similar article on this subject, “A Simple explanation of baptism” under miscellaneous scriptures.

J.D. Williams~

Q: Does the New Testament teach “degrees of reward and punishment in heaven and hell?”

A: Yes! See Matt 11:20-24, 25:14-30, Mk 12:40, Lk 20:47, Jas 3:1, Heb 10:26-29. Notice in particular such words as: “…shall receive the greater condemnation” “…Shall receive heavier judgment…” “…It will be more tolerable…” “Beaten with many stripes and few stripes” “…Much sorer punishment…” ASV.

For a fuller study on this subject, see our article “are there degrees of reward and punishment” under “Misunderstood scripture.”

J.D. Williams~

Q: Is eternal life a gift or a reward?

A: Many people feel there are no differences between a gift and reward. But there are! We are told two times eternal life is a gift. Rom 6:23. “…The free gift of God is eternal life” And Eph 2:8. “…By grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” A reward is earned, a gift is not. Nowhere in our scriptures are we told a person can earn eternal life. There is no work a man may do independent of God’s commands in which He must grant him entrance into heaven on his own merits. If that were possible, there would have been no need for Christ dying for us! We could have simply accomplished this on our own. But since all men sin and that automatically disqualifies us from heaven; Jesus died in our place in order that we might be able to receive this gift God has made available to all who will accept. The question all should be asking is not whether heaven is a gift or reward, but how do we qualify for this gift so freely granted by our Lord? The conditions required by Christ are simple and are not works of merit; and they are: hear and believe his word, Rom 10:17. Repent of past sins. II Cor. Confess Jesus as God’s Son. Matt 10:32 and be buried with him by immersion for the remission of sins Acts 2:38. And continue to live a faithful life until death. Rev 2:10. Now some might argue, “well, if we keep those commandments, isn’t that the same as earning the gift?” Not really. Jesus taught a parable in Lk 17:7-10 of the faithful servant that did all his master required of him but said in vs 10, “…We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.” So after keeping all of his commandments as best we can, it still takes God’s grace and mercy for one to be granted eternal life with him!

J.D. Williams~

Q: Who may baptize?

A: The Catholic denomination believes only its priests may baptize anyone. And that must be into their denomination. Other denominations have similar beliefs that only “ordained ministers” may do so. Being ordained usually means they must be licensed (or in some way recognized) by their particular denomination to preach or baptize. And all other baptisms are not valid. However, we find nowhere in the New Testament a teaching that requires anyone to be licensed to preach the gospel or any work associated with it! Such limitation as to who may baptize is strictly man’s rule, not God’s! Or to put it another way, I don’t need permission from anyone to do God’s work, but God. And he authorized me to do that in his name when I was added to his body by obeying the gospel (hearing, believing, repenting, confessing Jesus is his Son and baptism by immersion). This makes me a member of his body and gives me as much authority to baptize as those in the first century. Therefore all disciples may baptize if necessary. And yes, that would include female disciples!

For a fuller treatment of this subject, see, “Who is authorized to baptize?” Under miscellaneous scripture.

J.D. Williams~

Q: Must ministers be ordained to preach?

A: The word ordain, just means to “appoint.” For some unexplained reason over the centuries a mystic meaning as been attached to make it appear to mean more than it really does. However, if ministers are to be ordained, who ordains them, God or man? Man has taken upon himself to say who will be ordained to speak for them and who will not. And those that do not meet the standards set by these men are never allowed to preach. I find the term “ordained minister” as it is used by most denominations not only a remarkable display of ignorance but ludicrous as well! But what does God say about this? This system called the “clergy and the laity,” stems from the Law of Moses and in modern times, reinvented, promoted and perpetuated by hired professional ministers and elders with no more authority than any member of God’s body. But who did God actually call to preach or spread his word? The answer is simple: every person being added to the body of Christ (ecclesia/those called out) is to be a minister, aka a servant of God! Not necessarily to stand before a group and deliver a sermon, or even teach in a classroom setting; but every one of our Lord’s disciples are to be able to teach others the gospel plan of salvation and how to obey the gospel in order to become a member of his body. In case anyone is interested, another word for minister is “servant” which more accurately describes what a child of God really is. Why would that require a license, a conspicuous and pompous ceremonial act of ordination by any religion, denomination or a degree in theology?

J.D. Williams~

Q: May women preach or serve as ministers?

A: We don’t believe so. I base that belief on two verses of scripture, I Tim 2:12a. Reads, “But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man…” the word “teach” (Gk didaskoo) is the key word in this verse. It means to “deliver a didactic lesson or discourse with authority”. One cannot present (or preach) a didactic sermon without doing so. Paul giving instructions to Titus in 2:15 wrote, “These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority…” Although Paul says, “I permit not…” the command comes directly from God himself. And then he gives two other reasons for this prohibition (vs 13-14 of I Tim 2): 1) Adam was first formed…2) Adam was not beguiled (deceived by Satan), Eve was. Adam followed her into sin with his eyes wide open, in my estimation. Evidently God does not want her in a leadership role in his body of believers; there is other and just as important work she may do. If feminist or anyone else has a problem with that, they will have to take it up with him (I’m just the messenger).

Some ignorantly protest this limitation makes her a “second class” citizen in the Kingdom, after all, all God’s people are equal; therefore she should be allowed to preach if she wants to.

But I think they are missing the point here; while we are all equal in God’s eyes as for as salvation is concerned, our roles in his kingdom (ecclesia) are different just as they are in life. I realize I cannot fill the role a woman plays in life (i.e., child bearing) but I don’t feel like a second class citizen. And I’ll add one other thing, I have never known a sister in Christ that felt God had relegated her to a lesser position in his kingdom just because he forbid her to fill the role of a preacher or evangelist! A godly and knowledgeable woman, like any knowledgeable Christian, does not always need a pulpit! Daily living and following God’s commandments is the greatest sermon anyone can preach!

J.D. Williams~

Q: Do you believe catechisms and creeds to be a good aid in understanding our bible?

A: No. Because catechisms like creeds and certain traditions, are often viewed as doctrine and quite often eventually become so; doctrines nowhere found or generally supported by God’s word. And I believe 99% of false teaching have been taught and perpetuated through them. And they are often relied on to prove one’s particular denominational views as opposed to simply following our scriptures. While they are believed by a majority to aid one in understanding our bible, many times they do right the opposite. Sadly, I have found, a person well versed in their particular denomination’s creeds, confessions, book of discipline, book of Mormon, or whatever else they might be called is generally profoundly ignorant of God’s word; and often borderlines on pure superstition. And instead of aiding one in understanding what our scriptures teach, I have found a person’s knowledge of God’s word is actually limited to what their creeds teach! A good example would be: the teaching of “saved by faith only.” Basically that means if you believe in God or believed you are saved, then according to all creeds I am aware of, you are. But James said, “…by works a man is justified and not only by faith.” Jas 2:24.

What James is saying is, if you believe in God and Jesus, then you must also demonstrate that faith by actually doing all that the scriptures require you to do; i.e., repent, confess, be baptized (by immersion) and live a faithful life. But if you follow the creeds which does not teach that, then you are limited to what it teaches and will never come to the truth of what God’s word really teaches!

While discussing a point of doctrine with someone, and we are in disagreement, I have heard so many times… “Well, our church teaches differently.” And on closer examination I find that teaching comes from their creed, confession or catechism, not the scriptures! And I must confess, I do not understand why people place so much “faith” in them. Having read or studied practically all of them I question their use because; they tell us no more than what is already found in our scriptures at best. And when viewed logically; they are irrelevant, mistranslated scripture or quoted out of context and certainly not in harmony with our scriptures and nothing more than men’s opinions of what they think the scriptures teach. Many false doctrines are subtly embedded in their teachings. I have heard or read many sermons or other reference material where a person’s creed or catechism is quoted more often than the bible and usually it is contradictory designed to bolster or prove one’s particular denominational belief.

Catechisms and creeds are the “lazy man’s” way of studying the scriptures. Many mistakenly believe they aid one in understanding the scriptures. Rather than studying for themselves, those who rely heavily on them simple read and accept what someone else has said about any given subject. They have learnt nothing, but only parrot what others have said. In reality, they have put more faith in what their denomination, man or group of men believe than God’s word. In all fairness, I should point out this is often a problem even in the Lord’s body because they have come to rely on what their “elder/bishop/minister” says is the truth, rather than studying it for themselves. And these creeds (like the opinions of elders and bishops) are rarely or never questioned or challenged. Therefore are never exposed for the palpable error they teach. Having a good reliable Greek lexicon (koine Greek) is an invaluable tool in determining what our scriptures actually teach, therefore eliminating the use of Creeds!

J.D. Williams~

Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORDS, CHURCH AND ECCLESIA?

A: Actually there is quite a bit, when correctly translated! The word church is never found anywhere in our New Testament (Koine Greek)! Therefore the common and widely accepted English word “church” is not a correct translation of “Ecclesia.” The most generally and accepted belief is they mean the same thing. When the Lord’s body of people (his congregations) are characterized as a church it is placed in the same category as a “thing” or viewed in the same way a corporate business is. Unfortunately, practically all of Christianity is run much like a giant business today. You have your board of directors, or corporate big-shots (elders, priest, pope, bishop, president, prophet or whatever you choose to call them) that make all of the decisions for the rest of its members. They decide how the local congregation will be run. And usually, there is no appeal of that decision or any part of it. Often times, other businesses are operated by them or long-term saving accounts with cd’s or other interest bearing accounts are implemented to insure its financial survival.

Tragically very few see anything wrong with this!

J.D. Williams~

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