Gayle Oler
In the great sermon on the mount Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time…But I say unto you” (Mat. 5:21-22). It was there that He was showing the distinction between the new law of the Gospel of Christ, and the old law of Moses. This is a distinction that many people have never gained.
Those people had not gone to the source of their information to find out with what authority their informant had spoken. Oftentimes people make the same mistake today, but it is a wise thing to “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Paul warns us to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 The. 5:21).
Ye have heard that it was said, “One church is as good as another.” But what does Jesus say about that? He said exactly the contrary is true. He said, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Mat. 15:13). Did you ever ask a person for his information when he told you that one church is as good as another, and that it didn’t make any difference which church you were in? The next time you hear a fellow make a statement like that, ask him for his source of information, and watch him get embarrassed.
Ye have heard that it was said, “Baptism is not essential to salvation, and it has no connection with the remission of one’s sins.” But Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). Ananias, an inspired minister of the Gospel said, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). So while you have heard to the contrary, the Lord and His disciples states that baptism does have a connection with salvation, and that it is essential. You have heard it said, “The church was established with John in the wilderness, or during the personal ministry of Jesus.” But after John was already dead and buried, Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He gave rules and regulations for the government of the church, but Paul said in Hebrews 9:17 that these did not go into effect while Jesus lived—that there had to be a death on Christ’s part before they were effective. If the church had been established during the personal ministry of Christ, it could not have been governed by the Word of Christ.
Ye have heard it said, “A sinner can pray for salvation and get it.” And it is a common thing for sectarian preachers to tell sinners to pray for salvation. But the Bible says in John 9:31, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners.” And Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” But if a man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
Instead of a sinner being told to pray for salvation, the Bible tells him: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). It matters not how much a sinner may pray for salvation, until he is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. In this law or rule there is no change, and beyond it there is no appeal.
Ye have heard it said, “Men can go to heaven outside the church.” But the Bible says in Acts 2:47, “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Ye have heard it said, “God has more than one church, and more than one flock today.” But Jesus said in John 10:16, “other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” It is not a common thing at all to hear sectarian preachers say that God today has one flock and one shepherd. But when Jesus said His people would be one flock, He did not mean two. So there is only one church in the world by divine authority.
In Ephesians 1:22-23, Paul said the church is the body of Christ. And in 1 Corinthians 12:20, he said, “But now are they many members, yet but one body.” Since this is true, certainly it is true that there can be no two acceptable churches in the world. Only one can be right.
When you hear people say anything about religion, and so much is said, remember the divine admonition: “Believe not every spirit.” It is a wise thing to “prove the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). The majority of religious teachers are wrong. The fields are white unto the harvest, and the laborers are few, but many false prophets have gone out into the world to contrast to the few laboring in the Lord’s vineyard. You had better be careful lest you follow in the wrong way. You will be lost unless you “stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:16).
