Remove The "Doubt" Out Of Life
It is safe to be prepared for the judgment, which is certain to occur. Amos, the great prophet, warned disobedient Israel, "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel" (Amos 4:12). Solomon gave the conclusion of it all when he wrote, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, and every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14). The Hebrew writer tells us that all must expect to meet the appointments of death and the judgment. "And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Why then would anyone go through this world without preparing for the next? It is absolutely wise and safe to prepare, and it is definitely foolish to be unprepared.
To be saved, one must be baptized (Mark 16:16). Without submitting to baptism, one's sins will not be remitted (Acts 22:16). The Bible teaches that baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Peter wrote, "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waiting in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:20, 21). The right and safe thing to do is never to question but rather obey the Lord's command to be baptized in order to be saved from all past sins.
The church of Christ was built by Christ (Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16). Salvation is in the Lord's church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23). Most denominational preachers admit that their denominations have nothing to do with one's salvation, and that you can be saved outside their denomination. Why, then, should a person enter a denomination? The end of all false religions is described by Jesus. "But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up" (Matthew 15:13).
The Bible sets out the pattern of the local congregation with elders and deacons in each congregation (Philippians 1:1, 2). The Bible knows nothing of official conferences, associations, conventions, synods, et al. The Bible is right, so why have any man-made organizations?
REMOVE THE "DOUBT" BY CHRISTIAN LIVING
Individual and congregational purity must be maintained. A diseased member in the spiritual body will make its inroads on the health and well-being of an individual, or a congregation, unless it is cured or removed. Such a person should be exhorted, reproved, and rebuked with all long-suffering and teaching; when he is shown his way of sin but refuses to repent, the church must take more drastic methods (2 Thessalonians 3:6). May each of us resolve to turn from all sin that heaven may be ours at the end of the way.
By: Garland Elkins