In Search of the Truth of God

The essence of good forensic science is too look at all the competing explanations of an event. If you can rule that which was impossible, that which remains, however seemingly improbable, is the truth. If this is applied to the gospel and doctrine of Christ, which church possess the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth of Jesus Christ?

The Catholic faith believes that everyone is born to sin. Therefore, they baptize (sprinkle) infant babies who are incapable of the mind to believe, speech to confess, the reason to repent and the willingness to be baptized. No where in the entire new testament was any baby commanded to be baptized nor was any example ever given. In fact, infant baptism violates every new testament principle. Thus, we can rule out infant baptism. (Take note, that sprinkling or what the Catholics call christening can be ruled out as new testament doctrine for two reasons. One, baptism means to immerse, dip or submerge in water. Secondly, the Ethiopian Eunuch went down into the water (Acts 8:35-39). Therefore, we can rule out the sprinkling of babies or sprinkling in general as a part of salvation.

The Baptist do not believe that baptism is a part of salvation. For the most part, salvation for a Baptist is “faith only”. If this were true, then you can erase the entire book of James as a part of your bible. James specifically dealt with the false doctrine of “faith only”. James wrote that faith without works is dead (Jam 2:20). He also said that a man is justified by works and not “faith only” (Jam 2:24). For a better understanding of what James wrote please read the entire second chapter of the book of James. Secondly, you can erase the commandment of Jesus to his apostles after his resurrection from the dead which stipulated for his apostles to go into all the world and to preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; He that believes not shall be condemned (Mk 16:15,16). The apostle Peter also said that we are saved by baptism (1 Pet 3:21). Therefore, conclusively the scriptures invalidate Baptist doctrine of ‘Faith only’ as a part of salvation.

By ruling out the impossible doctrines of sprinkling of the Catholics, and the Baptist doctrine of “faith only” we can now see what doctrine was taught exclusively in the new testament. The gospel of Christ was defined as the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:1-4). Jesus said, “Except you believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins” (Jn 8:24). Therefore, faith is the quintessential requirement of salvation. Yet, ‘faith only’ saves no one. More is required in order for one to be saved. Paul joined faith and confession in the book of Romans by saying, “But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom 10:8-10). Jesus also said, “…unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3). Peter on the day of Pentecost combined repentance with baptism by saying, “…Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Thus, it all came down to what Jesus commanded his apostles to preach to all the world: “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk 16:16).  (Belief and Confession) + (Repentance and baptism)=Salvation. However, this is only true only if we continue in the doctrine of Christ and his apostles until death (Acts 2:42 ff; 2 Jn 9; Rev 2:10).

Salvation was made possible by the love of God who gave us his only son to die on the cross (Jn 3:16). Thus, by the grace of God are we saved ‘Through” faith, that is, the word of faith which is the gospel of Christ (Eph 2:8 ff; Rom 10:8; Philip 1:27). This is the absolute truth of God which saves us all. Who teaches this truth? It is the church which Christ built, died and paid for with his own blood (Mt 16:18 f; Acts 20:28). Jesus is the head of his church and has left it under the guidance of qualified elders (Col 1:18 ff; 1 Tim 3:1-7) Acts20:28; Heb 13:7,17). It is the church which teaches the gospel and doctrine of Christ. It’s name was, is, and always will be the body of Christ, which is the church of Christ, which every Christian is added to, and is a member thereof (Eph 1:22,23 ff; Rom 16:16; Acts 2:37; 1 Cor. 12:13, 27). If you are in search of the truth, you will find it in the churches of Christ, which is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15).