Church and Salvation
by Jody L. Apple

    Religion, if it is worth anything at all, must in some way be connected to salvation, the forgiveness of sins. If religion is not intrinsically connected to the forgiveness of sins, then that religion is worthless.

    This might not be obvious to everyone, but it is true. In Colossians 2:22-23, Paul said: "...which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."

    Paul said the "things" practiced by some in the church at Colossae had the "appearance of wisdom" (i.e., it looked good, seemed wise, etc.), but were really "self-imposed religion" (i.e., practices made up by men). Because these things only "looked good" and were "man made," Paul said that they were "of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. "To say this about any religion is to say that such religion is powerless to remove sin. Beliefs and practices that are powerless to remove sin are not only vain and futile - they are wrong.

    So it is that the church Christ died for must be connected to salvation and the forgiveness of sins. Jesus would not die and shed his blood to purchase and build a church that was superfluous to God's plan (cf. Acts 20:28; Ephesians 2:20). If Jesus died for it, then it must of necessity relate to salvation. This is exactly what we find when we study the scriptures. We find that (1) God wants man to be saved, (2) that Jesus wants what God wants, (3) that the Holy Spirit and the word (which came by means of the inspiration of God through the Spirit) both contribute to the salvation of man, and (4) that the church of Christ, the only one that Jesus died for, is thus intricately tied to salvation.

    (1) God wants all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4). He does not want any to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

    (2) Joseph and Mary were to call their son Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Jesus said that he came to seek and save the lost (Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10). He said that His will was to do the will of His Father (John 4:34; et. al). He was "the grace of God that brings salvation" that "has appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11). He was the "propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

    (3) The message of the Spirit, the word of God, is a message that saves. James says "receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21). Cornelius was told to send for Peter " 'who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.' " (Acts 11:14). Paul told the Thessalonians that the gospel (i.e., the word) was the means by which they were called, and that it was for salvation by the Spirit and belief in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Other passages that indicate the connection between the message of God and salvation are: Luke 8:12; John 12:47; Acts 2:40; Titus 1:3; 2 Peter 3:2; et. al.

    (4) The church, then, an institution of divine origin, must surely be related to forgiveness of sins.

        (a) Jesus' blood was the purchase price for the church (Acts 20:28) and it is the means by which our redemption is accomplished (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). These last two passages teach that the saving effect of the blood of Christ (the redemptive ability of it) is "in Christ," which means it is in Christ's body, the church (cf. Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24).

        (b) Christ is the head of the church and the Saviour of the body (Ephesians 5:23). This simply means that all of the saved are in the church. There are no saved outside of the church (Ephesians 2:11ff). It is false to affirm that the church saves. It is true, however, to affirm that Christ saves those who submit to His will, those who are added to His kingdom.

        (c) God, at the same time we are saved (by the blood of Christ), adds us to the church (cf. Acts 2:41, 47). Both of these acts are accomplished when we are baptized into Christ (cf. Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 3:24ff; Colossians 2:12ff; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

        (d) The members of the body of Christ, Christians, are described using terms reflective of those who are saved. Christians (the name itself indicates a special and unique relationship with Christ due to our salvation from sin by His blood, cf. Acts 11:26, etc.) are redeemed (Titus 2:14); reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:18ff); sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11); saints (Romans 1:7); the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12), et. al.

    It is imperative that our religion be the "pure" one spoken of in scripture (James 1:27). It must be the one authorized by Christ (Colossians 3:17). It must be one that subscribes to God's word, not the words and commandments of men (Matthew 15:1-9). Our involvement in religion, which scripturally necessitates our "membership" (i.e., our intrinsic and joint participation) in Christ's body, the church, is tied to salvation in such a way that without "membership" in that body (Christ's church), we cannot obtain the forgiveness of sins.

    We hasten to add that being added to the body of Christ by baptism (cf. passages above), as necessary as it is, is nonetheless incomplete if we fail to live godly and righteously afterward (cf. Titus 2:11ff; Ephesians 1:5ff; Colossians 3:1ff). When we died to sin, we committed ourselves to live as righteous Christians.

    Is salvation, the forgiveness of sins, connected with just any "church?" No, not if you are talking about the religions of men (Colossians 2:23; Matthew 15:13). Yes, however, if you are talking about the church (the "called out") Christ died for (Matthew 16:18ff).