THE FIFTH AMENDMENT to the Constitution of the United States allows a person
being questioned in a court of law to avoid answering if the answer would
cause them to incriminate themselves. Many who are put on the witness stand
in a trial have “invoked the Fifth” refusing to answer certain questions
that would prove them to be wrong, or possibly even guilty of a crime. We
are all familiar with this transpiring from the trials depicted on
television, if we have not seen such a thing in person.
For some there are religious questions which they will never answer as long
as they live. They stubbornly refuse God’s Truth and they will refuse also
to answer any question which they think would incriminate them. This was
the case in Jesus’ day and it remains true today.
Jesus was questioned by the religious leaders of His day about the authority
by which he did the things He did. He in turn asked them a question about
baptism, which they would not answer. Jesus asked, “The baptism of John,
whence was it? From heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:25). They reasoned
among themselves. Please take note–when men have to debate with themselves
as to what effect their answer will have on themselves, watch out! Their
discussion did not hinge on what was the truth of the matter, but how they
would be affected by their answer.
Their reasoning went like this, “And they reasoned with themselves, saying,
If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then
believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold
John as a prophet” (Matthew 21:25,26). So, fearing the consequences of the
correct answer, they refused to answer saying, “We cannot tell.” They could
not for the repercussions they might sustain.
Denominational people of our day object to us because we teach “baptism for
the remission of sins.” They look at certain passages of Scripture (i.e.,
Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16 and 1 Peter 3:21) as “church of Christ
doctrine.” The same people will turn around and say the church of Christ
was started by Alexander Campbell. Here is the question– How could the
church of Christ start with Alexander Campbell and these passages be “church
of Christ doctrine” when they were in God’s word several hundred years
before Mr. Campbell was born? Who will be the first to answer?
The next question– If the church of Christ started in the 1800's how did the
“churches of Christ” get into the Scriptures before the apostles died? Who
will answer?
Here is another question– “The disciples were called Christians first at
Antioch” (Acts 11:26). When in the word of God were they called by the name
of any of the Protestant denominations of today?
Another question– Since salvation is in the name of Christ, and “neither is
there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven
given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), denominational
friend, why will you wear any other? Why will you say, “There’s nothing in
a name.” Who will answer?
Ephesians 1:22,23 says, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave
him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the
fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Now, here is the question for any
member of a denomination– Since the church is the body of Christ and
salvation is “in Christ” (2 Timothy 2:10) and Christ has only one body
(Romans 12:5–27), how is it that one church is as good as another? How is
it that you can say, “It doesn’t matter about the church” when the church is
the body of Christ?
If the church is the body of Christ and Christ is the head of the church,
does Christ have many bodies? Is the spiritual picture Christ and His many
bodies a monstrosity? Will you deal honestly with these questions and
humbly yield to the authority of Jesus Christ in them all? If you refuse,
does that not reflect on your honesty?
To believe and obey the word of God (the gospel of Christ) is to identify
with the divine body of Christ, which is the church. As we have seen,
“there is but one body!” There are many religious organizations, many
denominations, many sects but ONE CHURCH! The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, the Savior of the world, is neither a polygamist nor a bigamist, and
never will become one. When God’s word speaks of “the church” as being “the
bride of Christ” it means just that. It doesn’t mean a bride. Nor does it
mean “many brides” as the denominational world would have you believe.
Question– How many brides does Christ have? Or is Christ a polygamist?
When Christ said, “Upon this rock I will build MY CHURCH” (Matthew 16:18),
He never said a word about building one for Paul and another church for John
the Baptist, or one for “Saint Luke.” Not one word was said about “Saint
Boniface’s church. Ephesians 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even
as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he
might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” When
Christ returns He will present to Himself a glorious church, without spot or
blemish. Question – Is Christ coming back for it or is He coming back for
them?
When a person obeys the gospel of Christ, the Lord adds them to his church
(Acts 2:36-47). Question– When a person obeys the gospel does the Lord add
them to a denomination? Who will be the first to answer? Denominations are
made up of people who “join them.” People are said to “join this
denomination or that denomination” but this cannot be found anywhere in the
New Testament.
When a person obeys the gospel of Christ, he is now subject to Christ and no
one else, nor does he himself have one word to say as to what he must do.
Christ is the head of the Church, he holds “all authority in heaven, and in
earth” (Matthew 28:18). He is our Lord; we are His subjects; and no subject
ever talks back to his Lord in disagreement. Moreover, we are no longer our
own, we have been “bought with a price” and what a price!
Since this is true, when we become Christians we are wholly subject to Him–
He speaks and every Christian obeys. Looking at the religious groups you
see a different picture. Christ speaks and Denominations argue and defy
Christ and the Father. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew
7:21-23).
Question– If you belong to a religious group which calls on the name of the
Lord but makes up its own rules and laws, will you get to heaven? In the
light of these Scriptures another question is– Does it make any difference
what we believe or do, or is sincerity all that matters? Here is another–
Can a person belong to a denomination which makes its own rules and bylaws
without denying the “all authority” which Christ claimed to have been given,
God demanded us to listen to his Son, and the teaching of the Holy Spirit?
The teaching of the Scriptures demanded the unity of belief and practice of
the church. Jesus prayed that his disciples would “be one” in John
17:21,22. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of
you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are
contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of
Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ
divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of
Paul?” Question– In denominationalism is there any attempt to lay down the
barriers which cause division? Do all denominations speak the same things?
Are there divisions in the religious world? Is this what the word of God
teaches?
Are you comfortable giving truthful answers to these questions, or do you
“plead the 5th?”
