THE TRUE BELIEVERS

By Ruben D. Aromin

DURING THE TIME of early Christianity, to be branded as among the believers in Christ was a social stigma which would incur the ire and disgust of the world and would invite persecution and derision from the general populace. Today, however, "Christendom" offers a totally different picture. No longer are people ashamed to be called believers in Christ, but countless of them now claim and openly profess to be among their number. In fact, this expression has become so hackneyed and trite, each and every one who professes to be Christian appropriates this to himself, knowing fully well that no less than salvation is guaranteed by the Savior to those who truly believe in Him. There are even those who go so far as to use the expression to refer to all those belonging to different religious organizations or churches that allegedly make up the body of Christ, which is the Church of Christ. This view, which is usually found among the Protestants, has relegated membership to any particular church or religious organization as unimportant, for it holds that as long as an individual professes faith in Christ, accepts Him as Lord and Savior, he is a true believes and member of the Church of Christ and can share in Christ's promised salvation. For them, therefore, the expression "believers in Christ" refers to all professing Christians worldwide regardless of religious affiliation. What, indeed, is the biblical truth concerning the true believers? Who are they and what distinguishing qualities do they have which separate them from the rest of the Christian-professing people? Let us ask first, how does one become a true believer in Christ? The words of Christ clarify:

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44, New King James Version)

To be a true believer or follower of Christ, one must first be drawn by the Father to Christ and unless he is drawn by God to Him, he can not be a true believer or disciple. Apostle Paul explains that God draws people to Christ by calling them to have fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ:

"God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord" (I Cor. 1:9, Today's English Version)

Those whom God has called to have fellowship with, or union with, Christ "were called in one body" (Col. 3:15, NKJV), which is the Church headed by our Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 1:18). How fellowship was forged between Christ and the true believers in the Church headed by Him is explained further by the Apostle Paul thus:

"Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace." (Eph. 2:15, NKJV)

With the creation of the one new man out of two, referring to Christ as head and the Church as His body, fellowship and union was forged between Christ and those whom God has called. To have this fellowship with Christ and to be among the true believers, one must be "baptized into one body" (I Cor. 12:13), which is the Church headed by Christ or the Church of Christ. Members of the Church of Christ are the true believers in Christ, for they are the ones drawn by the Father to Christ and have fellowship with Him.

MANY PARTS, ONE BODY

There is simply no truth to the allegation that all professing Christians, regardless of the church with which they are affiliated, are true believers and disciples of Christ. Neither is there truth to the allegation that the Church of Christ is composed of all the religious organizations or churches worldwide professing to be Christian. Apostle Paul dispels such allegations in pointing out that:

"Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts" (I Cor. 12:12, TEV).

It is the parts and not the body or Church which are many─Apostle Paul explicitly says that though it is made up of different parts, it is still "a single body, ... it is still one body." And these different parts are the individual members of that one religious body or Church of Christ as he clarifies further thus:

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,  so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;  or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;  he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." (Rom. 12:4-8, NKJV)

The individual members who make up the one body of Christ or true Church of Christ are the ones who are many and not the churches or religious organizations that allegedly composed the Church of Christ. These individual members are endowed with different gifts or duties to perform in the only one religious body or Church. This one body or Church is characterized by its unity in everything which could not possibly be found in the aggrupation of various religious organizations with different and even conflicting teachings, practices, and administrations. The Apostle Paul points out thus:

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph. 4:4-6, Ibid.)

In the one body or true Church, the members share one hope of their calling; recognize one Lord, Jesus Christ, whom God made as their Lord (Acts 2:36); serve and worship one God who is the Father; and have a uniform set of teachings and doctrines as they share one faith and one baptism. And "God composed the body," in such a way so "that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another" (I Cor. 12:24, 25, NKJV). This could not be possibly said of the various religious organizations professing to be Christians for they espouse varied and differing teachings, beliefs and practices, belying the claim that they compose the one body of Christ or the Church of Christ.

FACTIONALISM AND DENOMINATIONALISM

Adherents of the Protestant faith claim that they are true believers in Christ and that they belong to Him. Although they do not subscribe to the church membership as requisites to the attainment of salvation, surprisingly they are themselves affiliated with different Protestant churches. In fact, as early as the mid-80's, it was reported by a Protestant writer that there were already "20,800 denominations in the world, supplemented by more than 15,000 distinct parachurch agencies" (Moody Monthly, Sept. 1984, p. 28). The same writer observed that this "division within the Church arose from unfaithfulness to Christ ... has marred the body of Christ," stating further that "today's churches bear little resemblance to the first-century model" (Ibid.). Indeed, the writer couldn't have put it better, for the true Church of Christ, of which the true believers are members, is not characterized by divisions and factions. The Apostle James emphasized to the true believers in the first century:

"But if you have bitter envying among you or strife in your hearts, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. This wisdom does not come from above, but it is earthly, sensual, devilish. For wherever envy and strife are, there is confusion and every sort of evil." (James 3:14-16, Lamsa Translation)

Clearly, division or strife, which is so characteristic of the Protestant faith, does not belong to God and to Christ. The Protestant churches, with all these divisions and denominations in their midst, are a far cry from the first-century Church of Christ. As such they are not the true believers and they could not have made up the body of Christ or the true Church of Christ.

THE WILL OF THE FATHER

Why could not just people be true believers even if they serve Christ and recognize Him as their Lord and Savior, as we see many people are claiming to be doing nowadays and because of this, they think that they already belong to Christ and will attain salvation? The Lord Jesus explains the reason why when He testifies:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matt. 7:21-23, NKJV)

There is no doubt that the people being mentioned here by the Lord professes faith in Him and recognize Him as their Lord. They even have proofs of their vaunted faith in the Lord through the works of miracles that they have done in His name. Indeed, by their own standard, they could have easily passed themselves off as true believers in Christ and are entitled entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Sad to say, however, for Christ, they are not true believers, but false ones. In fact, instead of recognizing their efforts and even works of miracles in serving Him, Christ will reject them and will not save them. What is it that they didn't do, which is why they will be rejected and not be saved? Christ makes it very specific that only those who do the will of His Father will gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven, and those who did not, their services to Him will be in vain. What is this will of the Father concerning all men that if it is not done, profession of faith and the services rendered to Christ and to God will be useless? Apostle Paul enlightens us thus:

"And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." (Eph. 1:9-10, New International Version)

It is the will of the Father for all people to be brought together under one head who is Christ. How this is fulfilled, Apostle Paul further explains:

"And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be the head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" (Eph. 1:22-23, Ibid.).

The true believers in Christ have fulfilled the will of God, which is why they are members of Christ's body─the Church headed by Christ or the organization called the Church of Christ. Indeed, the importance of membership in this Church could not be overemphasized . Those who refuse to become members of this one religious body could not be true believers and will not be allowed entrance into the kingdom of heaven because they have not done the will of the Father in heaven.

THEY ALSO FOLLOW CHRIST

Besides fulfilling the will of the Father, the true believers in Christ ─the members of the Church of Christ─have also fulfilled or followed the words of Christ. The Lord Jesus emphasizes the importance of doing what He says to qualify as His true believers. The Bible relates this:

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples'." (John 8:31, Ibid.)

The true disciples and believers in Christ obey His teachings. They do not merely believe or profess faith in Christ, call on His name, and recognize Him as their Lord. Tin who do just that without following what He says are rebuked by the Lord:

"Why do you call of, 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46, Ibid.)

And what has Christ said which all true believers ought to follow in order for them to be saved? The gospel according to John records:

"So Jesus spoke again: In very truth I tell you, I am the door of the sheepfold. ... I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe." (John 10:7, 9, Revised English Bible)

To be safe or saved, one should obey these words of our Lord Jesus Christ to come into the sheepfold or flock in which those who have obeyed this bidding are found is the Church of Christ as testified to by the Apostle Paul:

"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed your overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood." (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Hence, the true believers in Christ, His sheep, are in only one sheepfold or flock which is the Church of Christ. It is of this one religious organization that those who have done the will of the Father and have obeyed Christ's  words are members. Those who are not in this flock have not followed Christ and are not among His sheep and therefore could not be true believers. Christ has this words for them to ponder on:

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:26-28, NKJV)

God's Message: December 2006/ Volume 58/ Number 12/ ISSN 0116-1636/ pp. 9-12