How to deal with Church of Christ accusations against Baptist

[salzer mtn]

You know after thinking about it I realize how foolish my thread is. Sure I don't agree with them but they are believers in Christ. What they think about Baptist should be the least of my worries when Islam is killing people and sending people to hell by the millions. The Mormons are giving people a book containing a false gospel of Christ and sending people to hell by the thousands. A Muslim can kill the body of a Christian but not his soul! But a Muslim and his evil book who is converting people to Islam is killing their souls and far worse than death of the body! They are my enemy. The COC and what they think is the least of my worries. Pardon me for my foolishness. If I need to prove anybody wrong let it be the atheist and the devil.

:godisgood:

The CoC preach another gospel and they believe in another Jesus. Matt 24:4-5 And Jesus said, take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 

[AresMan]

In discussing the thief on the cross with CoC they say that this happened before Christ was resurrected so the thief died under the law, not grace dispensation. They believe all other churches are denomination but them, they are the true Church of Christ. They believe everyone else regardless of whether they go to denominational churches or not are going to hell.

But, what's weird about that common argument from CoC's is that they are saying there was more grace available for someone under the law on a deathbed than for someone under grace.

 

[Allan]

Oh, I know what his answer will be. Not water baptized, not saved.

That's not my question. The question is, is he saved by his repentance and faith, regardless of whether he believes baptism completes it?

Paul is pretty clear in Galatians, there is only one gospel. A gospel that has Christ AND (anything else).. is absolutely false.

If Christ is the focus of their salvation then baptism, nor works for that matter (as both do the EXACT same thing), will enter into the equation. However Paul was having issues with these Judizers who stated it was not Christ's work alone that saved.. and Paul stated that if anyone (angel or apostle) brings to you some other gospel than 'by grace, through faith", they are condemned or damned (Gal 1:8).

I don't understand why we try to water down the gospel message to include everyone who names the name of Jesus.. yet Jesus Himself states that many, in that day, will say to me "Lord Lord" (or You are my Lord/God) and He will say to them I have never, no not ever, known you. Depart from me...

There are only 2 types of gospels in the world. The true gospel of Grace by faith.. and the worlds so-called gospel of salvation by works. Either it is fully about the work of Christ alone or one is not trusting in Christ.

That is my 2 cents worth.. otherwise you would have to acknowledge that all people who believe in Jesus to save (no matter how small or great His work on the Cross fulfilled) are saved - which includes Mormons, JW's, CoC, Catholics (Roman, Orthodox, Coptic), Seventh Day Adventists, and most any other kind of cult out there that states to any degree that Jesus saves you.

 

[Berean]

I have been following this thread with a great deal of interest because of resent happenings in relation to my best friend and I definitely mean friend (one if you have 2 or 3 relationships like this you are blessed) nuff said on this.
About three weeks ago I got a call from Mark (not his real name) and he asked if I had a minute to talk and being retired and as I like to talk I said sure.
A little background on Mark. A third generation, at least of the COC and a graduate of a highly recognizable COC university he came to work with me in the mid seventies He was married and while working with me he they had two children, 2 boys. We developed a relationship that to this days is one of my many treasures. We fished together, played golf and basketball together although we were both active in our individual churches me as a member of a Baptist and he an Elder in the COC. As a much brighter young man then average he moved on by being promoted to another assignment in the Midwest and eventually in New Jersey with a brief stop in Seattle as Human Resource Manager where he retired and now resides.
For 52 years he never questioned the COC doctrine After moving to the North East he had some political issues with his church and began to do some scripture searching and to shortened this he along with his wife two sons and their wives and five grand children are today members of a Baptist Church where he is as active as he was in the COC.
What he wanted to discuss was the fact that his relationship with his parents had been severely damaged to the extent that his father had told him that "He was going to Hell because he had left the Faith."
He shared some of the arguments supporting his decision rebuking the doctrine of regenerative baptism and I have never seen such incite into the Scriptures. You would think he was a graduate of Southwest.
On visits to his parents he is not permitted to discuss his church but his parents do theirs freely.

 

[Yeshua1]

Paul is pretty clear in Galatians, there is only one gospel. A gospel that has Christ AND (anything else).. is absolutely false.

If Christ is the focus of their salvation then baptism, nor works for that matter (as both do the EXACT same thing), will enter into the equation. However Paul was having issues with these Judizers who stated it was not Christ's work alone that saved.. and Paul stated that if anyone (angel or apostle) brings to you some other gospel than 'by grace, through faith", they are condemned or damned (Gal 1:8).

I don't understand why we try to water down the gospel message to include everyone who names the name of Jesus.. yet Jesus Himself states that many, in that day, will say to me "Lord Lord" (or You are my Lord/God) and He will say to them I have never, no not ever, known you. Depart from me...

There are only 2 types of gospels in the world. The true gospel of Grace by faith.. and the worlds so-called gospel of salvation by works. Either it is fully about the work of Christ alone or one is not trusting in Christ.

That is my 2 cents worth.. otherwise you would have to acknowledge that all people who believe in Jesus to save (no matter how small or great His work on the Cross fulfilled) are saved - which includes Mormons, JW's, CoC, Catholics (Roman, Orthodox, Coptic), Seventh Day Adventists, and most any other kind of cult out there that states to any degree that Jesus saves you.

Good post!
Responding as first a calvinist:

Since its the Lord who elects sinners unto eternal life in Christ, based upon His will and purpose, so that person would be saved in even the C of C, as would a catholic, but holds to error and bad theology...

Arminian/non cal:

Placed faith into jesus to save me, and IF I really trusted in just Him to save me, would be C OF C with bad doctrines, IF I actually saw baptism as requirement, not saved!

 

[Allan]

Never mind.. I misunderstood

 

[JohnnyReb]

I have been following this thread with a great deal of interest because of resent happenings in relation to my best friend and I definitely mean friend (one if you have 2 or 3 relationships like this you are blessed) nuff said on this.
About three weeks ago I got a call from Mark (not his real name) and he asked if I had a minute to talk and being retired and as I like to talk I said sure.
A little background on Mark. A third generation, at least of the COC and a graduate of a highly recognizable COC university he came to work with me in the mid seventies He was married and while working with me he they had two children, 2 boys. We developed a relationship that to this days is one of my many treasures. We fished together, played golf and basketball together although we were both active in our individual churches me as a member of a Baptist and he an Elder in the COC. As a much brighter young man then average he moved on by being promoted to another assignment in the Midwest and eventually in New Jersey with a brief stop in Seattle as Human Resource Manager where he retired and now resides.
For 52 years he never questioned the COC doctrine After moving to the North East he had some political issues with his church and began to do some scripture searching and to shortened this he along with his wife two sons and their wives and five grand children are today members of a Baptist Church where he is as active as he was in the COC.
What he wanted to discuss was the fact that his relationship with his parents had been severely damaged to the extent that his father had told him that "He was going to Hell because he had left the Faith."
He shared some of the arguments supporting his decision rebuking the doctrine of regenerative baptism and I have never seen such incite into the Scriptures. You would think he was a graduate of Southwest.
On visits to his parents he is not permitted to discuss his church but his parents do theirs freely.

My father who is a CoC members always makes comments about me attending a man made church. Marks situation sounds a little harsher but sounds believable from my experience with CoC members

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

... I have been approached many times by them trying to tell me they are the ONLY true church.

I've had this happen.

I tell them, "Oh, really? Well, won't you be surprised when we see each other in heaven, then?" And move on.

 

[Palatka51]

Let's stir the pot a little.

I have several Church of Christ friends and relatives. If you ask them what is required for salvation, they will of course say, Repent, trust Christ, and obey him by being baptized.

But. Once he has repented and trusted Christ, is he now saved regardless of what else he thinks he must do? Even though he may believe that baptism finishes the process, does it make any difference what he thinks?

He has repented. He has trusted Christ. Even though he may think that's not enough, hasn't he at that point done exactly what the scriptures say? Is that enough for God?

What do you think?

Please forgive me if this has been said already but according to many relationships I have with those in the COC, after repentance, trusting Christ then baptism, one must take of the communion, which is offered at every service. If you don't or miss any opportunity to take of the Lord's supper, you are lost and must redo it all again. This sounds a lot like Catholicism to me. :BangHead: