BY HUGH FULFORD ─ From time to time, I hear or read where some brother in Christ declares that the only thing necessary for extending Christian fellowship to others and recognizing them as God’s children is for them to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only Savior of mankind. According to them, everything beyond that basic belief is a matter of understanding, and if one does not understand correctly or apply correctly any number of things, that person will still be approved of God. It is asserted that people may see things in different ways and apply them in different ways and still be pleasing to the Lord.
I understand that all of us fail in some way to fully comprehend some things in scripture. The apostle Peter said as much (II Peter 3:14-16). But let us not be among the “untaught and unstable” who twist the Scriptures “to [our] own destruction.” I also understand that we all sin (I John 1:8-10). I know that neither I nor anyone else will be saved eternally except by the grace and mercy of God (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). And I know that when we do all that is commanded of us we are still unprofitable servants, and have only done what it was “our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). I believe that Abraham was correct when in pleading for God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah he asked the rhetorical question, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). But I have some questions about the notion that in order for people to have fellowship with each other religiously all they have to do is to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our only way to Him.
My first question: Suppose an exceptionally good and highly moral man believes in God but does not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Suppose, however, that he is studying the matter and is weighing the evidence and leaning toward faith in Christ. Can Christian fellowship be extended to him, even though he has not yet come to faith in Christ? What will happen to him if he dies before coming to faith in Christ, though he was close to doing so? Does John 8:24 have any bearing on this question?
My second question: Suppose an exceptionally good and highly moral man does not believe in God. He is studying the matter and is coming closer and closer to believing in God, but he has not yet arrived at faith in God. Can Christian fellowship be extended to him? What will happen to him if he dies before coming to faith in God, even though he was perhaps on his way to doing so? Does Hebrews 11:6 have any bearing on this question?
My third question: Suppose an exceptionally good and highly moral man believes in both the one true God of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ as His Son but does not believe that baptism/immersion is essential to salvation. He is studying the matter, but he is not yet convinced of the need to be baptized/immersed. Can Christian fellowship be extended to him? What will happen to him if he dies before coming to understand the necessity of baptism? Do John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:1-6; I Peter 3:21 have any bearing on this question?
My last question: At what point do we stop reducing the demands of scripture as to what a person must do to be in fellowship with God and in fellowship with God’s children? Who among men has the right to trim the terms of salvation (and therefore the terms of Christian fellowship) and make them less than what the Lord and His inspired apostles made them?
In no way is the above to be taken to mean that faith in God, faith in Christ as the Son of God, and baptism/immersion are the only requirements for salvation and fellowship with God. More may be required… and indeed is! But less than faith in God, faith in Christ as the Son of God, and baptism/immersion for the remission of sins does not meet the Bible demands of salvation and Christian fellowship. While it is not our responsibility to assume the place of God as judge, neither is it our responsibility to assume the place of God as editor and arbiter of those things necessary to being saved from sin and thus to being a Christian.
Brother Hugh writes an occasional ezine called “Hugh’s News & Views”. This article was sent out earlier today to his subscribers.
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