No Need of Salvation? - A Sampling of Websites Among churches of Christ

There was a time when nearly every Christian could share the gospel plan of salvation with anyone who would listen,  Not only that, numerous persons in every congregation were "at the ready" to study the Bible with anyone, anywhere, anytime.  Sadly, times may have changed.  For the last twenty years or so most every congregation has posted and maintained a website.  The website is a snapshot of one individual congregation of the churches of Christ (Romans 16.16) and is a reflection of the spiritual health and teaching found there.  

The other day, I viewed three websites of prominent "churches of Christ" (1) in three cities (2) that openly espouse Calvinist / Baptist error on the subject of salvation.  All three state without

equivocation that salvation comes to one without and prior to baptism.(3)  In other words, baptism is simply an "outward sign of an inward grace."  Disturbed, I began to wonder, "Just how prominent is this sectarian error among us?"  "How can we know?"  I needed a sample, a sample that everyone would agree that it was not random on my part.  Where would I find such an objective sample? I decided to list every congregation mentioned in the current issue of the Christian Chronicle for any reason.  Though my count may be off somewhat, I found 42 congregations mentioned by name.  I proceeded to look up the 42 congregations and discover for myself what kind of salvational message each one had on their respective websites.  I then grouped the 42 into 5 separate categories based upon what I discovered.  Here they are:

1. NO - No website
2. N/A - No salvational message of any kind
3. AMB - A salvational message written in ambiguous language that contains some Bible and some Calvinism.  These salvational messages seem to want to have in both ways, "Calvin and Christ"
4. BIB - A salvational message consistent with what the New Testament teaches.
5. BAP - A salvational message clearly Calvinist and clearly anti-biblical.

The results are not encouraging.  Of those 42 congregations:

• 11 congregations have a clearly articulated and biblical salvational message clearly stating that "baptism is for the remission of sins."  This is where the "good news" ends.
• 11 congregations have no websites whatsoever.
• 9 congregations have no salvational message of any kind.  In other words these 9 websites do not answer the question of the ages; "What must I do to be saved?"
• 9 congregations have a salvational message that contains "some Bible" and some "Calvinism."
• 2 congregations have a clearly articulated Baptist / Calvinist salvational message in clear contradiction with Scripture.

Here are the chilling conclusions:

• In this sample, only about 26% of all the congregations mentioned by name in the current (August, 2018) edition of the Christian Chronicle have communicated the gospel message on their websites.
• An equal amount of about 26% of the 42 congregations mentioned have no kind of website at all!
• Another approx. 21% of the 42 congregations mentioned have no salvational message whatsoever!
• Disturbingly, yet another approx. 21% of the mentioned congregations have an ambiguous salvational message, mixing Christ and Calvin.
• At least honestly, an approx. 5% of mentioned congregations openly admit their Baptist / Calvin error by publishing it on their website in a "salvational message."

What does this say about churches of Christ in America?  Can God be pleased when 75% of these "mentioned congregations" either have no website at all, have no salvational message at all, have mixed "Christ and Calvin" in a synchronistic Yahweh / Baal kind of way, or have apostated completely from the Truth by teaching the "doctrines of men?"

Simply, these say that each and every eldership must monitor and revamp their website to biblically answer the question of the ages; "What must I do to be saved?"  Each and every eldership must purge it's website of all Calvinist teaching.  Each and every congregation must make sure that no elder, no deacon, no preacher, no Bible school teacher, or anyone else openly articulates Calvinistic error.  God help us!

NOTES:

(1)  Though their salvational statements are consistent with the teachings of the Baptist Church and other "evangelical" sectarian bodies, these congregations continue to promote themselves as what they once were but are no longer.... "churches of Christ." 

(2) These 3 are: The Providence Road "church of Christ" in Charlotte, NC, the Williamsburg "church of Christ" in Williamsburg, VA, and the Madison "church of Christ" in Madison (Nashville), TN.  

(3) Here are the specific links to which I refer:

a. http://prcoc.org/new/new-life - "If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and      Savior, then your are ready to be baptized,  Just like a bride and groom show others their love for one another by a wedding ceremony, your baptism is your opportunity to show others that you trust in Christ and are now walking with Him,,, It is a pronouncement of belief.  It is like preaching a visual sermon.  It is a public way of saying to everyone that you have decided to give your life to Jesus Christ... Baptism doesn't make you a believer it shows that your already believe.  The Bible teaches that faith in Christ is the source of our salvation.  Baptism is the biblical response to saving faith.  It is the visible symbol of the commitment you make in your heart....Does water baptism save me?  No.  Scripture is abundantly clear that only Jesus saves (Acts 4.12).  Faith in His actions is the heart of our salvation.  The work of salvation is a finished work by Christ on the cross (Hebrews 9.23 - 28; 10.10 - 14).  Baptism has no redemptive powers of it's own.  There is nothing special about the water in the river, pond or baptistery."

b. https://www.williamsburgcoc.org/baptism  - A very similar statement to Providence Road's appears on the Williamsburg website as you can see by the link.

c. http://www.madisonchurchtn.org/what-we-believe/- "SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH - We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins.  (Ephesians 2.8 - 9; Hebrews 9.12, 22; Romans 5.11).  WATER BAPTISM - We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the command of Christ. (Matthew 28.19; Acts 2.37 - 39; 19.1 - 6).

NOTE: Public Domain Image of John Calvin Courtesy of Wikipedia.  "Church of Christ" photograph courtesy of the Archdale church of Christ, Charlotte, NC.

More Blessed than the Apostles? - In One Way...YES!

Audio and Outline of a Sermon Rendered 3 June 2018, Morning Service, Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 by Russell H McCullough:

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/sounds-from-sunday-morning-5

Text: Luke 1.26 - 33; John 20.24 – 31
Thesis: We are more blessed than the apostles because we have only HEARD the testimony, never seeing it.
Introduction – Why does no one doubt the veracity of the existence of any other historical figure OTHER than Christ Jesus? 
• Who ever heard; “I would believe in the existence of Julius Caesar if only I could have seen him.”
• Who ever heard; “I would believe in the existence of Abraham Lincoln if only if I could have seen him.”
• Who ever heard: “I would believe in the existence of the law of gravity if only I can see it.”
• Today, people have more faith in the words of Charles Darwin than they do in the words of Jesus Christ!
• NO ONE here today has ever seen any of these mentioned.
1. We know of these and believe in their existence because of the testimony of the spoken word of 3rd parties.
a. People simply believe some 3rd parties and dismiss others.

I – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in angels?

a. Hearing is believing
b. Admiral Cochrane
• “Besides 9/11, the only other attack by an outside force on Washington, D.C. was in 1814 when Adm. George Cockburn of the British Royal Navy, literally walked into the White House, at Pres. James Madison’s dinner, drank his wine, and then sat fire to the place.”  DID YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEARD OR NOT?

II – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in the virgin pregnancy?

a. Hearing is believing
b. Edwin Booth
• “Months before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert fell from a train platform in Jersey City.  The hand that pulled him to safety belonged to Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth (Lincoln’s killer).”  DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEARD OR NOT?

III – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in the eternal reign?

a. Hearing is believing
b. The Polish impostor
• “After a Polish impostor who claimed the throne of Russia was found out, he was executed, burned and had his ashes shot out of a cannon back toward Poland.”  DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU JUST HEARD OR NOT?

CONCLUSION:  People believe what they want to believe without evidence and reject what they want to reject regardless of evidence!

 “The Gospel Call” – Acts 2.38 -

NOTE: Illustrations courtesy of “WTF Fun Facts”

Believing Prayer

In the very biblical mode of prayer where we approach our Holy God, here is a prayer that emulates just how Christ taught us to pray.  It is thankful, hopeful, content, joyful, doctrinal and edifying to all!

http://believingprayer.com/you-are-god/

1984 - Shall I be Connected or Disconnected?

LISTEN! right now on SOUNDCLOUD!

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/sermon-pm-020418-1984-romans-831-acoc-russ-mccullough

One can go to hell by oneself but Heaven is a group destination!  It's "if God is for us, who can be against us?" ...NOT...  "if God is for me, who can be against me?"

Ephesians 2.11 - 12 - "From No Hope, to Near, to Reconciliation!"

LISTEN! to the synopsis of this lesson on "SoundCloud!"

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/ephesians-211-22-lesson-6-31-january-2018-acoc-teacher-russ-m-ccullough

Ephesians

Paul’s Greatest Church Planting Success

 31 January 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson #6 – Ephesians 2.11 – 22

1.     What is the “therefore” there for?

2.     The Gentiles were in the past called what?

3.     Who were they called that by?

4.     What 3 key words describe the previous conditions of the Gentiles?

a.      S______________   (Without) (Lit. “A___ a S__________”) (Romans 3.21;  3.28;  4.6) 

b.     A______________ (Aliens) (Lit. “E___________, to be a non-P________________.”)  (The word is used only one other time in Hebrews 11.4)

c.      S______________ (Strangers)  (Lit. “F_____________, without a S______________ in”)  (I Timothy 5.10;  Hebrews 11.13;  13.2)

5.     What hope did the Gentiles have prior to Christ?

6.     How does Paul describe the current condition of the Gentile now in Christ Jesus?

7.     Just what was it that brought us “near?”

8.     What is the purpose of this blood?  (Matthew 26.28)

9.     How is this purpose applied?  (Acts 2.38)

10. For He Himself (Christ) is our what?

11. In this context, “peace” is best understood as the “Messiah’s Peace” or the W___________ of our S_______________  (Romans 2.10;  3.17;  5.1)

12. What metaphor does Paul use to describe the new status of the Gentile Christian?

13. Christ did this by abolishing what?

14. What plan did God have to bring about this peace, this “Messiah’s salvation?”

15. How did God plan to kill the former hostility between the parties?

16. “Reconcile” means to “B____________ back a former state of H______________.”

17. How was this message of reconciliation communicated?

18. Who are the “far off” and the “near?”

19. How is this concept often stated in the New Testament?

20. Vs. 18 describes what great doctrine?

21. What is the new description of the Gentile Christian?

22. In the New Testament, “household” is a synonym for what?

23. What is the foundation of the church of Christ?

24. That foundation rests upon what?

25. How is this foundation stated in Acts 2.42?

26. Upon what does the entire structure grow upon?

27. Who is the assembler of this structure?

28. What is the numerous building material of this structure?

29. Who will live in this structure?         

ANSWER GRID

1.     “Not of your own doing, it is a gift of God…”

2.     The un-circumcision

3.     The circumcised

4.     Separated – “At a space”

Alienated – “Estranged, participants”

Strangers – “Foreigner, without a share in”

5.     None

6.     Near

7.     The blood of Christ

8.     The remission or forgiveness of sins

9.     In water baptism

10. Peace

11. The way of our salvation

12. The dividing wall / fence at the Temple that separated the Gentiles from the Court of the Women with death to any who trespassed it.

13. The Law of Commandments and Ordinances

14. By creating in Himself one new man in the place of two.

15. He would reconcile them.

16. Bring, Harmony

17. Peaching

18. The Gentiles and the Jews

19. “To the Jew first and also to the Greek”

20. The Trinity

21. “Fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”

22. The family

23. The apostles and prophets

24. The chief cornerstone, Jesus Chris

25. The Apostles Doctrine

26. Christ, the chief cornerstone

27. The Holy Spirit

28. Individual Christians

29. God Himself!

The Character of Mary

LISTEN! to "The Character of Mary" on SOUNDCLOUD!

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/sunday-morning-012818-luke-1-acoc-the-character-of-mary-russ-mcculloughj

“The Character of Mary”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Text: 

Luke 1.26 - 28

Thesis: Mary, though a sinner, has many Godly character qualities we would do well to emulate AND her character was not sufficient for her own salvation.

Introduction:

1.      My Mother once told me to “have character, don’t be one.”

2.    The Oxford Dictionary defines character as those “mental and moral qualities that define an individual.”

3.     Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines character as; “a mark by cutting or engraving, as on stone, metal, or other hard material...”   “A mark or figure made by stamping or impression, as on coins...”   “The peculiar qualities that distinguish (one person) from others.”

4.    Share quotes 1 through 5

5.     Did Mary’s good character make her favorable?

6.    Does my good character make me favorable?

Lawful

              Moral

                           Troubled

                                                Discerning

                                                                     Fearful

(“endued with Grace”) Ephesians 2.5, 8, 14 -18         FAVORABLE

                                                                     Great

                                                Son of God

                           Reign on David’s Throne

              Reign over Jacob forever

Eternal Kingdom

CONCLUSION:  

·       We find the Grace of God the same way Mary did – Concession, surrender, submission, obedience, contrition, and brokenness.

·       All the good character of all the good people of all time is not sufficient to warrant out salvation.

The Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context: Favor, Grace, and Obedience CANNOT be separated!

The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today – “The question is not; “Do I know Jesus?”  The question is; “Does JESUS know me?”  

The question right now

The question when you pull out of the parking lot

The question at 5:30 this evening

The question tonight at bedtime

The question when you get up in the morning

The question when you clock in to work in the morning

The question when you clock out tomorrow evening

The question every day and in every circumstance

Write it on your mirror in your bathroom; “Does Jesus know me?”

Finding grace is not the same as surrendering to grace.  The Rich Young Ruler found grace and he walked away from grace.

“The Gospel Call”

Find favor,

be endued with Grace,

obey the Gospel! 

Whatever you do today, DON’T walk away from God’s Favor.

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org 

gospelcall.blogspot.com - 

Date:  28 January 2018

Our Hope - The Most REAL Thing in the Universe!

LISTEN on SOUNDCLOUD!  Here's the link:

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/our-hope-acoc-evening-sermon-russ-mccullough-21-january-2018

Hope is NOT what you feel when your favorite quarterback rears backs and slings a pass into the end zone as time expires during the play offs.

Hope is NOT a wish. It is not what you do jumping up and down with your fingers crossed and eyes closed.

Hope IS the very real expectation of an un-seen guarantee of eternal life with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit forever and ever AMEN!

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness!"  "I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' Name!"  "On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand..."

This sermon was preached on Lord's Day evening, 21 January 2018 at the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210.  Your speaker is Russ McCullough.  You and yours are always invited!

The Purpose of God - Ephesians 1.10 - 14 - 10 January 2018

LISTEN! to a short summary of this class on SOUNDCLOUD!  https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/ephesians-110-14-10-january-2018-voice-180110

Ephesians

Paul’s Greatest Church Planting Success

 10 January 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson #3 – Ephesians 1.11 - 14

1.     In whom do we receive what?

2.     Is predestination spoken here in the singular or the plural?

3.     This is according to whose purpose?

4.     Who is doing the work here?

5.     How is the truth conveyed?

6.     The gospel is linked to what?

7.     With what are we sealed?

8.     When and how are we thus sealed?

9.     This seal is also what regarding our inheritance?

10. Before we go further, just what is the PURPOSE God?

11.  The word translated “purpose” in Ephesians 1.11 is from the Greek word “P_______________” which according to Strong’s means; “A setting F____________, P_______________, I________________  (specifically the S___________________) as E______________ before God.”

12.  According to Thayer’s, the word “purpose” / P_______________ means; 1) “A setting F_________ of a thing, placing it in V____________, the S____________________; _____ Loaves of W________________ bread, corresponding to the _____ tribes of Israel, which loaves were O_____________ to God every S________________, and separated into ______ rows, lay for ______ days upon a table placed in the S_________________ or F____________  portion of the T______________ and afterwards of the T___________.  2) A P______________.”

13.  “P________________” is translated ________ times in the NT as “P_______________” and __________ times as “S_________________.”

a.      Romans 8.28 – 30 ____________________________________

1)    “Purpose” here is associated with F________________

2)    “Firstborn” is associated with “F_____________” in the OT

b.     Romans 9.8 – 13 ______________________________________

1)    “Purpose” is associated here with “E________________”

c.      Ephesians 1.10 – 14 ___________________________________

d.     Ephesians 3.7 – 11 _____________________________________

1)    “Purpose” here is associated with both the G____________ and God’s G______________

e.      II Timothy 1.8 – 14 _____________________________________

1)    “Purpose” here, again, is associated with G______________

f.       II Timothy 3.1- 16 ______________________________________

1)    “Purpose” here is associated with the S______________

g.     Hebrews 9.1 - 2 _______________________________________

1)    “Shewbread” is also referred to as the B___________ of the P______________.

2)    Leviticus 24.5 – 9 _________________________________

h.     Matthew 12.4 __________________________________________

i.       Matthew 2.26 _________________________________________

j.       Luke 6.4 ______________________________________________

14.  Jesus refers to Himself as the “B______________ of L_________”

a.      John 6.35 – 40 ____________________________________________

b.     John 6.49 – 51 ____________________________________________

c.      Luke 22.19 ______________________________________________

15. The “Bread of the Presence” was W____________ on the Day of P______________ which was __________ days after P_______________.

a.      Leviticus 23.15 – 21

CONCLUSION:

          The purpose of God is to be _________________ with man in C__________ who is the B_____________ of L____________.  The shadow of the P_____________ is the B__________of  the P______________, or the S________________ which was offered to God on the Day of ________________.  The reality of the P_________________ was given by God to man on the D_______ of P________________ in the form of B_____________ into C______________ for the R_______________ of sins and then to receive the G__________ of the Holy Spirit finalizing the P______________ of God with man, reconciling man to H_________________.  We memorialize His Presence in the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day.  I Corinthians 11.23 – 34

“…the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my Body which is broken for you.  Do this in remembrance of Me.”

ANSWERS

1. Him, inheritence
2. Plural
3. "Him who works all things"
4. God
5. Hearing
6. Salvation
7. The Holy Spirit
8. At our baptism into the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins per Acts 2.38
9. Guarantee / Earnest / Deposit / 
10. Write down what you believe to be God's purpose subject to further study
11. Prothesis, forth, proposal, intention, shew-bread, exposed
12. Prothesis, forth, view, shew-bread, 12, wheaten, 12, offered, Sabbath, 2, 7, sanctuary, front, tabernacle, temple
13. Prothesis, 6, purpose, 4, shew-bread
              a.1. first born
              a. 2. first fruits
              b. 1. election (plural as God is no respecter of persons)
              d. 1. Grace, gift
              e.1. Grace
              f.1. Scripture, Word, Logos, Christ
              g.1. Bread of the Presence
14. Bread of Life
15. Waved, Pentecost, 50, Passover
Conclusion:
Present, Christ, Bread, Life, Presence, Bread, Presence, shew-bread, Pentecost, presence, Day, Pentecost, baptism, Christ, remission, Gift, presence, Himself