Featured How to deal with Church of Christ accusations against Baptist

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

Never mind.. I misunderstood

 

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.

 

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: