Saved by Jesus Outside the Church?

As a writer of religious articles I from time to time get people who comment on what I have written. One
comment that is becoming somewhat common after two and a half years of writing is the idea expressed
that organized religion (the church) has nothing to do with salvation. All that matters it is claimed is
whether or not one has a personal relationship with Jesus.

I do not know where this "personal relationship with Jesus" language came from for if you type in the
phrase in any online Bible concordance you will not get a single return for the phrase is manmade and not
found in scripture. I am not fond of terminology that cannot be found in scripture. Why not express
biblical concepts in biblical language? Why not use language like "faith in Christ," "love of God," and
other scriptural language one can readily pop up in a Bible concordance search?

All of that aside I want to deal with the idea that one can develop this relationship with Jesus on a
personal level that will save him outside the church. If a person means they can be saved outside the
Catholic Church I completely agree. If they are saying they can be saved outside of a denominational
church I again completely agree. If, however, they are saying they can be saved outside the church one
reads about in the Bible and outside of any association whatsoever with other Christians in an organized
manner (an organized congregation) when such association is possible (that is such congregations exist in
the area where one lives) I disagree.

Here is the problem with this whole concept men have that salvation is possible outside the church – God
adds to the church every man who is saved. All the saved are in the church and none outside it. That
does not mean that every man in the church is saved for backsliding into apostasy, unfaithfulness, and
such like enter into the equation. The Bible does not teach once saved always saved. That being said if
you find a saved man he is going to be found in the church and not outside it.

Scripture is what counts, not what a man says, so what does scripture say? It says that "the Lord added to
the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:38 NKJV) This is the church of which Jesus said,
"I will build my church" (NKJV) in Matt. 16:18. If you are saved you cannot help but be in the church
for the Lord does the adding at the time one obeys the gospel and he adds only the saved and none who
are not saved. You do not join the church, though many have the misconception they do, but if you obey
the gospel in all sincerity of heart the Lord adds you to his church. This adding is to the church universal
which consists of all true Christians all over the world wherever they are found and consists both of the
living and of those now dead but who died as faithful Christians.

Paul, in writing to Timothy, speaks of "the house of God, which is the church of the living God." (1 Tim.
3:15 NKJV) He told Timothy he was writing "so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself
in the house of God, which is the church of the living God" (1 Tim. 3:15) thus he expected and knew
Timothy to be in that house of God (the church) and if you will read the whole book of 1 Timothy you
will readily see he was not just talking about the universal church. He was instructing Timothy how to
conduct himself in an actual organized entity (a church, a congregation) existing on earth. In that entity
(an organized church) he gives Timothy instructions on how bishops (or elders, one and the same) and
deacons are to be appointed (qualifications) and how widows are to be provided for so that the "the
church" be not burdened unnecessarily (1 Tim. 5:16 NKJV), etc. The point being that we are talking
about the necessity of a congregation and organized religion in what Paul wrote to Timothy.
If you desire to be saved by the blood of Jesus but stay out of the church you are out of luck. In Acts
20:17 Paul called for the elders of the church of Ephesus and then encouraged them in Acts 20:28 to
"shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood." (NKJV) This church had an
actual earthly existence in the city of Ephesus in an organized body of saints (Christians) over which
these elders were to shepherd. In the book of Ephesians Paul says "Christ also loved the church and gave
himself for it" (Eph. 5:25 NKJV) which is to say he died for it.

Let me ask you a question here. Could you have lived in the city of Ephesus as a resident back in those
days and been saved by "a personal relationship with Jesus" while not a member of the church there, the
church over which the elders were to oversee or shepherd? In his letter to the Ephesians Paul said to
them, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Eph. 1:7 NKJV) Who is
the "we" in that passage if not the church (the brethren) there? But, we know that the brethren there were
an organized body overseen by elders (Acts 20:28).

In Heb. 13:7 we read, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your
souls, as those who must give account." (NKJV – see also Heb. 13:7, 24) Who are these men? It is the
same men whom Paul gave Timothy the qualifications to set them in the church as bishops (a bishop and
an elder are the same person in the New Testament). He said, in part, "If a man does not know how to
rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?" (1 Tim. 3:5 NKJV) What is the point?

It is this – Christians are to be in organized bodies (congregations) overseen by men Paul was speaking of
which the Bible calls elders, bishops, shepherds, and overseers (all one and the same referring to the same
men and the same work). How does the man who claims to be saved by "a personal relationship with
Jesus" separate and apart from an organized body of believers (a congregation) obey the injunction given
him to obey and be submissive (Heb. 13:7)? By refusing to join in with fellow disciples in such a body
he separates himself from them and disobeys God.

The truth is every Christian is a living stone (see 1 Peter 2:5) in the spiritual house of God both in the
universal church and the church on the local level if he is living faithfully. The church is made of
individual members called by Peter "living stones" which he says "are being built up a spiritual house, a
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5
NKJV)

There was no such thing in the New Testament as a Christian living separate and apart from a local
congregation when such a congregation existed. Certainly, the apostles traveled around along with other
evangelists and were not tied to a specific location but when they were in a locality and a congregation
was established there it is obvious they made themselves apart of it. One cannot read the New Testament
and deny that. They did not try and live off by themselves apart from the brethren and claim no
fellowship or association with them.

Look at the epistles. To whom are they addressed? When not to an individual was it not generally the
case that it was to a church in a particular locality? It is "to the church of God which is at Corinth" (1
Cor. 1:2 NKJV), "to the church of God which is at Corinth" (2 Cor. 1:1 NKJV), "to the churches of
Galatia" (Gal. 1:2 NKJV), "to the saints who are in Ephesus" (Eph. 1:1 NKJV), "to all the saints in Christ
Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Phil. 1:1 NKJV), "to the saints and faithful
brethren in Christ who are in Colosse" (Col. 1:2 NKJV), "to the church of the Thessalonians" (1 Thess.
1:1 NKJV), "to the church of the Thessalonians in God" (2 Thess. 1:1 NKJV).

Since one is not required, according to some, to be a member of a local congregation, an organized church
as it is often put, what does one do with the epistles written to these churches? Does the messages
contained therein not thus apply to us since we can be saved it is said by "a personal relationship with
Jesus" separate and apart from the church? Can we just toss these epistles away?

To whom did Jesus have John write to in Revelation chapters 2 and 3? Was it not to the angels of the 7
churches of Asia? The messages were meant for 7 churches. We can learn from them even today but at
the time they were specific to 7 congregations or churches. Read those two chapters. You will see some
churches were in pretty bad shape but Jesus was still interested in them. However, we are told today the
church doesn't matter. It mattered to Jesus so why does it not to you who believe all that matters is a
"personal relationship with Jesus?"

The church consists of brethren united in faith, worship, labor, and love. One of the great messages of the
New Testament is love for the brethren. How do you love the brethren when you want no part of them
for they are found in the church and you want no part of the church? How do you encourage them? How
do you worship with them? How do you help them when you won't even associate with them long
enough to know who they are or what their needs are?

It is a sin to try and be saved by a personal relationship with Jesus separate and apart from the church
(from the brethren). "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, … for if we sin
willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."
(Heb. 10:24-27 NKJV) One who thinks he has a personal relationship with Jesus while ignoring his
brethren and thus being disobedient to God's commands is self deceived.

It is mission impossible to be saved outside the church. Sardis was an example of a church where few
inside it were going to be saved (Rev. 3:4) but nonetheless all in Sardis who were going to be saved were
in the church there. Jesus "is the savior of the body" (Eph. 5:23 NKJV) and the body is the church (Eph.
1:22-23, Col. 1:18, 24). One is either in that which Jesus is going to save or he is not in it. It is that
simple, even black and white.

I want to close with this thought. I have no use for denominationalism nor the Catholic Church. I am not
advocating either. I have written quite a bit on denominationalism already. What I do advocate is a
return to New Testament Christianity and that can only be done through restoration. The New Testament
is our pattern, our blueprint, for what it takes to make one a Christian and what it takes to remain faithful.
The same is true of the New Testament as a pattern and blueprint for the church.

I know many do not believe in the concept of restoration. I would simply say to those people that to be
consistent they ought to never ever again use a blueprint or pattern for anything. Why? Because they
have just confessed that to them a pattern or blueprint is worthless.

There is nothing illogical in the concept of restoration. The problem is not in the concept. The problem
is New Testament Christianity is a radical religion that places stringent demands upon man and few want
to be bound by its cords. Men would rather do it their way than God's way. If we lived in Noah's time
and place we would tell God we will build the boat as long as we do not have to use your pattern.

As for me I will live and finish my life out in a conservative church of Christ, one which believes in
restoration, using the pattern of the New Testament and be content therein. That is not to say all churches
of Christ are what they ought to be but neither were they in Rev. 2 and 3. Neither was the church at
Corinth. But, the concept is right. It is the right idea. There is a pattern God has given and we ought to
try and live by it both as individuals and as organized congregations.