FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Question: How does one respond to the statement: "Churches don't save; Jesus saves"?"
(mod) |
(m) |
||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
It is true that Christ saves. As He explicitly stated in the Gospel of John, no man can come to the Father except by Him. Notwithstanding, the Bible and all other Scripture states that the salvation He offers is mediated through His Church (e.g., {{b|1|Timothy|3|2}}). | It is true that Christ saves. As He explicitly stated in the Gospel of John, no man can come to the Father except by Him. Notwithstanding, the Bible and all other Scripture states that the salvation He offers is mediated through His Church (e.g., {{b|1|Timothy|3|2}}). | ||
| − | Further, do note Matthew 16, where Christ states He would create His Church. The term in Greek is ''ekklesia'', which refers to an organized structure. | + | Further, do note Matthew 16, where Christ states He would create His Church. The term in Greek is ''ekklesia'', which refers to an organized structure, <ref>See, for example, Raymond E. Brown and John P. Meier, ''Antioch and Rome: New Testament Cradles of Catholic Christianity'' (Paulist Press, 1983). ISBN 0809125323.</ref> not a group of different denonominations who are part of "the Body of Christ," per the Evangelical Protestant perspective. <ref>For the Evangelical perspective, see Eric Svedsen, ''Evangelical Answers'' (Reformation Press, 1999). ISBN 0967084083.</ref> Christ's true Church is to be one body, one baptism, and one faith, as Scripture clearly shows ({{b||Ephesians|4|5}}). |
So, in summary—Yes, Christ saves, but such salvation is mediated through His Church and the ordinances therein at his decision and command. | So, in summary—Yes, Christ saves, but such salvation is mediated through His Church and the ordinances therein at his decision and command. | ||
| − | =={{Endnotes label}} | + | == == |
| − | + | {{Endnotes label}} | |
| − | + | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
{{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} | {{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} | ||
[[fr:Jesus Christ/Jesus saves, not a church]] | [[fr:Jesus Christ/Jesus saves, not a church]] | ||
Revision as of 23:42, 9 June 2014
- REDIRECTTemplate:Test3
Jesus saves, not a church
Questions
How does one respond to the statement: "Churches don't save; Jesus saves", claiming that people either don't need to belong to a church to be saved or that there are many churches that will "save"
Answer
This approach is often taken by protestant Christians, probably because their claim to direct continuity with the early Christian church is tenuous, and they cannot easily claim to possess the priesthood or divine authority.
It is true that Christ saves. As He explicitly stated in the Gospel of John, no man can come to the Father except by Him. Notwithstanding, the Bible and all other Scripture states that the salvation He offers is mediated through His Church (e.g., 1 Timothy 3:2).
Further, do note Matthew 16, where Christ states He would create His Church. The term in Greek is ekklesia, which refers to an organized structure, [1] not a group of different denonominations who are part of "the Body of Christ," per the Evangelical Protestant perspective. [2] Christ's true Church is to be one body, one baptism, and one faith, as Scripture clearly shows (Ephesians 4:5).
So, in summary—Yes, Christ saves, but such salvation is mediated through His Church and the ordinances therein at his decision and command.
Notes