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Entering in Christ sets man free from sins, for Christ assured those who entered in Him of salvation.
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, all men are guilty of sin except the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:12; I Pet. 2:21–22). The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23) and the full payment is the second death—punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). Since all sinned, all are condemned to suffer the eternal punishment. It is therefore important to know how man will be redeemed and be saved from the second death. Needless to say, all need to be forgiven of their sins to be saved.
In the light of the Scriptures, man can be forgiven of sins only through the shedding of the blood of Christ:
“Because nearly everything, according to the law, is purified with the blood: and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb. 9:22 Lamsa Translation)
Clearly, the beneficiaries of Christ’s redemptive blood are the ones who shall be saved:
“… having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom. 5:9–10 New King James Version)
It then behooves man to make certain that he is among those who are redeemed with the blood of Christ. The Bible explicitly teaches where they are:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa)
There is only one Church that Christ purchased with His blood—the Church Of Christ. Hence, it is where those who received forgiveness and, thus, will be saved on the Day of Judgment can be found.
It is necessary for man to be in the Church Of Christ in order for him to be forgiven of his sins and receive salvation because it is God’s righteousness to salvation:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Cor. 5:21 nkjv)
God is love, but He is also fair and just. Though He wants people to be saved, salvation should be in accordance with His righteousness or justice. Christ, the One appointed by God to be the Redeemer, will not violate the righteousness or the law of God concerning the sinners—that a person will be put to death for his own sins (Deut. 24:16).
So how was Christ, Who is without sin, able to answer for the sins of other people without violating God’s law? Christ created in Himself “one new man” which is composed of the head, Who is Christ Himself, and the body, which is His Church (Eph. 2:15; 5:23).
As the head of the Church, His body, Christ was able to answer for its sins without violating God’s law. What would be against God’s law is if Christ were to pay for the sins of other churches or religious groups for they are not His body. The body of Christ cannot be composed of many and different churches with different faiths and beliefs. For Apostle Paul made it clear that the one body that is the true Church Of Christ, has one spirit, one faith, one baptism and one God, the Father (Eph. 4:4–6).
Christ further taught the importance of being in the Church Of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and attainment of salvation. He said that “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34 nkjv). But He also taught how to liberate man from that bondage. He said: “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 nkjv). What is that truth commanded by Christ that would save man from the penalty of sin? Christ said:
“… I am telling you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep. … I am the gate. Those who come in by me will be saved …” (John 10:7, 9 Good News Bible)
Entering in Christ sets man free from sins, for Christ assured those who entered in Him of salvation. Those who entered Christ are found in one flock—the Church Of Christ which He purchased with His blood (John 10:16; Acts 20:28 Lamsa). Therefore, to enter Christ is to become a member of the Church Of Christ. That is the only way for man’s sins to be forgiven. ❑
