Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
God adds to the body of Christ daily "such as should be saved". The Bible says (Acts 2:47): "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people, the Lord adding daily to the congregation such as should be saved." This is the way of Christ. He adds to his earthly family those who repent, and they are the ones chosen by God to be saved in the end from the damnation of eternal fire.
Strangely, many Christians in this generation add to their churches such as claim they already are saved. God said "should be saved"; many Christians say they "already are saved". What is going on here? How did these Christian teachers manage to twist the truth, that believers are saved at the end of their lives if they are faithful to Christ, to such an extent that they teach men to claim that they already are saved just because they believe in Jesus? What about obeying the commandments of God?
God has promised to save everyone who trusts in Christ if they obey Christ until the end (Mt. 24:12-13). Where then does this boldness come from that inspires so many Christians now to claim that they already have received the salvation that God has promised?
If you are added to the body of Christ by receiving the holy Ghost baptism, you should be saved, and you will be saved if you are faithful to Jesus. But many whom Jesus has added to his body will not be saved because they turn from God's commandments to serve again the lusts from which Christ had delivered them.
Peter describes these fallen believers thus:
"If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment given unto them. But it is happened to them according to the proverbs, 'The dog is turned to his own vomit again'" (2Pet. 2:20-22).
These poor, backslidden believers were truly added by God to the body of Christ, and because of that, they should be among those who will be saved from the coming wrath of God, but they will not be saved from that damnation unless they repent of their unfaithfulness and return to the right ways of God. They have become unfruitful branches in God's vineyard and, without a change in their lives, will be cut off and burned up with the wicked. Jesus said, "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered. And men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (Jn. 15:6).
"Added to the congregation and should be saved" as opposed to "joining a church and already saved". Those two phrases represent two completely different minds and come from two completely different spirits, one holy and one evil. Which mind do you have, and which spirit have you taken into your heart?