Tennessee Minister's Wife Charged With Murder SELMER, Tenn. (AP)

GRACE: “A well-respected and much beloved minister in the Church of Christ, Selmer, Tennessee, gunned down in his own home. His wife, according to many reports, has confessed to police. They say whodunnit is not the issue, its why she did it. That is the question.”

“I want to go to pastor Tom Ruhkala, joining us tonight, a special guest, a Baptist minister. I`ve been researching the Church of Christ. I don`t know that much about it. What can you tell me?”

PASTOR TOM RUHKALA, BAPTIST PASTOR: “Well, the Church of Christ is a relatively new church. It was started about 150 years ago by Alexander Campbell. And its, unfortunately, a very legalistic sect, and they tend to use methods of intimidation and pressure tactics. They claim that they are the only ones going to heaven, and all other people are condemned to hell. So in case…”

GRACE: “Uh-oh, I’m in trouble. But I already knew that.”

(Laughter)

GRACE: “Now, wait a minute. What more can you tell me?”

RUKALA: “Well, they claim that if you`re not baptized by one of their ministers, that you`re doomed to hell, even if you`re a believer in Jesus Christ, which, of course, breaks completely from the traditional Christian view that all those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved because we`re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. For the Church of Christ folks, that`s not enough. You have to be a member of their narrow sect. It`s a very exclusive group. And if you`re not a member of their sect, you`re condemned.”

Ruhkala’s Rantings

Church of Christ – A New Church

Started by Alexander Campbell

Legalistic, Narrow Sect

Use Intimidation & Pressure Tactics

Must Be Baptized By A Minister of the Church of Christ

Only Ones Going To Heaven

Break from Traditional View on Salvation

Human Reasoning

• Don’t have to be a member of any

church to be saved.

• Join one that suits you & your

lifestyle.

• Too narrow a view to believe there is

only ONE RIGHT WAY in religion.

• Join the Church of YOUR Choice!

God Must Answer

Jeremiah 10

23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Proverbs 14

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Only God Can Answer

1 Corinthians 2 9 But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor

have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Only God Can Answer

Ephesians 3

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets

Only God Can Answer

Isaiah 55

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 8

20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Church of Christ – A New Church?

Matthew 16

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Romans 16

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Church of Christ – A New Church?

Acts 20

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Time Place Founder Church

Pentecost Jerusalem Christ Church of Christ

606 A.D. Rome, Italy Boniface III Roman Catholic

1520 Germany Martin Luther Lutheran

1534 England King Henry VIII Church of England

1536 Switzerland John Calvin Presbyterian

1607 Holland John Smythe Baptist

1739 England John Wesley Methodist

1830 United States Joseph Smith Latter Day Saints

1830 United States William Miller 7th Day Adventists

1866 United States Mary Baker Eddy Christian Scientist

1872 United States Charles Russell Jehovah Witnesses

Church of Christ – A New Church?

Started by Alexander Campbell

Christ taught me to believe – Jn. 8:24

Christ taught me to repent – Lk. 13:3

Christ taught me to confess – Matt. 10:32

Christ taught me to be baptized – Mk. 16:16

Apostles taught:

Faith – Acts 16:31

Repentance – Acts 17:30-31

Confession – Rom. 10:10

Baptism – Acts 2:38

If I:

•Confess my faith in Christ

•Repent of my sins

•And am baptized for the remission of sins

Am I obeying Christ or Alexander Campbell?

Started by Alexander Campbell

Acts 11

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Acts 26

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

1 Peter 4

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

Christ Built the Church NOT Alexander Campbell

Christ Built the Church – Matt. 16:18

Christ Purchased the Church – Acts 20:28

Christ Adds the Saved to His Church – Acts 2:47

Christ is the Savior of His Body – Eph. 5:23

We are Baptized into the Body – 1 Cor. 12:13

We are Baptized into Christ – Gal. 3:27

Salvation is In Christ – 2 Tim. 2:10

Redeemed: Translated into Christ’s Kingdom –

Col. 1:13-14

Legalistic, Narrow Sect?

Matthew 7

21 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Luke 6

46 But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and do not do the things which I say?

John 12 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My

words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Legalistic, Narrow Sect?

Matthew 23

23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Colossians 3

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Would Mr. Ruhkala tell us which command of Jesus is unimportant, or which command of Jesus can we cast aside and not obey?

Intimidation & Pressure TacticsActs 2

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them,

saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

2 Corinthians 5

11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade

men…

Acts 24

25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and

the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go

away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for

you.”

Cross – Drawing Power

John 12

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

2 Corinthians 5

14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;

15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Baptized by Minister of Church

Mark 16

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 8

38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Baptism Stands Between The Sinner And:

SINNER

BAPTISM

•New Birth – Jn. 3:5

•Salvation – Mk. 16:16

•Remission of Sins – Acts 2:38

•Sins Blotted Out – Acts 3:19

•Sins Washed Away – Acts 22:16

•Fellowship With Christ – Rom. 6:3-4

•The Church – 1 Cor. 12:13

•Answer of A Good Conscience – 1 Pet. 3:21

Examples of Conversion

Preaching Believed Repented Confessed Baptized Saved

Pentecost

Acts 2:14-41

Repented

V. 37-38

Baptized

V. 38:41

Remission of Sins

V. 38-47

Samaria

Acts 8:5-13

Believed

V. 12

Baptized

V. 12-13

Eunuch

Acts 8:35-39

Believed

V. 36-37

Baptized

V. 38

Rejoiced

V. 39

Saul

Acts 9:17-18

Baptized

V. 18

Sins Washed Away

Acts 22:16

Cornelius

Acts 10:34-48

Believed

V. 43

Baptized

V. 48

Remission of Sins

V. 43

The Jailor

Acts 16:30-33

Believed

V. 31

Washed Stripes

Baptized

V. 33

Lydia

Acts 16:13

Attended

V. 14

Baptized

V. 15

Corinthians

Acts 18:8

Believed

V. 8

Baptized

V. 8

Rom. 10:14-17 Heb. 11:6 Lk. 13:3 Rom. 10:10 Gal. 3:27 2 Tim. 2:10

“It is most likely that in the apostolic age when there was but ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,’ and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense baptism was the door into the church. Now it is different...”

(Edward T. Hiscox, P. 22, 1960 edition, The Standard Manual For Baptist Churches).

Who Changed God’s Word?

Web site: Maranatha Baptist Church; Anchorage, Alaska,

that supports Mr. Ruhkala in his work:

“We believe that all the redeemed are kept by the power of God from the moment they first place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the salvation of God. Our position in Christ, being sealed by the Holy Spirit, is untouchable, a never-ending security.”

http://www.maranathabaptist-anchorage.org/

Eternal Security: Once Saved Always Saved

Web site: Trinity Baptist Church; Pasadena, CA, that supports Ruhkala in his work:

“We believe salvation is by the sovereign grace of God; that it has been provided for all and is obtained by grace through faith in the all sufficient sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe when the righteousness of God in Christ has been imputed good works and perseverance are produced.”

(http://www.trinitybaptistpasadena.org/confession.htm)

Eternal Security: Once Saved Always Saved

Web site: Grandview Park Baptist Church; Des Moines, Iowa, that supports Mr. Ruhkala in his work:

“WE BELIEVE...that in the new birth...that the new creation is brought about by our sovereign God in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.

“WE BELIEVE that all who are truly born again are eternally kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.”

(http://www.grandviewparkbaptist.org/about_doctrine.asp)

Eternal Security: Once Saved Always Saved

Eternal Security: What Saith God?

Galatians 5

4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to

be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

1 Corinthians 10

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

James 5

19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and

someone turns him back,

20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his

way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Eternal Security: What Saith God?

2 Peter 2 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Only Ones Going To Heaven

Saved Only In ChristActs 4

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

John 14

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Only Ones Going To Heaven

All Spiritual Blessings In ChristEphesians 1

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Only Ones Going To Heaven

To Be In Christ = Being In His Church

Blood takes away sin – Eph. 1:7

Blood purchased church – Acts 20:28

Redeemed translated into kingdom – Col.

1:13-14

Baptized into church – 1 Cor. 12:13

Baptized into Christ – Gal. 3:27

Saved are added to church – Acts 2:38-47

Christ: Savior of the body – Eph. 5:23

Who’s Going To Heaven?

NO SALVATION OUTSIDE OF CHRIST

AND NO SALVATION

OUTSIDE OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH!

THOSE IN CHRIST, IN HIS CHURCH!

Break from Traditional View

Matthew 15

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?”

8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.