Where In The Bible Will I Find:

That One Must Be In The Church To Be Saved?

The Apostle Peter relates how Noah and his family were saved during the time the flood waters were over all the face of the earth, he says, “…eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…” (I Peter 3:20-21)

We will understand the teaching on being in the church better if we will study the life of Noah and his family as it is recorded in the book of Genesis. The eight souls saved in the ark were Noah arid his wife, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah and their wives (Gen. 7:13). Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and although he preached throughout the time the ark was being built, only those of his family were obedient to his preaching and were saved.

The vast world of unbelievers all perished in the flood. Only those in the ark were saved. God had commanded Noah to build the ark. He instructed Noah as to the size in which to build it, which would have had room for many more people and if others had believed and accepted the preaching of Noah they would have been in the ark and saved from the flood.

Christ said to His apostles, “…I will build my church…” (Matt. 16:18). He also referred to it as "the kingdom" (Matt. 10:19 and taught that the kingdom was "at hand" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). He preached for some three and a half years and His apostles preached on up to the end of the first century. All those who believed and obeyed His gospel were added to his church (Acts 2:47).

The ark was a type of the church, whereas, all that were in the ark were saved. Christ is the head of the church and the Saviour of the body (which is the church, Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18). He has promised to save all those who will believe and obey Him (Mark 16:16; Heb. 5:9). Fifty days after the death of Christ on the cross, His kingdom (church) was established. On the same day some three thousand souls were obedient to His gospel and were added to His church (Acts 2:41-47).

Nowhere in the Bible, after the church was established, is it even intimated that anyone outside the body (church) of Christ will be saved. Just as it was in the days of Noah, only those with him in the ark were saved, so it is with Christ, only those with Him, in His church are saved. As the church is the anti-type of the ark and as all that were in the ark were of the same family and wore the same name, everyone in the Lord’s church is of the same family (God’s family) and wears the same name “CHRISTIAN.”

The church does not save anyone but all the saved are in the church. Therefore, one must be in the church to be one of the saved. Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we love the Lord we will obey His commandments and He will add us to His church with all the redeemed.