Is One As Good As Another?

 

   If you are sick and need a doctor, is one doctor as good as another?  If you need medicine, is one as good as another?  If you are reading a book, is one book as good as another?  If you are looking for a wife, is one woman as good as another?  If you are buying a car, is one car as good as another?  If you are serving God, is one god as good as another?  If you are a member of a church, is one church as good as another?

 

   Is one God as good as another? There is a God in Heaven. The first words of the Bible say, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) Is one God as good as another? The God of the Bible created all things. "For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God." (Hebrews 3:4) The heavens declare His glory. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1)  Solomon said, "LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart." (1 Kings 8:23)  There is no God like the God of the Bible!

 

   Is one book as good as another? The Bible was written by men that were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any  private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21)  The apostles were guided into all truth. (John 16:13) The message that Paul and the other apostles spoke and wrote came by revelations of God. (Galatians 1:11-12) Jesus promised, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Matthew 24:35) Since this promise is certain, is one book as good as another? The Bible is the inspired word of God, therefore there is no book like the Bible!

 

   Is one sacrifice as good as another? Animals were sacrificed in Old Testament times to the God of Heaven. Daily sacrifices are made to gods around the world. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.  His substitutionary death for our sins is the greatest fact of all times. "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Jesus Christ suffered sin's penalty in man's place. There is no sacrifice to compare with the sacri­fice of Jesus for our sins!

 

   Is one church as good as another? Jesus promised to build His church. "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:13- 18) All the saved are added to this "one church." "Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47) The church of Christ is those people that have been saved by the blood of Jesus. There is no church like the church of the Bible.

 

   Is one faith as good as another? God's plan included only one faith or one system of faith. The Bible says that there is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5) This one faith is produced by all speaking the same things. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10) One faith is not as good as another. Jude said that Christian must, "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3)  Even in a tradition bound world it is possible to be a Christian only. There is no faith like the "one faith" revealed in the Bible.

 

   Is one worship as good as another? Worship that is acceptable to God must be in spirit and in truth. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24) The early church worshipped on the first day of the week. (Acts 20:7) Their worship was simple: (1) They sang songs of praise to God, (Ephesians 5:19), (2) Simple, sincere prayers were offered to the heavenly Father (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18), (3) Communion was observed in memory of Christ's death (Acts 20:7), (4) Christians gave a part of their material possessions back to God (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), and (5) The word of God was preached. (Acts 2:42) Scriptural and acceptable worship is from the heart and must be carried out according to the New Testament pattern.

 

   Is one name as good as another? There is no other name like the precious name of Jesus. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) The beautiful name Christian is also a precious name. The first century Christians were Christians only. "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busy­body in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." (1 Peter 4:15-16) There is no name like a Bible name!

 

   Is one plan of salvation as good as another? Can we pray the sinner's prayer or "pray through" for salvation? Can we just "accept Jesus into our heart" and be saved? Or must we believe in Jesus as Lord and Christ (John 8:24), repent of all our sins (Acts 17:30), confess the precious name of Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized into Christ to wash away sins? (Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21) Those that accept the wonderful good news that Jesus died for our sins should repent and be baptized to be saved. "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 2:38) You should choose to be saved in Christ according to His terms instead of trying to follow some plan that will not save?

 

   Is one as good as another? Is there any god like the God of the Bible? Is one baptism just as good as another? Is one way of worship as good as another? Is one church or one doctrine just as good as another? Our only hope is salvation in Christ. Are you in Christ?