The church mentioned in this question is the church found in the Bible (Matthew 16:18). However, many times, when this church is mentioned, people will respond by saying, "Yes, these people believe they are the only ones who'll be saved." When people ask the question that we are considering they want a "yes" or "no" answer. It must be pointed out that a satisfactory answer, whether long or short, cannot be given until the question itself is clearly understood. It is becasue there is a disagreement in the meaning of the terms "Church of Christ" and "saved" that we have this question under consideration raised. The answer to be given will not be satisfactory to many because they fail to agree that there is but one church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18) and that all accountable people must be saved in the same way. Salvation in Christ is "by grace through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). Man must cooperate with God in order to receive the blessing of grace. He does this through obedience to the gospel plan of salvation. One must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Christ (John 8:24), repent (Acts 17:30), confess his faith in Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13). The obedient one is then in the Church of Christ, having been "added" to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). This is the church which was born in heaven, purchased with blood, is Bible revealed, Spirit filled, and heaven bound. The Bible teaches, therefore the Church of Christ, being "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), is obliged to teach that one must be in the New Testament church and faithful in the Christian walk in order to be saved eternally in heaven (1 Peter 1:4-5; 2 Peter 1:5-11, 2 John 8). Such salvation, of course, will be by the grace of God. No one, however, accidentally stumbles into heaven. Ignorance of God and His way for man is not a passport into heaven. The apostle Paul wrote: "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When he shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10). One must have both desire and determination to go to heaven (Philippians 3:14). Jesus in speaking of the "straight and narrow" road which leads to life eternal, said few would be found travelling here. This is true because many (one is too many) are not willing to receive and be obedient to the commandments of Christ in order to have remission of sins and then to live and die with the hope of heaven (Romans 8:24-25; Colossians 1:5). Not everyone who has obeyed the gospel of Christ, being added by the Lord to the church is going to be saved in heaven. There are those who have turned away from the Lord and have died in this condition and are lost (2 Peter 2?:20-21). Falling from grace occurs because men are not content to stay with the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:8-9; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 3:17); because they turn back to the world or to false systems (cf. 2 Timothy 4:10; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 10:35; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17); because they give in to the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desire of things (Mark 4:19). Sinners (alien and erring children) may ruin this world by their wickedness and sin, but they will not be permitted to enter heaven and spoil that wonderful place (Revelation 21:27). The Bible teaches that only the saved in Christ and who are loyal and faithful in their Christian lives will be saved eternally, and this is what the Church of Christ teaches. "Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 7:21).
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