What is the only true religion?

Sincerely,
Top Priority

Dear Top Priority,

Jesus said that He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jhn 14:6).  This single statement by Christ nullifies Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.  Jesus is the only one that offers salvation to mankind.

But the Bible takes it one step farther.  Paul condemned the Jews because they worshipped God without knowledge (Rom 10:2).  He also warned that there would come a day when false teachers infiltrated Christ’s church and started teaching things contrary to Scriptures (2 Tim 4:2-4).  Paul told the first century christians to watch out for the “falling away” (2 Thess 2:3).  Division and false teaching in the name of Christ is a very common thing.  There are tens of thousands of different religions in America that refer to themselves as “Christian”… yet God says there is only one true faith (Eph 4:4-6).  So how can you know whether a church is Christ’s church?

Jesus says that we can know them by their fruits (Matt 7:15-20).  A church is faithful if the way they worship, preach, and live is in accordance with Christ’s teachings.  A faithful church keeps Christ’s commandments (Jhn 15:14).  Most churches today have added all sorts of things to their worship (from rock bands to belly dancing) and leadership structure (popes, community boards, franchised churches, etc.) that were never intended by Christ.  We should never add to God’s Word, and we should never take away from it (Rev 22:18-19).  A faithful church should be able to give you book, chapter, and verse for everything they do.  We recommend the posts “Down With Denominationalism”, “Finding A Church”, and “Preacher Interrogation” for further information on what questions to ask.  If you would like us to help point you in the right direction of a congregation in your area, please e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we will do our best to put you in contact with a Bible-founded congregation.

Does it indicate in the Bible how many times a day God required the levitical priests to enter His temple to do their duties?  If so, how many times and where does it indicate this?

Sincerely,
Daily Duties

Dear Daily Duties,

The Bible never specifically says how many times a day that the priests were allowed to enter the temple, but they had to do it at least twice.  All of the sacrifices and burnt offerings were made on the altar, which was outside of the temple (Ex 40:6) – and that is where most of the priests’ time would have been spent.  However, inside the temple structure itself, there were three things that needed regular attention: the golden lamp stand, the incense altar, and the table of showbread (Ex 35:13-15).  The table of showbread only had to be attended to weekly (Lev 24:5-9).  The lamp stand had to be kept continually burning (Lev 24:2).  And last, but not least, the incense altar needed to have incense burned on it every morning and every evening (2 Chr 13:11).  Since the priests were supposed care for the lamp stand at the same time that they burned incense (Ex 30:7-8), they didn’t need to enter the temple more than twice on any regular day.

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

I want to be baptized.  I don't belong to a particular church, and I would like to have a good friend of mine – a believer who has already been baptized – perform this for me.

What does he need to do to prepare himself for this?  I have tried to research this on the internet, but I haven't been able to find any kind of answer.  The only thing I can find is what I would need to do to prepare myself.

Any answer you can give me would help tremendously.  Thanks so much.

Sincerely,
Ready For Water

Dear Ready For Water,

Baptism is the beginning of a new life and the most important journey of faith you will ever take.  Peter says that baptism saves us (1 Pet 3:21); he also says that we begin our lives as christian babes (1 Pet 2:2).  All you really need to know to be baptized is that it is a requirement for salvation; it only counts if it is a burial in water (not sprinkling, pouring, etc. – only immersion counts – Rom 6:3-4), and that you need to continue to grow in faith afterwards (Rom 10:17).

As for your friend that is planning on baptizing you, their job is very simple.  He should fully immerse you in water and ask you whether or not you are doing it because of faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:36-38).  There really isn’t any more to it.

It is a wonderful thing that you are seeking to do, and we wish you the very best.  It is important that you attach yourself to a faithful congregation, so you can grow (Heb 10:24-25), and we would be happy to help you find one in your area that teaches nothing but the Bible.  E-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we will try and locate one near you.