As I pen these lines the Denver Broncos are celebrating another NFL championship (sad isn’t it?).  At least the Falcons will be able to enjoy their Super Bowl championship as well.  You didn’t hear?  Apparently in the age in which we live what team you’re on doesn’t matter.  Even I, a die-hard Seahawks fan, can enjoy having seen my favorite team win that Lombardi trophy last night.
    Alright, I know that all of the above is wrong (except the part about the Broncos), and any one who has any knowledge of football knows that it is wrong.  Even people in the denominational world would think this is wrong.  Even false teachers in the Lord’s church know this is wrong.  Yet while all would agree the above is as ridiculous as believing that Doctor Seuss stories are accurate histories there are many who think that one can be in a church that is not the Lord’s church and still be on the Lord’s side.
    How is that different from a Cowboys player thinking that he won the Super Bowl last night?  How is that different from a Jets player going today to get measured for his Super Bowl ring?  It is no different!
    Picture another illustration:  You are a loyal employ of Coca-Cola.  You have worked there for twenty-three years and have given your all to see that Coca-Cola is as strong a company as they can possibly be.  Each morning you wake up, have your breakfast and then drive off to your office where you make Pepsi.  When your paycheck arrives each week Coca-Cola has written it to the order of you.  This sounds as ridiculous, or more so, then the football illustration.
    Is this so ridiculous compared to the many that are expecting to be paid by God for working in someone else’s office?  As we noticed a couple of Wednesday nights previous God has pitched his tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2) and only that tabernacle is Gods.  If the saved are only in that tabernacle, where do some get the idea that being in tabernacles pitched by men is safe?  It certainly is not a Bible idea.  In fact salvation in the Bible is very exclusive.  Let us spend a minute looking at the exclusiveness of salvation in the Bible.
    Where were Noah and his family saved?  The Bible teaches that they were saved in the ark that was designed by God (Genesis 7:1; 8:1), and only those in that ark were saved.  Was it enough just to see the ark?
    Where were the children of Israel saved during the tenth plague?  The Bible teaches that they were saved in the houses that were marked by blood (Exodus 12:22,23), and only those in such houses were saved.  Was it enough to be in a house?
    Where were Rahab and her family saved?  The Bible teaches that they were saved in the house that was marked by the scarlet thread (Joshua 2:18,19), and only those in that house were saved.  Was it enough just to be in Jericho?
    By whom will people be saved today?  The Bible teaches that they are only saved by Christ (Acts 4:12), and only those who are Christians will be saved.  Is it enough to claim to have a savior?
    How will people be saved today?  The Bible teaches that they are saved by being baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21), and only those who are so baptized will be saved.  Is it enough to believe in God?
    Where will people be saved today?  The Bible teaches that they are saved by being in the one body (Ephesians 4:4; 5:23), and only those in that one body will be saved.  Is it enough to be in any body?
    The harmony throughout the Bible concerning the exclusiveness of salvation is evident by looking at the above passages, and many more could be brought to he front and studied even more closely.  The point is that the Bible shows us who is going to be saved, and how to be the who.
    It is my hope that this understanding will do two things:  I hope that this will inspire us to be cognizant and confident of the fact that we are in the one body that will be saved, and that this will inspire us to be more active about trying to bring our loved ones, friends, and acquaintances into the same relationship that we enjoy with our Savior.  If all that are outside the Lord’s body are lost then we who are saved MUST extend our efforts to reach them.