"Plus One"

Plus One

In social settings, you may have an invited guest to a special event. The invited guest is the main person being invited. Sometimes, they can bring a “plus one.” The plus one generally is not named. They are not the main guests. They are an accommodation to the main guest. However, in matters of religion, the plus one takes on a much different role. In theology, that “plus one” will move you from theological soundness to theological error. The purpose of this study is to reveal how many church groups have taken the “plus one” and turned it into the main one. The result is heresy and being a danger to your soul. 

We start with the question, what is the gospel? Paul provides us a succinct description of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4: “1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures….”

The Gospel message is composed of five parts:

1. Christ died for our sins.

2. Christ buried.

3. Christ rose from the dead.

4. Christ ascended into heaven.

5. Christ coming again.

Following the mistake of the “plus one” church denominations or groups then add a “plus one” to the simplicity of the gospel message. The problem is that, unlike a social setting, the “plus one” becomes the main thrust of the particular church group. They diminish the role of the Lord Jesus Christ in favor of the “plus one.” In effect, they place Christ in a secondary role and this is what makes this error so dangerous. Christ is merely a door to get to the “plus one” experience. We will review different church groups to make this point. 

1. Campbellite denominations, e.g. Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ: Consequently, these groups have traditionally and erroneously made water baptism an integral part of salvation.  Many teach a baptismal regeneration i.e., that the new birth occurs during water baptism and does not occur without it. These groups add baptism as a “plus 1.” If you ever encounter these groups, they will stress baptism over Christ. Whatever you add to Christ will be the main thrust of the ministry. Christ’s sacrifice is relegated to an inferior act.

2. Roman Catholic Church: Historically, Roman Catholicism has taught that faith alone is not enough for salvation. Instead, the Catholic Church has believed that salvation comes only when faith in Christ is accompanied by baptism, observing Catholic sacraments (especially the Eucharist), and dying without any unconfessed mortal sins. The Catholic Church does not have a “plus one,” they have approximately plus sevens. To a Catholic, there is no salvation apart from the church. Man must be involved to administer the sacraments, otherwise the person is lost. Christ is reduced to an incomplete starting point for salvation.

3. Mormon Church: The Mormon doctrine of salvation involves not only faith in Christ, but baptism by immersion, obedience to the teaching of the Mormon church, good works and “keeping the commandments of God which will cleanse away the stain of sin,” (Journal of Discourses, Volume 2, page 4). This was written by Brigham Young himself. Again, the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is relegated to only a starting point for salvation.

4. Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Watchtower (the Jehovah Witnesses’ official vehicle to speak for the church) provides four steps for salvation: Accurate Knowledge of God’s purposes, Avoid Debauchery, Watchtower Membership, and Proselytism. Jehovah Witnesses believe in a work based salvation. Christ doesn’t save you, you save yourself through works for the Watchtower Society.

5. Oneness Pentecostals: These heretics deny the Trinity and teach that to be saved, you must be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and you must speak in tongues.  If you don’t speak in tongues, you aren’t saved. As you can see, the sufficiency of Christ is missing. Christ doesn’t save you, you save you.

6. Pentecostal Denominations (Pentecostal Holiness and Assembly of God) and Wesleyan Holiness (Church of the Nazarene, Wesleyan Church, and a number of conservative holiness independent groups): These groups believe in a deeper life. Christ saves you, but you are not complete. You need an additional step to be ready for heaven. I want to be clear, I believe in holiness as taught by the Wesleyans. However, I cannot support their minimizing the work of Christ in salvation. Christ and Christ alone saves you. We should strive after holiness and live every day in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. We should strive to be obedient. However, our striving is part of our sanctification, not our salvation. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9) but sanctification is a mutual working together, us and the Holy Spirit.

7. Charismatics: This group has the most variations: prosperity, prophetic, signs and wonders, healing, seeking His Presence, and tongues and gifts. If you just listen to anyone in this group, just ask yourself, what is the most important thing to them? It won’t be the sufficiency of Christ. It will be the “plus one.

The purpose of this study has been to point out that whatever you add to the sufficiency of Christ will become the most important thing to that group.  The “plus one” is dangerous because it can move you to the category of being a heretic. Go back and read the beginning of this study on what is the gospel. It is simple and clear. Paul made it very clear. Our Lord made it very clear. Man has sought to create a number of “plus ones” to keep people from the truth. I urge you to avoid the “plus ones” and stay faithfully to the gospel. 

The gospel message is that no one is saved until they see themselves as a worthless sinner headed to an eternal everlasting hell. Once one sees himself that way, he will come to the foot of the cross, repent and place his faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is on Christ you are to cast yourself completely and without reservation. You don’t need a long prayer. “Lord, save me!” This prayer is sufficient when spoken from a heart under Holy Spirit conviction. Don’t allow heretic groups to pull you away or confuse you. It is Christ alone!