____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ January 20, 1991 ____________________________________________________ By What Is A Man Saved? by Tom Edwards Often, on the radio, on television, and from the pulpits of many denominations across our land, the sincere cry is made that ``man is saved by faith only.'' This phrase is heard so frequently that it would seem that it is the central focus on every other page in the Scriptures. However, this is not so. Actually, there is only one verse in the entire Bible in which the expression ``faith only'' or ``faith alone'' is used (James 2:24); but here the exact opposite is taught: ``by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.'' Never does God's word speak of one thing by which man is saved and then follow that one thing with the word ``only.'' For to do so, automatically excludes any other necessity. For example, to say the Christian has been saved by faith, by the blood of Christ, by grace, or by baptism is all very scriptural; but man violates God's word when he says that one can be saved by ``faith only,'' by ``the blood of Jesus only,'' by ``grace only,'' or by ``baptism only.'' For by adding that little word ``only'' after any of the various factors by which the Bible shows one is saved, it will automatically exclude all the rest. Therefore, if one were saved by ``grace only,'' believing and repenting would not be necessary; but a further investigation into God's word shows that one is saved ``by grace through faith'' (Ephesians 2:8) and that one must repent (Luke 13:5); and looking further reveals that ``faith without works is dead'' (James 2:26). We need to each have a comprehensive view of the gospel, lest we become guilty of omitting that which God intended for us to include as part of the plan in His scheme of redemption. Though a person could never ``merit'' or ``earn'' his salvation by works, this is not to say that salvation is a passive thing in which no necessary response is required of the one who would be saved. There are conditions that must be met; and when they are, our faith has been ``made complete'' by obedient action (James 2:21-23). Jesus is the ``author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him'' (Heb. 5:9); and as He Himself states in Luke 6:46, ``But why do you call Me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?'' Note that Jesus said ``THINGS which I say'' -- plural, not just ``one thing,'' such as "believe in My deity". If we want to have a saving faith then we must comply with God's righteous demands by doing that which He commands us in order to become a Christian and in order to continue in the faith as one. It is God's desire for none to perish, but rather for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). This is why He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross and pay the penalty of sin for every transgressor; but if we want to benefit from the blood of Christ in that sacrifice He made, we must meet His necessary conditions. Today's lesson will show of that which pertains to God and that which pertains to man in the Lord's plan of salvation. Yes, there are many factors the Bible proclaims by which one is ultimately saved. Let us now consider the following: I. ABIDING IN THE LORD (John 15:1-6; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:12; 2 John 9) II. BAPTISM (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Peter 3:21) III. BELIEVING (John 3:16; John 8:24; John 20:31; Acts 16:31) IV. BLOOD OF JESUS (Acts 20:28; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18,19) V. CALLING ON THE LORD (Acts 2:21 -- Note: The way they ``called'' was not through prayer, but by their faith, repentance, and baptism -- Acts 2:36-38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21 -- Peter also shows that ``baptism... now saves you...as an appeal to God for a clear conscience....'' An ``appeal'' means ``to make an earnest request or entreaty...to ask for help, support, mercy, etc.'' Baptism, therefore, serves as part of the means whereby a person makes his ``appeal to God''; thus, ``calling on His name.'') VI. CHRIST (Matthew 1:21; John 10:9; John 11:25; 1 Timothy 1:15) VII. CONFESSION OF ONE'S FAITH IN THE LORD (Romans 10:9; Romans 10:10; Acts 8:35-37) VIII. CONSCIENCE (NOT VIOLATED) (Romans 14:23) IX. DYING TO THE SINFUL LIFE (Romans 6:12,13,16) X. ENDURANCE (BEING FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH) (Matthew 10:22; Hebrews 10:39; Revelation 2:10) XI. FAITH (John 3:36; Romans 5:1; Galatians 3:26) XII. FEARING GOD (Acts 10:35; Romans 3:10-18) XIII. FORGIVING OTHERS (Matthew 6:14,15; Matthew 18:21-35) XIV. GOD THE FATHER (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:9) XV. GOSPEL (Acts 11:14; 1 Corinthians 15:1,2; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23) XVI. GRACE (Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:7) XVII. HOLINESS (Romans 6:22; Hebrews 12:14) XVIII. HOPE (Romans 8:24) XIX. HUMILITY (1 Peter 5:5,6) XX. KINDNESS OF GOD (Romans 2:4 [NASV]) XXI. LOVE (2 Thessalonians 2:10 [of the truth]; 1 John 3:14-16 [for our brethren]) XXII. MERCY (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3) XXIII. OBEDIENCE (Matthew 7:21; Matthew 21:28-31; Romans 2:8,9; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 5:9) XXIV. ONESELF (Acts 2:40; Acts 16:30) XXV. OTHER PEOPLE (Acts 8:12,13; Acts 8:34-39; Acts 11:13,14; Acts 26:16-18; 1 Corinthians 9:22) Note: We might overlook our need for others by saying we merely need the Bible to read. But let us not forget that God used people in order to write the Bible, so their message, therefore, can lead us to salvation. XXVI. PERSEVERANCE (Romans 2:7,8) XXVII. REALIZATION OF ONE'S SINS (Luke 5:32; John 9:39-41; Romans 3:10,23) XXVIII. REPENTANCE (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; Acts 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:10) XXIX. RESURRECTION OF CHRIST (Acts 5:30,31; Acts 13:32-34,37,38; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; 1 Peter 1:3) XXX. RIGHTEOUSNESS (Romans 10:1-3; 1 John 3:7,10) XXXI. SPIRIT (Romans 8:11; Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 12:13) XXXII. SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS (Romans 8:6-8; Romans 8:12,13) XXXIII. WALKING IN THE LIGHT (1 John 1:7) XXXIV. WILL OF GOD (Matt. 7:21-23) XXXV. WORKS (James 2:21,22,24) ___________________________________________ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________