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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).
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January 20, 1991
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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)
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"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).
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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
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