____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ October 30, 1994 ____________________________________________________ Questions Concerning Salvation by Tom Edwards QUESTION: ``Is there a difference between `salvation by faith' and `salvation by faith only'''? ANSWER: Yes. There is a big difference. One is saved by faith, but one is not saved by ``faith only.'' This is because one is actually saved by many things, such as ``grace'' (Titus 3:7), ``the blood of Jesus'' (Rom. 5:9), ``works'' (James 2:21,24,25), ``baptism'' (1 Peter 3:21), ``obedience'' (Heb. 5:9), etc. But when we say one is saved by ``faith only,'' that automatically excludes anything else--and this would be terribly wrong for us to do. Did you know that nowhere does the Bible teach that salvation is by ``faith only?'' The only verse that mentions this phrase tells us, ``You see that a man is justified by works, and NOT BY FAITH ALONE'' (James 2:24; emphasis mine). In a similar fashion, my earthly existence is made possible by various things: food, water, air, the sun. I can say that food keeps me alive or that water keeps me alive, etc.; but to say that ``food only'' keeps me alive would not be true--for in saying that, the others would then be excluded. Neither is it true when one says he is saved by ``faith only,'' ``grace only,'' ``the blood of Jesus only,'' or ``baptism only,'' etc.--for it all must work together to make one's salvation possible. QUESTION: ``Doesn't salvation by faith eliminate works of every kind?'' ANSWER: Salvation by faith does eliminate some works: 1) the works of the Law of Moses, for example. One cannot be saved by these works (Rom. 3:20,21; Gal. 2:16). 2) Man-made works of righteousness that haven't been commanded by God are also works that one cannot be saved by (Rom. 10:1-3). In the early church, many Christians who had formerly practiced Judaism, felt strongly that the Law of Moses was still in effect and as equally important as the gospel (Acts 15:1,5). Paul, of course, pointed out to these that to go back to the works of the Old Law was to cut oneself off from Christ and fall from grace (Gal. 5:1-4). This is why we read so much of a contrast between faith and works in the Bible. The faith is referring to the Gospel system; and the works, to the Law of Moses. This is not a contrast, as some have assumed, between ``NOT HAVING TO DO anything at all'' and ``HAVING TO DO things.'' Obviously, there are ``things'' a person must do in order to be saved (Luke 6:46; Matt. 7:21). He must hear the word (Rom. 10:17, Rom. 1:16), believe (Jn. 8:24; which even in itself is a work [Jn. 6:29]), repent of sins (Acts 2:38), confess faith in Christ (Rom. 8:36-38), be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16), and remain faithful throughout life (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:36-39). How can we even conceive of the word ``faithful'' without seeing ACTION in its meaning? But it can also be pointed out that even after one does these things, salvation is still by God's grace rather than by merited reward. In other words, salvation can never be EARNED, MERITED, or DESERVED on the basis of our obedience. As someone once defined the difference between ``grace'' and ``mercy,'' he said something to the following effect: ``Grace is receiving [those good things from God] we don't deserve, and mercy is not receiving [the eternal punishment from God] we really do deserve.'' Our salvation is conditional. It is not passively received. Even grace itself demands that one ``deny ungodliness and worldly desires'' and ``live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age'' (Titus 2:12). How could one be saved by God's grace who would refuse to meet the conditions which that grace requires of him? QUESTION: ``Why do you teach that one must be baptized to be saved? The thief on the cross wasn't baptized.'' ANSWER: I teach that one must be baptized to be saved because the New Testament declares this in various places. Try reading these following verses: Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; Col. 2:12; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21. All of these verses consistently show water baptism to be something that one MUST do IN ORDER TO have sins forgiven, become a Christian, walk in newness of life, be saved. Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him in Paradise that very day. Notice: both of them were still alive at this point. Therefore, the Law of Moses was still in effect, for it wasn't taken out of the way until Jesus died (Col. 2:14). The baptism which Jesus commanded, however, was not part of the Law of Moses; it was part of the gospel, which the Lord instituted by His death--a death that was still future, while He addressed the thief on the cross and assured him of Paradise. It wasn't until after Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection that He commanded His apostles to go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, and baptize in water all those who wanted to get right with God (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16). In rightly dividing the word of truth, we must first of all realize that there is an Old Testament and a New Testament. The New Testament is not merely an ``addition'' to the Old; it has superseded it (Heb. 8:13; 10:9). Though we can still increase our knowledge of God through the Old Testament, it is only the New Testament which we can turn to today for how we are to serve the Lord during this Gospel Age in which we live. QUESTION: ``What about all those passages that speak about faith in connection with salvation and no mention is ever made about baptism? Doesn't this prove that baptism is irrelevant toward becoming a Christian?'' ANSWER: There are verses that speak about faith and salvation without specifying baptism, such as John 3:16; but this does not mean that baptism is not a part of God's salvation plan. Can we say, using this same logic, that because there are some verses that speak about baptism in connection with salvation, that faith is unnecessary since it is not specified in the verses? Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, and 1 Peter 3:21 all speak about baptism in connection with salvation; but not one of these verses specifies faith; and the latter two do not even mention repentance. Does this mean that we can now go around and say that a person is saved by baptism without faith and repentance? Of course not. Neither can one say a person is saved by faith without repentance and baptism, for we learn of the necessity of these other requirements in other verses (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). We need to remember that whenever faith seems to be alone in a verse, but is seen in connection with salvation, it is used in a way that ``sums up'' all the necessary requirements that contribute toward one's salvation. This is done not just with faith, but also with many other Bible concepts, such as in the phrase ``abiding in the vine,'' ``walking by faith,'' or ``walking in the light.'' Since each of these phrases has reference to keeping the commandments of God, they are phrases that ``sum up'' all these commandments without them each having to be specified every time this type of truth is being expressed. This is why we are to study the Scriptures, so that we can fully understand what ``abiding in the vine,'' ``walking in the light,'' etc. are all about. Then when we hear one of these phrases or a term such as ``being faithful,'' we better understand what all it involves. Obviously, for one to truly ``believe'' in Jesus to the saving of the soul means more than merely having a mental agreement with the Scriptures concerning Christ's deity and Messiahship; it also involves a trusting submission to His will--a will that includes repentance, confession, baptism, and a continuing faithfulness. This is what real faith in Christ is all about. On the other hand, however, to fully agree (mentally) with the teachings of Christ BUT NOT OBEY is more than a slap in the face to God's Son. Though the sinner ignorant of the gospel will be lost BECAUSE OF HIS SINS, isn't it even worse when one has a knowledge of the Scriptures, but will remain lost because of a refusal to comply? There are many today, who though they ``believe'' in Jesus and the Bible, they have nothing more than a mere ``faith only,'' and know they would be lost if they were to die this very day because they have not yet repented of their sins and met the other necessary conditions for salvation--''Faith only'' is not enough! The only faith that saves is an obedient faith--a faith that complies with God's righteous demands (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9; James 2:14-26). ___________________________________________ Free Bible Course Enroll Today We are now offering the John Hurt 8-lesson Bible course and the 6-lesson Acts of the Apostles study. All of the lessons are FREE!!! We would be happy to enroll you. ___________________________________________ SENTENCE SERMONS Things turn out the best for those who make the best of the way things turn out. A contented person is someone who can enjoy the scenery along a detour. The grass may look greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed. Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night. ___________________________________________ Tell Her So Amid the cares of married life, In spite of toil and business strife, If you value your sweet wife, Tell her so! There was a time you thought it bliss To get the favor of a kiss; A dozen now won't come amiss-- Tell her so! Don't act as if she's passed her prime, As though to please her was a crime-- If e'er you loved her, now's the time; Tell her so! You are hers and hers alone; Well you know she's all your own; Don't wait to carve it on the stone-- Tell her so! Never let her heart grow cold, Richer beauties will unfold. She is worth her weight in gold; Tell her so! -- Mrs. John H. Whipple ___________________________________________ A USEFUL VESSEL It's not what we keep but what we share, Not what we have but what we spare, Not what we clasp but what we lose, Not what we hide but what we use. A vessel He will make of you, If small or great, `twill surely do-- Great joy and peace will always fill The one who's yielded to His will. -- Author unknown ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, 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 ________________________________________