Posted on 05/05/2020 2:23:51 PM PDT by RaceBannon
Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
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Terms of Salvation
What Does a Person Need to Do to be Saved? |
Faith--the One Requirement For Salvation
A Person is Saved by Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ
1. The Bible teaches that to be saved a person must “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In Acts 16:30 the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas this crucial question: “What must I do to be saved?” The answer was simple and clear: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (verse 31). The one requirement was to believe on Christ. Faith and faith alone is what God requires of a sinner.
2. The Bible teaches throughout the New Testament that FAITH and FAITH ALONE is necessary for salvation.
I would urge you to read carefully and prayerfully the following verses of Scripture:
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John 1:12-13 John 3:15 John 3:16 John 3:18 John 3:36 John 5:24 John 6:35 John 6:40 John 6:47 John 7:38-39 John 11:25-26 John 20:31 Acts 2:21 Acts 10:43 |
Acts 11:17 Acts 13:38-39 Acts 15:11 Acts 16:31 Acts 20:21 Romans 1:16 Romans 3:22 Romans 3:26 Romans 3:28 Romans 3:30 Romans 5:1 Romans 10:9 Romans 10:11 Romans 10:13
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1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Galatians 2:16 Galatians 3:2-9 Galatians 3:14 Galatians 3:24 Galatians 3:26 Ephesians 2:8-9 2 Thessalonians 2:10 2 Thessalonians 2:12 1 Timothy 4:10 2 Timothy 3:15 Titus 3:8 1 John 5:1 1 John 5:11-13
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In all of these passages FAITH is mentioned as being essential for salvation. Believing in Christ is the sole condition for salvation and for receiving the gift of eternal life.
3. EPHESIANS 2:8-9 is a passage which God has given to answer this key question: HOW IS A PERSON SAVED? This important doctrinal verse is very clear about God's way of salvation.
How is a person saved? “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is a gift. It is free (paid for by the blood of Christ). All the sinner needs to do is to receive that gift by faith.
4. There are those who seek to add human works to the salvation equation. They insist that man must do certain things to earn salvation. Yet the Bible teaches again and again that a person is not saved by works.
Here are some examples:
Titus 3:5—“Not by WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which WE HAVE DONE, but according to His mercy He saved us.”
2 Timothy 1:9—“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS.”
Ephesians 2:8-9—“For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 3:28—“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW.”
Romans 4:5—“But to him that WORKETH NOT, but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Salvation is not DOING something; it is KNOWING someone (John 17:3).
Salvation is not based on what we might do; it is based on what Christ has ALREADY DONE (John 19:30).
Salvation is not TRYING; it is TRUSTING (John 6:47).
If salvation could be earned by anything we do, then Christ’s death was a waste (Galatians 2:21).
Salvation is not WORKING; it is RESTING on the WORK of Another (Romans 4:5).
Good works are not what a man DOES in order to be SAVED;
Good works are what a SAVED MAN DOES (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-8).
God’s holiness utterly condemns the best man (Romans 3:10-23);
God’s grace freely justifies the worst (1 Timothy 1:15)!
See our paper, Do or Done. See also our study on The Difference Between Religion and Christianity.
5. Even the devil knows God's plan of salvation.
"Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved" (Luke 8:12).
The devil does not want people to be saved. The devil knows God's plan of salvation. Therefore he does everything he can to deceive people and prevent them from being saved: "lest they should believe and be saved." God's plan of salvation is very simple: Believe and be saved! (Compare Acts 16:30-31). Don't be deceived into thinking a person can be saved in any other way!
6. The Gospel of John was written so that men might believe on Christ and have eternal life.
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31).
See also John 3:16; 5:24; 6:35; 6:47; 11:25-26. The word "believe" (or related words) is found 99 times in the Gospel of John. Eternal life is obtained by believing in Christ, and in no other way. Have you believed on Him?
To better understand what it means to believe on the Lord, see our study on What Is Faith?
SALVATION
As Taught in the Bible
The purpose of this study is to see what God has said about salvation. Just reading these statements is not enough. Please take time to look up each Scripture reference to see for yourself that the Bible really teaches these truths. We encourage you to be like those described in Acts 17:11:
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Who is God?
The living God is HOLY (Isaiah 6:3; 57:15; 1 Peter 1:15; Revelation 4:8) and thus He is absolutely set apart and separated from all that is sinful (Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 24:3-4; Isaiah 6:3-5). The Bible teaches me that God in His absolute holiness and unfailing mercy has provided a way for me to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:3-6).
Who am I?
I am a lost sinner (Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:10-18,23; Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 51:5; 1 Kings 8:46) and my heart is wicked and evil (Jeremiah 17:9-10; Mark 7:20-23; Matthew 7:11). Thus I stand guilty before the righteous Judge of all the earth (Romans 3:19) and I am under the wrath and condemnation of a holy God (Romans 1:18; 2:1-9; John 3:18,36).
What Do I Deserve?
Because of my sinful and wicked condition I deserve the death penalty (Ezekiel 18:4; Genesis 2:17; Romans 1:32; 6:23) which involves eternal separation from God and eternal punishment by God, even the lake of fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Matthew 25:41,46; Mark 9:42-48; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).
What is the Gospel (Good News)?
Because of His marvelous love and mercy God sent His beloved Son into the world (John 3:17; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15). The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the everlasting God (John 1:1; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2; Titus 2:13) and the Creator of all things (John 1:3; Colossians 1:13-16), died on the cross in MY place and as MY Substitute and He thus paid the death penalty for me (Isaiah chapter 53; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 3:16; 4:10). He also rose again from the dead as proof that God the Father was pleased and satisfied that the death penalty was paid in full by God the Son (1 Corinthians 15:4-20; Romans 4:25) and to demonstrate that He (Jesus Christ) was and is all that He claimed to be (Romans 1:4).
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
In view of who Christ is and what He has done for me on the cross, it is my responsibility to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31; John 3:16,18,36). This means I must come to Christ (John 6:35-37) and receive Him as my personal Saviour and Lord (John 1:12; Romans 6:23), realizing and believing the following facts:
The Lord Jesus is the only Saviour (Acts 4:12; John 10:9; 14:6). There is no salvation apart from Him.
The Lord Jesus died and rose again for my salvation (1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9).
The Lord Jesus is able to save me (Hebrews 7:25; Isaiah 59:1; Matthew 19:24-26).
The Lord Jesus is willing to save me (John 6:37; compare 1 Timothy 2:4).
The Lord Jesus will save me if I trust Him and Him alone as my Saviour (John 3:16).
I also must realize that I am not saved....
...by good works (Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:9; Titus 3:5);
...by trying to keep the law (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; James 2:10);
...by water baptism (Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 16:31).
I am only saved by the grace and mercy of God through faith (Ephesians 2:4-9 and Titus 3:4-7). Faith is resting all my weight upon Jesus Christ (who He is, what He has done and what He has said). Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling!
How Can I Know That I Am Saved?
Because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18) and because Jesus Christ is ever faithful (Hebrews 13:8), I do confidently and joyfully claim and rest upon the following salvation promises: Matthew 11:28; John 1:12; 3:16; 3:18; 3:36; 5:24; 6:35; 6:37; 6:47; 10:9; 11:25; Acts 10:43; 16:31; Romans 10:9; 10:13; 1 John 5:11-12.
What Must I Do Now That I Am Saved?
Now that I am a believer in Christ it is my responsibility to grow and to keep on growing in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). To be a healthy, growing believer I must:
Be baptized in obedience to Christ’s command (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:48; 2:38) and as a public testimony of my new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Romans 6:3-11; Galatians 2:20).
Feed upon God’s Word by reading my Bible daily (1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:97).
Come before God and come unto God in prayer daily (Hebrews 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1).
Faithfully attend a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25).
Confess my sins (the thinking, the acting and the being that is out of harmony with God’s Holy Person; my character and conduct that is not like His) to God daily and agree with Him that what I have done is sinful in His sight (1 John 1:8-2:2 and see especially 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51:3-6; Psalm 32:3-6; Proverbs 28:13).
Confess Christ before others (Psalm 107:2; Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10). Be glad to own Him as your Saviour!
Be a faithful witness, pointing clearly to Christ by life and by lip (Acts 1:8; Isaiah 43:10-12). I need to draw attention to Christ by the way I live and by the things that I say (Philippians 2:15-16; Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6).
Acts 8:26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza."(This is a desert road.)
Acts 8:27 And he arose and went; and behold, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship.
Acts 8:28 And he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."
Acts 8:30 And when Philip had run up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
Acts 8:31 And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?"And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth.
Acts 8:33 "In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who shall relate His generation? For His life is removed from the earth."
Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?"
Acts 8:35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
Acts 8:36 And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Acts 8:38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him.
because the Eunuch was outwardly displaying his inward faith.
Even this section you copy and pasted declared salvation is by grace through faith and PRECEDES baptism!
Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 8:36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
What happened first?
The Eunuch believed what the scriptures said!
Philip himself asks if the man has faith FIRST!
THEN, he was baptized!
You claim to have all day of verses, yet you only have less than 10 to point to water baptism while using the same verses that declare you must believe first.
When comparing scripture with scripture, it is clear, we are saved by Grace through faith
In fact, Paul CLEARLY says baptism is not enough to save, they have to BELIEVE, these people were already baptized!
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Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Acts 19:5 When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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baptism of John was to repentance, but Baptism in Christ includes the spiritual baptism of the believer in Christ and Christ in the believer.
You keep adding works to what is required, faith!
The eunuch knew that AFTER HE BELIEVED, then he would be baptized to obey our Lord!
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