| Subject: Salvation |
Author:
Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 11:14:06 02/06/10 Sat
Salvation according to the Bible
Of all the controversial doctrines in the Bible the doctrine of salvation is probablly the most hotly contested. Included in this doctrine is baptism and the two are inseparable in the minds of many. In this short study we will look at what the scriptures say about salvation. As always the scriptures will be from the AV 1611 King James Bible.
As good a place as any to start is with a man that asks the same question we are asking in this study. "What must I do to be saved?". The setting for the following verses is in Philippi where Paul and Silas have been preaching.Jesus. A certain little girl who was possessed with a devil of divination (fortune teller today) was following them and proclaiming them to be "servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." Her proclamation was stirring the rulers against Paul and Silas and he cast out the devil which ruined the livlihood of her masters. As a result Paul and Silas wind up in prison.
Acts 16:25-34 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (KJV)
Contained within these verses is to be found the requirements of salvation. Reading carefully you will find that the Philippian jailer heard the word preached. He believed in what he heard. He came under conviction as to his lost condition and he then accepted that the Lord Jesus Christ was able to save him. In other words he trusted with heart the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was no mention of baptism in the message of salvation to the jailer. The question was "what must I do to be saved" and the answer was "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." After his acceptance of the gospel he was then baptised. The question arises then as to whether baptism was necessary. The answer is no. Water baptism never has and never will be essential to salvation.
We will now look at corroborating scriptures that will strengthen this premise. Romans 10:8-11 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Here we have it worded somewhat differently but the core is still evident. What is added here is confession. Do you have to confess Jesus Christ with the mouth to be saved? Well what about Helen Keller? She could never confess with the mouth any thing. The problem with taking verses such as these above without putting scripture with scripture is that you wind up with tacked on requirements that have no basis in fact. The root of salvation is still found in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ from the heart. It is a heart belief and not a head belief. Take verse 10: "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness". Righteousness is imparted through belief. Read it again. "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness". Now go to the second clause "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Now think a minute. Yep, put your thinking cap on. How can you confess to something that isn't there!! Do you understand what I am saying. Righteousness must be present in order for you to confess to it. Jesus must be present in order for you to confess that you are saved! Confession then is to the fact that you have obtained salvation and you obtain the salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Notice the righteousness of Paul was through faith in Christ. It was not that he preached. It was not that he kept the commandments of God. It was through faith in Jesus. When we are saved, God's righteousness is imputed unto us. It is nothing we earned nor deserved. It is a gift from God. This is what you confess to after salvation. In Romans chapter 4 Paul speaks of the righteousness of Abraham and he makes it clear it was not earned righteousness or righteousness through works but imputed righteousness.
Romans 4:19-24 And being not weak in faith, he (Abraham) considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Salvation is imputed righteouness that comes in placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. God's grace applied to you because of your faith in Him. Pure and simple. That is the whole plan of salvation. Nothing to be added and nothing to be taken away.
Through this I have stressed belief and faith. There are many who believe on Jesus but have never received Jesus. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Satan believes in Jesus, the devils believe in Jesus. I believed in Jesus long before I was saved. You might ask what is the distincition. Head knowledge and heart knowledge are two different things. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness".
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Jesus gives us a picturesque example here in Revelation 3:20. Notice He is on the outside requesting to come in! The door represents a persons heart or soul. We see Jesus coming to that "door" and requesting entrance. This is the way that salvation must be obtained. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Here we have presented the way God chooses to bring salvation to the individual. Notice the voice must be heard (the knock) which is the invitation and drawing of the individual to God. Opening of the door is required for Jesus to enter and salvation be given to the individual. It is by invitation and by acceptance. When Rebekah was drawn to Isaac through the invitation of Eliezer in Genesis 24 (type of the Spirit of God) we have an example of how salvation comes by choice and not automatically. Had Rebekah chosen not to go with Eliezer she would never have been united with Isaac. (type of Christ). Rebekah was told all about Isaac. His wealth, his nature, his goodness and through the witness of Eliezer she decided to turn her back on the world she knew and become the bride of Isaac.
Romans 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? In order to be drawn to Christ you must hear the gospel of Christ. You cannot call upon Jesus for salvation unless you have heard (or read) the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is mandatory. Going back to the Philippian jailer you can see that he not only heard the word proclaim from Paul and Silas but he also heard their songs and praises to Jesus while they were in chains. Notice in the passage also that Paul went and preached to the jailer and his household before they were saved. Through Paul's witness they all heard, were convictied and convinced of the truth and they accepted Jesus. They opened the door to Jesus and gladly received Him. They were then and only then baptized.
Now to finish this discourse on salvation let's look at the conversion experience of Cornelius. Acts 10:36-48 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Read it close now. Did Cornelius receive the Spirit of God before, during or after he was baptized? When you receive Jesus the Holy Spirit of God comes into you to abides with you forever! (John 14:16-17) Now I'm going to stop here and let any and all digest this and if there are questions that arise I will gladly try to answer fully each and every one. To sum up salvation comes to any and all who have believed in Jesus Christ from the heart. This receiving of Jesus must come at a time that God is drawing you (convicting you) to come to Jesus. It must come with knowledge and acceptance of the truth of the gospel. If you meet these conditions then God will save you. If you have met these conditions then God has saved you.
Baptism is only for a sign as to what has taken place in your soul. If you go down a lost sinner you will come up out of the water as a lost sinner. If you go down into the water as a saved sinner then you will come up as a saved sinner. Infant baptism? Worthless! Baptism for salvation? Worthless! Sprinkling? Not scriptural. Baptism literally means immersion! Repentance? If you truly come to Jesus you have repented (turned from the world and turned to Jesus). I hope this has helped and like I said. As this causes some questions please let them be known. I will do my best to !00% honestly address any and all questions.
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