What Saith The Scriptures # 3
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We
continue with our “What Saith the Scriptures” series with a study of
what the scriptures say about God’s plan for the salvation of man.
We have a variety of teachings on what God says about how man is
saved in the religious world. But, what do the scriptures say? First,
point to be established is that God does not have a variety of
plans by which man can choose to be saved! All that will be saved
will be saved in the same way. If not God
would become a respecter of
persons, which He certainly is NOT.
First
we can note that God’s plan for the salvation of man was formed in the
mind of God before the world began and in His plan God predetermined
where and how man would be saved (Eph. 1:1-7). Contrary to popular
teaching God did not predetermine WHO would be saved and WHO would be
lost. Three scriptures
prove that doctrine to be a false man made doctrine (Matt. 11:28-30,
1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Pet. 3:9).
The
book of Acts contains all the accounts of conversion (salvation)
recorded in the scriptures.
What do these scriptures say?
They say that one must hear the word.
In every example of conversion those converted were taught the
gospel. Faith in Christ as the Divine Son of God came from the hearing
of the word. Those on Pentecost who were saved “heard this” and were
“pricked in their heart” (became believers) and asked , “what shall we
do.” There was no
miraculous impartation of faith by the Holy Spirit apart from the power
of the gospel (Rom. 1:16, 10:17). Thus, we see the scriptures say one
must hear the word and believe on Christ as the Son of God.
What
else do these scriptures say? They say one must repent of unbelief and
all past sins (Acts 2:38, 3:19,
11:18, 17:30, 26:30). Repentance is always after
the hearing of the word and faith in Christ Jesus (Acts 2:38,
9:6, Acts 16:32-33).
Without true repentance, turning from his or her sins, no one will ever
be saved.
What
else do the scriptures say is necessary for one to be saved?
It says one’s faith must lead one to confess their faith in
Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8: 35-38,
Rom. 10:9-10).
Before preceding any further in what the scriptures say about salvation,
let me make a point. That
point is that we need to study every example of conversion in the book
of Acts. It will soon be noted that not EVERY thing necessary for
salvation is mentioned in EVERY example of salvation. That does not
necessitate that every thing necessary for one to be forgiven of past
sins and become a Christian, a member of the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47)
did not take place in every example of conversion. If you were going
from one location to another and stopped along the way and asked how far
is it to your destination you would get a different answer every time
you asked. All the answers given were true at the point at which you
asked your question.
We also
find that these scriptures say that one must be baptized for the
remission of their sins (Acts 2:38,
9:18, 8:12-13,
37-39, 16:15, 33-34, 18:8,
22:16). We noted that not every thing necessary for forgiveness
is listed at every conversion, the ONLY thing mentioned in
every case of conversion is baptism. In Galatians 3:26-27 we
are told that we are baptized into Christ.
In Romans 6:3-6 we are told in being baptized
into Christ we are
baptized into His death and that we are
buried with Him by baptism . . .
to rise to walk in newness of life.
Paul in verses 16-18 said the Roman Christians changed from
being servants of sin to being servants of righteousness “by obeying
that form of doctrine (vs. 1-6) which was delivered you.” There we
reach the blood of Christ.
Thus
the scriptures say one must, hear the gospel, believe in Christ as the
Son of God, repent of their sins, confess their faith in Christ and be
baptized to become a child of God!
I stand willing to defend this to any one who is willing to
dispute that the scriptures so teach.
Garry Barnes |