Think on These Things
February 1999
3. Salvation By Grace Through Faith
Some conclude that if this gift is "free" (as the bible says that it is) then anything that we do to accept it would nullify it. Most often this reasoning is used to discredit baptism. However, if it is true, there is no reason that the same would not apply to any behavior change, including repentance and faith (which is work — Jn 6:29). There are but two conclusions that can be drawn if this is taken to its logical conclusion. Either: (1) all are unconditionally saved, or (2) God arbitrarily chooses who is saved and who is lost. The former is the doctrine of Universalism, and latter is Calvinism. Both are false doctrines that convince people that they are saved when they are not.
The bible teaches that there are conditions on man’s salvation. Compare this to your receiving an inheritance from a long lost uncle. Out of the blue you receive a check for $1 million. But there are still conditions — you still have to identify yourself, endorse the check, deposit it, and sign a receipt for it. Would we ever claim that we were purchasing the inheritance by meeting these conditions? No, we would do them with pleasure. Should God expect anything less?
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Surely the movie Titanic is recognized by most Americans as being one of the more "tame" movies to hit the screen, and being one of the biggest money-makers in movie history, many Christians feel compelled to see it. The author did not, but obtained the information from the article referenced above by Pitts, who decided not to view the film after seeing the reviews on www.Screenit.com. Pitts writes:
"The whole force of the story is how Jack’s "Bohemian" influence "frees" Rose from her "stiff" and "confining" societal rules and leads her to the "freedom" of a life filled with drunkenness, lasciviousness, and fornication. What a wonderful message to imbibe for Christian parents and children seeking to follow God’s directive that "... as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct (1 Pet. 1:15). What are we thinking?"
This movie would be a bad influence if it did not contain nudity or show people in the act of fornication, but it does both. If you have seen this movie (and we realize that many of you have), did it vex your conscience to see what it was that the writers, directors and producers of this movie were trying to get you to buy into? If not, then perhaps you are beyond hope. I have heard some imply that this was certainly not as bad as most movies. Think about the implications of that on our society! Can we fail to understand why most people rationalize away evil at the highest levels with the mantra "it’s only about sex?"
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Salvation By Grace Through Faith
That we are saved by God’s grace through faith is not the issue (Eph. 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."Paul is stressing that if we view the conditions that we have satisfied as meriting our salvation, then we fail to understand what God has done for us. Some might say: "Oh, but I have given up much to be a Christian." Have you? Consider what Jesus responded when asked by Peter (Mark 10:28-30): "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." Please meditate on this passage.
It states that we have absolutely not given up anything of value in this life to be faithful to God. God knows us better than we do ourselves, and he has given us, in His holy word, a guide for the best possible, most fulfilling and happiest life that we could possibly live. Those who believe God prove it everyday as they live in faithfulness to him (Rom. 12:2).
This absolutely does not say that salvation is unconditional, that we can do whatever we want, decide for ourselves what sin is, create our own plan of salvation, or fail to do God’s will. Jesus was totally consistent when he said (Matt. 7:21): "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
The point is that salvation is a matter of faith, and we accept it by doing God’s will (Heb. 5:9). In so doing we give up nothing and gain everything (Rom. 6:23), both now and throughout eternity. They are wrong who view baptism as a work that is used to earn salvation. Those who recognize it as an act of faith in the working of God (Col. 2:12) are saved by it (1 Pet. 3:21). And so it is with all of God’s commands.
They are seen by loving hearts as privileges, not obligations.
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but Paul was told (Acts 22:16):
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
We conclude that baptism of the believer is one of the conditions of salvation because: (a) Jesus made it a condition of salvation (Jn. 3:5, Mk. 16:16); (b) The apostles commanded it (Acts 2:38, 10:48); (c) It is the act that puts a person into Christ — his body, the church (Rom. 6:3, 1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:27); (d) It is where we participate in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12); (e) Every detailed example in the book of Acts concludes with the convert being baptized (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 8:38, 9:18, 10:48, 16:15, 16:33, 18:8, 19:5); (f) baptism washes away the sins that separate us from God (Acts 22:16) and finally, (g) baptism saves (1 Pet. 3:21).
Please read all of these scriptures and meditate upon them. If you believe what the bible says, the conclusion is inescapable. Given all of this evidence, how can any disciple of Christ or student of the bible minimize the importance of this command of Christ? Why not just teach and practice exactly what the bible teaches on the subject? When someone makes a statement about baptism that is not in the bible (e.g., that is is just an outward sign ...) this goes beyond the teaching of Jesus Christ, and 2 John 9 applies.
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