Salvation and Requirements Thereof

Question 1: Can a person save himself?

ANSWER: A person cannot devise his own plan of salvation; nor is he saved by "works of righteousness" (Titus 3:5). However, without "works of obedience" one cannot be saved (James 2:14-26). These are the "works" Peter referred to in Acts 2:40 when he told those (and us) on Pentecost day, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." What were these "works" they were told to do? Verse thirty-eight answers, " (You be­lievers) Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins . . ." Verse forty-one, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."  Thus, they are said to have saved themselves in their obedience to God's saving plan! Titus 3:5: 'not by works of righteousness, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration/renewing (baptism),' which is described as the new birth in John 3:3-5!

Question 2: Can a person have his sins remitted (be saved) before or with­out baptism? Can one go to heaven if he or she has not been baptized?

ANSWER: The answer to both questions is "No!" Baptism precedes and is es­sential to salvation. Without scriptural baptism none can enter heaven! Scriptural baptism is an immersion in water "for" (in order to) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and that which puts one into the "one" body (church) of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13).  Please ad­ditionally read Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27 & I Peter 3:21. Note in these passages that baptism comes before salvation; that baptism puts one into Christ; and that "baptism" doth also now save us!

A true Christian is not one who merely says, "I am a Christian," but one whose life conforms to the will of our Lord. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, "Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." In Verses 22/23, we learn that in Judgment Day many will claim to be Christians, but He will say to them, "I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity." One then must become, and remain, a Christian according to the Bi­ble. No other way will do, nor stand in the Judgment (John 12:48).

To become a New Testament Christian, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24); repent (turn away from) of sins (Luke 13:3); confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9-10); and be immersed in water (Acts 8:35-39) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) into the one body (I Corinthians 12:13) of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). This church is His church and is, therefore, to be called by His name, the Church of Christ (Romans 16:16). It is to this church that one is added by God after being obedient to the above scriptures. Then, and only then, can it be said that one is a true New Testament Christian! Any other way will not do! Any other church will not do!

Question 3: If none can be saved outside the church without baptism, how is it that Jesus saved many without the church or baptism when He was on the earth?

ANSWER: During Jesus' earthly ministry, the Great Commission of Mark 16:15-16 had not yet been given; the church had not yet been estab­lished. It did not come into existence until fifty days after His death. Therefore, the peo­ple saved by Jesus during His public ministry, having lived under the Old Testament Law (including the thief on the cross) were saved neither in the church, nor out of the church! Jesus physically healed and forgave sins while on this earth in order to prove His divinity (Matthew 9:1-6), not to set a pattern by which men for all time could receive remission of sins. This one authorized pattern was set forth for the first time on the birth­day of the church, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). It is binding upon all men everywhere, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:39). Those who gladly receive and obey this one pattern will be added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:41-47). There is no other pattern; no other way!

Question 4: Is it necessary to be a member of the Catholic Church, Pente­costal Church, or any other church in order to be saved?

ANSWER: It is not necessary to belong to either the Catholic Church, the Pente­costal Church, nor any of today's denominations! However, it is necessary to be a member of the church for which Jesus died. He said that He would build one church (Matthew 16:18). In Acts, Chapter two, we read of its establishment. Paul said in Ephesians 1:22-23, that the church is His body. Later, in Ephesians 4:4, he tells us that there is only one body. It is into this one body, this church, that one "must" be baptized through the agency (the di­rection) of the one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13). The direction of the Spirit comes only through the word of God, which tells us how a person enters that one church. On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), those who "gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (vs.41). "And the Lord added daily to the church (His church) such as were being saved (vs.47). These believ­ing people re­pented, and were baptized for the remission of sins, after which they were added to the church that Christ had built. (They were not added to the Catholic Church, which was es­tablished much later in 606AD; they were not added to the Pentecostal Church, which began around the beginning of this century; nor were they added to de­nominationalism, which had it's many beginnings since the fifteenth century!) All of the saved people on Pentecost Day were members of the Church of Christ! Obviously, there is no differ­ence between those who live today and the people of Acts chapter two! When people today, as they, gladly receive His word (when they believe and submit totally to it), repent, and are im­mersed in water for the re­mission of sins, they too are added by God to the same church; the one church, the Church of Christ (Romans 16:16). Since Christ built only one church (the church of the Bible), it can only be con­cluded that all other religious organizations (including the Catholic and Pentecostal Churches) were built by man (Matthew 15:8-14). In these, there is no promise of salvation; no promise of hope; no promise of the bless­ings of Christ (Ephesians 1:3). These promises are to be found only in His church; the Church of Christ!

Question 5: What about the thief on the cross?

ANSWER: The New Testament law under which we live today did not become effective until Pentecost day; fifty days after Jesus (and the thief) died on the cross (Acts 2; Hebrews 9:16-17). The thief neither lived nor died under the New Testament, as we today. The Great Commission of Christ in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16 was first proclaimed in Acts, Chapter two, after the thief died! On this day Peter presented the terms of salvation to believing Jews in Verse thirty-eight: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." These same terms of salvation are applicable to everyone from that day until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:39). The thief on the cross was not answerable to these terms of salvation, because he died before they were proclaimed! Examples then of how one is saved today should not be based on those (like the thief) who lived under a different Law and different circumstances, but rather they should be based on those in the book of Acts who also lived under the New Testament. All of the people in these examples, without fail, were saved when they believed, repented, confessed, and were baptized! We can do no less if salvation would be ours!

Question 6: What things must a sinner admit?

ANSWER: He must admit that he is a sinner (Romans 3:23) and that he wants (and needs) to be saved from his sins. Having admitted such, he must then turn in obedi­ent belief to God's Word that his soul might indeed be saved (James 1:21).

Question 7: What does it mean to believe?

ANSWER: It does not mean that one gives only mental assent that Christ is God's Son. It is much more than that, since even the devils do that much (James 2:19). It means that one must put his total trust and confidence in Jesus Christ by becoming fully obedient to His commandments. It means becoming a true Christian, not by de­nominational standards and teachings, but solely on the basis of New Testament teach­ings.

Question 8: Is a person lost or saved by the deeds of others?

ANSWER: No! The Bible is explicitly clear on this matter! In Ezekiel 18:20, we read the following: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Clearly, every man is innocent or guilty before God on the basis of his own actions; not the actions of another!

Question 9: Can a woman be saved who is involved in witchcraft?

ANSWER: She can only be saved by belief in Christ (John 8:24), repenting of (turning from) all sins (including the sin of witchcraft), confessing her belief in Christ (Romans 10:10) and being immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Those who continue in activities such as witchcraft will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 19-21).

Question 10: Would you please explain John 3:16 as relates to our salvation? Does it not teach that we are saved at the point of belief?

ANSWER: No! It does not! Saving faith in Christ is not simply belief or mental assent that He exists and is the Son of God! Saving faith is belief in Christ, conjoined with obedience to Him! This obedient faith is described, by example, throughout Hebrews, Chapter eleven, which we encourage you to study. Without this kind of faith, "it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

There are those who falsely teach that a person is saved by "faith only" when they first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that there are no acts or works of obedi­ence required in order to become a New Testament Christian. This false doctrine is clearly refuted in James 2:14-26! Note especially Verse twenty-four, "Ye see then how that by works (of obedience) a man is justified, and not by faith only." It needs also to be stated that a man is "not" saved by works of merit or righteousness. Note Titus 3:5; "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by (through) the 'washing of regeneration' (baptism), and renewing of the Holy Spirit." This coincides with what Peter told believing people to do on the Day of Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized . . . (not by works of righteousness, but by works of obedience) for the remission of sins." 

To become a New Testament Christian, certain actions are commanded to which one must be obedient in order to be saved! One must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24): repent (turn away from) of sins (Luke 3:3); confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9-10): and be immersed (baptized) in water (Acts 8:35-39) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) into the one body (I Corinthians 12:13) of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). It is at the point of baptism that the blood of Christ is applied and from which we rise to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-6), having been born again of water and of (at the direction of) the Spirit.

The doctrine of "Faith Only" is of man, and not of God!

Question 11: What can I do to help another friend who believes she will be saved by her good deeds alone?

ANSWER: Certainly it is necessary that Christians engage in doing good works (Matthew 25:31-41). However, it is just as certain that one cannot be saved without obedience to the totality of the New Testament, the Law of Christ (Matthew 7:21-29; Romans 6:16-18; Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; I Peter 1:22; I Peter 4:17; II Thessalonians 1:7-9). It is by the Law of Christ that all will be judged (John 12:48), not simply by the good deeds we may do. Consider Cornelius in Acts, Chapter ten. In Verse two, we find he was a man of many good works, yet he needed to hear "words" by which he could be saved (Acts 11:14). His "works" did not save him! Peter spoke "words" to him (as recorded in Acts 10:34-43) so that he could receive remission of sins (Vs.43). In Verse forty-eight, Cornelius was there given a commandment, which if "obeyed," would result in the promised remission of sins. This was the very thing that Peter had commanded those on the Day of Pentecost to do (Acts 2:38). None can be saved in any other way, because God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

Question 12: If a person accepts Christ, repents, confesses Christ as His personal Savior and intends to be baptized, but dies before he can be baptized, is he saved or not?

ANSWER: This type of question is often asked by some that want to avoid what the Bible teaches about baptism and its purpose. If one would ask this kind of question about baptism, would it not be fair for that one to also ask the following questions? (1) If a person intends to accept Christ, but dies before he actually does it, is he saved or not? (2) If a person accepts Christ, but dies before he repents of his sins, is he saved or not? (3) If a person accepts Christ, repents of his sins and intends to confess Christ, but dies before doing so, is he saved or lost? Why single out the act of baptism? Why not address all of the required steps leading to salvation, because what is true of one is true of all! If not, why not? All of the steps of salvation are necessary unto salvation. God has given all of us, who are of age and sound mind, sufficient time to do what He requires. If we do not take advantage of the time given, the fault lies with us, not with God!

Some denominational organizations reject the biblical approach to immediate baptism for the remission of sins, i.e., Acts 2:41, “the same day;” Acts 8:36, “as they went on their way;” Acts 16:33, “the same hour of the night;” Acts 22:16, “arise and be baptized.” Certainly, when this biblical approach is ignored and people are “saved up” until Easter or some other occasion, the possibility increases immensely that one will die with the intent to be baptized. However, in the great majority of these cases candidates are not baptized for the right reason anyhow and, therefore, the baptism is invalid as a result, even when, and if, it does occur! The question, nonetheless, is purely hypothetical. How many people have you known to have believed, repented of sins, publicly confessed Christ before men, and then died as they went “immediately” on their way to the water, as was the practice in the New Testament? Violate the “pattern” and the possibility increases! Stay with the biblical pattern and the possibility is likely “nil.”

What we do know is that Christ our Lord spoke the words by which we will one day be judged (John 12:48) “He that believeth “and” is baptized shall be saved!” The word “and” is a coordinating conjunction that grammatically connects two values of equal import, both of which are necessary to the result of the indicated compound command, i.e., salvation! Who has the right to say that only one or the other is necessary, or that only one is necessary under certain conditions? To do so is to abrogate the words of our Lord! It is to assume that we have the right to override His authoritative command based on human rationale. God forbid that we should be so found guilty!

Question 13: How can I repent and confess? What must I do to be saved? What is salvation?

ANSWER: To be saved, one must (1) hear the good news of Jesus Christ, (2) believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24); (3) repent of (turn away from) sins (Luke 3:3); (4) confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9-10); and be baptized in water (Acts 8:35-39) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) into the one body (I Corinthians 12:13) of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). This church is His church and is, therefore, to be called by His name, the church of Christ (Romans 16:16). It is to this church that God adds one after being obedient to the above scriptures. Then, and only then, can it be said that one is saved! Any other way will not do! Any other church will not do!

(1)   To “hear” the good news means that one must have heard that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God; that He came from heaven into this world to save sinners; that He died for our sins; was buried in the earth; that He arose the third day, after which He ascended back to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

(2)   To “believe” that Jesus Christ is the Son of God means that one must not only accept those things stated above, but that he or she must be willing to surrender completely to Him; to do the things that He wants us to do and to stop doing those things that He does not want us to do.

(3)   To “repent” means that we must be sorry for the sins that we have committed because we have been offensive to our God; it is a changing of the mind about how we have been living that will bring about a change of action; that we will begin living for Christ according to His Word.

(4)   To “confess” means that we must openly state with the mouth before men our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

(5)   To be “baptized” means that one must be completely immersed under water with the understanding that in that act he or she will symbolically contact the blood of Christ that will wash away all past sins; that by that act one is saved and becomes a child of God, a New Testament Christian and is added, by God, to the Church of Christ.

Salvation simply means that when one does all of these things, he or she is “saved” from the consequences of their sins (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23); that God has forgiven them of all past sins. If one remains “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10) in the Church of Christ he or she, then, will be saved eternally in heaven from destruction in hell.

Question 14: Must we confess before we are baptized? (Matthew 3:6).

ANSWER: Yes! It is necessary to confess our sins before baptism. Though the baptism of John is not the baptism of Christ, Matthew 3:6 does not teach nor imply that confession follows baptism in either case. The language structure in both the Greek and English indicate that John baptized people upon their confession, i.e., after they had confessed. Romans 10:9-10, applicable to all who will be saved through the baptism of Christ, clearly teaches also that confession of Christ with the mouth is necessary before (unto) salvation, which is realized upon one’s obedience in baptism (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38).

Question 15: Would you define repentance?

ANSWER: (Grk. metanoia, a "change" of mind). It is a thorough change in the heart of man away from sin and toward God. Repentance is inseparable from faith, since without it no one can truly repent, and repentance cannot occur until the sinner fully realizes that he cannot be saved by any other means than by the God against whom he has sinned. And there can be no saving faith without true repentance (Acts 2:38). Repentance involves the following components, (1) a genuine sorrow toward God on account of sin (II Corinthians 7:9-10; Matthew 5:3-4; Psalms 51:1); (2) a disgust toward sin, necessarily followed by the actual forsaking of it (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20). Repentance has not occurred, if that for which one has been sorrowful toward God is allowed to continue, i.e., without a cessation of that for which one has been sorrowful, there is no forgiveness or salvation, i.e., being and saying I am sorry for a sin does not turn a sinful act into a righteous act. If it was sin before sorrow appeared, it remains sin after sorrow appears; and (3) humble self-surrender to the will and service of God (Acts 9:6; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).

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