January 1, 2003, Vol.3, No.1.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "Do
We Have Anything to Do
with Our Own Salvation?" (see
below)
and "Introduction to Matthew"
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS:
Do We Have Anything
to Do
with Our Own Salvation?
by Tom Rainwater
 QUESTION:
[In a previous
article,] you've misinterpreted the Baptist doctine on how
to be saved. Ephesians 2:8-10 says "You are saved by grace
through faith..." When you truly accept Christ into you
life, you are a new creature (2Corinthians 5:17), the old is
passed away. Throughout history, humans have always tried to
have something to do with their salvation. This is the reason
we are saved through grace. Any good we think we do without Christ
is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
ANSWER: Hello, and thanks
for writing!
Is Faith a Work?
In my article on the errors of the Baptist church, I pointed
out that many Baptists believe a person is saved by "faith
only." Many Baptist preachers are on record defending that
position in religious debate. They also say (as you seem to imply)
that "faith" is not a "work" that we "do."
Jesus disagrees:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, 'This is the work
of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.'"
John 6:29.
The apostle Paul said:
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith,
and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the sight of God and our Father" 1Thessalonians 1:3.
Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is indeed something
we must do. God has given us abundant evidence for faith in Scripture.
The choice is ours whether or not we will believe.
"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence
of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 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 20:30-31.
Ephesians 2:8
Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace you have been saved
through faith..." Grace is everything God has done for us
in providing us salvation through Christ. However, that salvation
offered by our Lord is conditioned upon our own faith.
Faith must be demonstrated in obedience to God's word. If we
do not believe and obey Him, we cannot be saved.
"But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews
11:6.
Think about it: If we have absolutely nothing whatsoever to
do with our own salvation, then we are only saved if God picks
us out individually and makes us have faith. What about those
people whom God chooses to leave condemned? Is that fair? That
makes God a respecter of persons, doesn't it?
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth
I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every
nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted
with Him." Acts 10:34-35.
Isaiah 64:5-7.
The Isaiah verse you quoted does not teach that we're unable
to do anything to please Christ. In that context, the prophet
Isaiah considers God's anger against the sinful people of Judah.
Their "righteousness" was "as filthy rags"
because they continued in their "iniquities" without
repentance. They had ceased having the faith God required of
them.
We Cannot Be Saved Apart
from Christ
When men try to be saved apart from God's instructions, they
will fail every time. When we do what He has commanded
us, He has promised to save us. It's that simple.
"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. Many will say to me in
that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works?' And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth
them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and
the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for
it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened
unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall
of it." Matthew 7:21-27.
What Has the Lord Told Us
We Must Do?
In His word, the Lord has told us to believe (John 3:16; Acts
10:43), repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30), confess
(Romans 10:10; Acts 8:36-38), and be baptized in water for the
remission of our sins (Mark 16:16; John 3:5, 1 Peter 3:21, Galatians
3:27, Romans 6:2-4, Acts 22:16). Study these passages and see
for yourself if God has commanded us to do these
things. Please. Your salvation depends on it.
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