ChristianDebates

Salvation is a Serious Issue

Since it is a serious issue, for a person to make a doctrinal statement out of HOW to be saved, they have to look at what is common in salvation Scriptures. And what is common to them all? BELIEF. FAITH. Never water baptism.

For the great salvation passages to teach salvation through faith AND water baptism, BOTH would have to be in at least the VAST MAJORITY of Scriptures (and I really think it should be ALL). And it must specify water, and not Spirit. For example:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him and is baptized in water should not perish but have everlasting life."

"I tell you the truth - he that believes on Me and is baptized in water hath everlasting life."

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be baptized in water, and thou shalt be saved."

"And it shall come to pass, that whoever calleth upon the name of the Lord and is baptized in water shall be saved."

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and is baptized in water, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation after baptism in water."

"For by grace and water baptism are ye saved, through faith and water baptism, not of works (except for water baptism), lest any man should boast."

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and he that cometh to Me and is baptized in water, I shall in no wise cast out."

"I tell you the truth, he that hears My word, and believes on Him that sent me, and is baptized in water, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life."

"Jesus answered and said unto to them, 'This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent and that ye be baptized in water."

"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, and is baptized in water may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

That is NOT the consistent witness of Scripture. The Scriptures AGREE CONSISTENTLY that BELIEF is the condition of salvation. BELIEVING GOD. Faith alone.

Abraham BELIEVED GOD and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, (not through faith AND water baptism) preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE.

AFTER SALVATION, you begin to obey what you see commanded in Scripture. It's that simple.

Published 11.27.2008

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