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Category Archives: Grace

Children of God

15th January, 2017 · Chapman · Leave a comment

When one begins to contemplate the many blessings bestowed upon himself throughout one day, he should be both mesmerized by the enormity of these gifts and humbled by their presence in his life. When one further contemplates the Creator of all the universe caring for him, it truly brings a sense of awe. As the Psalmist wrote, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). No truer question could have ever been asked than, Who am I to receive such wonderful blessings?

It is this sense of awe that prompts within us our humility. We are humbled because we understand our weaknesses and failure to maintain faithfulness to God. We freely confess that we have fallen short and deserve nothing, but even then God continues to love, forgive, and reunite our lives with His will. We are humbled by the empirical evidence that manifest God’s love, one that is greater than any we should ever deserve. Our very being both spiritually and physically is sustained by our Father who reigns in heaven – Who am I to ever be called one of His children?

It is with this foundation of awe and humility, we want to examine these words of the apostle John – “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1). It is this love of God manifested in our lives that has forever changed not only our course on earth but our eternal destinies. We are no longer just average men but are children of God. Do we honor God by humbly thanking Him for this awesome gift? Do we contemplate what it means to be called a child of God and the rich blessings we obtain through this new relationship? Our task is to evaluate the text of John’s first epistle and to think about the rich blessings we are given through God’s wondrous love.

The first blessing of being a child of God is sharing in fellowship with the Father and Son (1 John 1:7). When we put on Christ in baptism, our motivation in life has changed from selfish interest to selfless concern. Our love and the pursuit of worldly things is redesigned to now love the Father and carry out His will (1 John 2:15-17). We have been called to walk in a manner as He walked (1 John 2:6). Our lives become a manifestation of this change, when others no longer see vain pursuits but a life given to righteousness (1 John 2:29). This change originates and continues daily because of the fellowship we share with the Father and Son.

The second blessing of being a child of God is the forgiveness of sins. Our God’s love is incomprehensible! As Paul said, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). While man struggles to forgive his debtors and to love his enemies, our God loved us while we were yet sinners and completely unlovable. This is only possible because our God is love and because in His love lies the gift of forgiveness (1 John 4:8). While God does expect us to live differently after salvation, He also continues to forgive those who confess and repent of their sins. John said, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). There is no excuse for a Christian to live with sin for John said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Therefore, we must live in such a way to confess our faults and ask for God’s forgiveness.

A third blessing of being a child of God is the hope and assurance of a better life coming. John spoke of eternal life in both the immediate sense and future sense in his short epistle. John wrote in the immediate sense to encourage those Christians who were having to endure both physical persecutions and the false teaching of their day to remain faithful (1 John 2:26; 4:1-6). This purpose was further explained by John when he wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Building upon this foundation, John moved from their immediate situation by exhorting them to live with full assurance of eternal life in the future sense. As he wrote, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). John encouraged the faithful to carry on by reminding them of their future glory and home in heaven with the Father and Son.

While this list was never meant to be exhaustive, it does gives us three key blessings that transcend the centuries by continuing to encourage us in our faithfulness to God. What a tremendous thought that we will all share in the same result as our brethren of the 1st century if we remain faithful to God? Will you be found walking in the light or will you forfeit God’s richest blessings for a momentary pleasure of sin? We have been called to not walk like mere men but rather to walk on a higher plane with a new purpose. We are encouraged by John to walk in love, truth, knowledge, forgiveness, light, etc., because these are the traits manifested in our Father. May our lives continually be in awe of God’s surpassing love and humbled by His wondrous forgiveness so that we remain to be called – Children of God!

By Colby Junkin

Posted in Baptism, Bulletin Articles, Grace, Love, Plan of Salvation, The Nature of God |

Good News, Bad News Postings

7th February, 2016 · Chapman · Leave a comment

A couple of months ago we announced that we would begin to run a series titled, “Good News, Bad News” on the social media site, Facebook. While making the announcement, we also encouraged our own members to like and share the posts (of course, only if they truly agreed with the post) on their own walls as the extra likes and shares help create additional traffic for our social media site and potential visitors to our website. (Of course, the church is not in the “business” of creating viral posts, however, by reaching a greater audience we give others a better opportunity to be exposed to the word of God.)

The purpose behind the series “Good News, Bad News” was to show that in the darkest moments humans will experience in this lifetime, there is a beacon of hope if one will turn to God. The purpose of the series was intended to highlight the fact that apart from God man is nothing, but with Him man has the opportunity to live life as God intended it to be lived. The purpose of the series was to emphasize that without God there is only bad news, but with God we can see the Good News while surrounded by bad news.

I am happy to report that the series “Good News, Bad News” has been received favorably. Everyone’s efforts in helping spread the Good News of Jesus Christ are appreciated. Lord willing, the plan is to continue with the series.

Below is a compilation of four of our postings on Facebook. These are shared with the intention that those who are not on Facebook may feel a part of the work and may be encouraged by them. Hopefully those who have seen these before can also benefit from them

Troubles of Life: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: The reality is that from the cradle to the grave we will all experience troubles and difficulties.

The Good News: God cares! “…Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

The Tree of Life: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: When Adam and Eve were disobedient to God as recorded in Genesis 3, one of the consequences of this sin was the prohibition to the tree of life. An omnidirectional flaming sword was set to guard it (Genesis 3:24).

The Good News: When you come to the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, we are told that access to the tree of life can be ours! “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

The Younger Son of Luke 15: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: The parable that is often referred to as the parable of the “prodigal son” begins with the younger son demanding his portion of his inheritance from his father and journeying to a far country where he wastes his possessions with prodigal living (Luke 15:12, 13). So bleak does his future appear that “he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods which the swine ate” (15:16).

The Good News: The father was a father of compassion, mercy, and second opportunities. In Luke 15:20-24 we read of one of the most tender exchanges in all of Scripture. The good news of this parable is that just as the father of the younger son eagerly received his wayward son, so does our Father anticipate our turning away from sin and coming to His arms for a joyous reunion!

Confusion Surrounding the Bible: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: Religious confusion exists. For example, if you were to ask about how someone is saved today, you will, without a doubt, receive many, varied answers to your question. Such confusion is disheartening and frustrating.

The Good News: It is possible to understand God’s will (Ephesians 5:17). God has revealed His mind in such a way that anyone can come to know it! The words of Ephesians 3:3-5 are truly good news: “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”

Isaac Muñoz

Posted in Bible Study, Bulletin Articles, Christian Living, Grace, Salvation, Sin |

Barabbas and Us

18th October, 2015 · Chapman · Leave a comment

Pilate had a decision to make. And, it turns out, this decision would have the biggest impact on the world in which he lived and in every generation since. Even casual readers of the Bible know what Pilate ultimately decided: to condemn Jesus to death. That fateful choice ensured not only that Jesus would die, but that He would die one of the cruelest and most painful deaths one can imagine.

Pilate made a choice to end Jesus’ life. Had he elected to go another route, Barabbas would have died, and justice would have been served. Barabbas was a notorious prisoner (Matthew 27:16) who had committed murder in the rebellion (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). If there was ever a man deserving of the death penalty it was Barabbas; after all, he had taken the life of a human. If there was ever a man who was underserving of the death penalty or any type of rebuke it was Jesus. In the place of taking life, He gave life (Lazarus in John 11). In the place of promoting rebellion against the Roman Empire, He taught others to pay taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:21).

Pilate had a decision to make, but it should not have been a difficult one. His two options could not be more different and Pilate was aware of these differences (Matthew 27:23). By Pilate’s decision to wash his hands clean of the decision (Matthew 27:24, 25) he elected to take the coward’s way out and had Jesus crucified.

What must Barabbas have thought? Could a heart where rage and hate formerly dwelt have felt gratitude at this moment, or at the very least felt a sigh of relief? An exoneration did not take place here, for he was a guilty man, but that he enjoyed all the freedoms of someone formerly unjustly incarcerated cannot be denied.

Personally, I have a very difficult time attempting to understand how Barabbas felt: I have never been to prison (at least, not on the other side of the bars) and my life has never before hung on the whim of blood-thirsty crowd, so I struggle to relate with this notorious felon. I am sure most reading this understand my plight.

Yet, as I look more carefully at his situation, I begin to see some similarities of which I am none too proud. Just as Barabbas was rebellious, I have been rebellious. Just as Barabbas was a murderer, I have been a murderer.

Barabbas rebelled against the Roman Empire through the insurrection. I have been rebellious against God. Romans 3:9, 10 speaks of my rebellion. “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.’”

Barabbas took precious human life. I have taken precious life. Acts 2:36 was spoken to the Jews of Peter’s day, but could easily apply to myself as well. “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Do you see yourself in Barabbas too? Have you rebelled against God? Are you guilty of putting Jesus on the cross because of your sins (Hebrews 6:6)? If you can see yourself in Barabbas, and I think you can, then you also can see what the penalties for these transgressions are. Like Barabbas, we were on death row, simply waiting for the day of our execution.

This is where the story changes. Yes, Pilate helped along the decision, but the decision to save us from our sins was made long before Pilate. This is the story of salvation. An innocent man (Jesus) takes the penalty for the guilty man (Barabbas). Romans 5:8 summarizes our salvation very well. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The innocent One who gives life to all, dies for the guilty one who takes life. What a marvelous story of love!

I hope we all praise God for what He has done for us and what He does for us! We cannot repay such love.

As you ponder the story of Barabbas, please don’t fail to see your own guilt as well. We scorn at the likes of men like Barabbas, but when we compare ourselves to him see more similarities than differences. Of course, the most obvious similarity is our need for a Savior who can remove our sin. Also, let us never allow the death of Jesus to become commonplace. May we all live with the gratitude He is owed and the love He deserves.

Isaac Muñoz

Posted in Bulletin Articles, Christian Living, Grace, Obedience, Repentance, Salvation, Sin |

Grace Teaches

9th August, 2015 · Chapman · Leave a comment

John Gibson

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14

The brief epistle of Titus is filled with instructions, including those for the appointment of elders (1:5-11), proper behavior for various groups of people (2:1-10), our conduct toward those in authority (3:1, 2), dealing with the divisive (3:9-11), and several other things. While all of these are important, our focus in this will be on the Spirit’s revelation of what God’s grace does for us.

“The grace of God that brings salvation….”
Since all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), we all deserve death, but by the grace of God we can have salvation instead. Let us thank God for His undeserved grace.

“Has appeared….”
As the Spirit said through Paul in Eph. 3:5, in other ages the mystery of God’s grace was not made known, but now it has been revealed by His holy apostles and prophets. There will be some who will not avail themselves of God’s grace, but the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) has been revealed and recorded. Let’s not allow its appearance be in vain.

“To all men….”
The unconditional election and predestination of Calvinism (Re-formed theology) is completely without biblical foundation; in fact, it is contradicted by numerous passages such as those that speak of the gospel being for every creature (Mark 16:15, 16), God’s impartiality (Acts 10:34, 35), His desire that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-6), and numerous others. No matter who we are or what we have done, we can be comforted by knowing that God’s grace has appeared to all men.

“Teaching us that….”
Grace, though undeserved, comes with some instructions and requirements. God has manifested His grace to all, but unfortunately it will be in vain for some because they will not heed its teaching (2 Cor. 6:1). Are we listening to the teachings of the God who desires our salvation.

“Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts….”
God offers cleansing from the guilt of sin, but only for those willing to repent and turn from their wicked ways. Cf. Acts 2:38; 17:30, 31; 2 Pet. 3:9; et al. No sinful pleasure should be allowed to stand between us and the grace of God.

“We should live soberly, righteously, and godly…”
The Lord not only demands that we give up the old ways of sin, but having become freed from sin, He expects us to be “zealous for good works.” This brief epistle places great emphasis on the positive life of those saved by His mercy (Titus 3:5). God’s people are to “be a pattern of good works…ready for every good work…careful to maintain good works…maintain good works.” Ti-tus 2:7; 3:1, 8, 14

In the present age….
Though the people of Crete lived in the midst of “liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12), they were expected to rise above it and live the kind of lives God expected from them. We can’t allow the wickedness of the present age to become our excuse, for we too can rise above it.

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ….”
To deny oneself the sinful pleasures this world offers and in turn to commit to choosing righteousness is not easy, but the “hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2) will sustain us. And though we live in the present age, we realize our hope is in Jesus and His return. This age has its difficulties and disappointments, but we must press on in hope.

“Who gave Himself for us….”
Nothing speaks more clearly to the grace of God than the cross on which “the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:19) was shed for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). Amazing grace indeed that Jesus chose to “taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).

“That He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify….”
When we heed the instructions of grace and are baptized into Christ, our sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38) and by His mercy we re-ceive the “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). How wonderful to know that God no longer holds our sins against us, for every transgression is forgiven and “remember[ed] no more” (Heb. 8:12). People sometimes want to hold our past against us, but the God of grace won’t.

“For Himself His own special people….”
Though we had sinned and come short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23) and the world may look down on us, by His grace the tremendous honor of becoming His special people has been given us. With all that His grace offers, let’s be sure we heed its instructions.

Posted in Bulletin Articles, Calvinism, Election, Free Will, Grace, Predestination, Salvation, Sin |

Should God Have Made Us, Knowing Many Will Be Lost?

21st June, 2015 · Chapman · Leave a comment

Doy Moyer

One of the more difficult questions asked about God is this: why would God create people whom He knew would reject Him and, therefore, be forever lost?

First, while the following may not typically satisfy the unbeliever who asks the question, we need to consider this:

“Who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.” (Rom. 9:20-24)

This gets into the nature of God, who is all-knowing, all-wise, and sovereign over life and death. Do we really have a right to question God on the way we are made? Even so, there is an important idea stated in this passage that helps inform us about the issue: God has shown His patience and wrath toward those who perish so that He can show forth His grace and glorify His people. The wicked do perish, and while God would rather that they all come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9), He will not allow that fact to keep Him from being able to glorify His own. He is a God who glorifies. He took the risk, at least in part, because glorifying people is worth it to Him.

God created humankind with free will and the capacity to choose love. He did this so that He can glorify, but we make a mess through our abuse of the freedom and choice to hate God and others. Should that fact have kept God from creating those whom He can glorify? Not at all.

Why should those who freely choose to love God be prevented from being blessed, saved, and glorified just because there will be those who choose not to love God? If people choosing not to love God should have prevented God from making the human race with free will and the capacity to love, then the idea of the negative, obstinate, hard-hearted who would have had no desire for God would have wielded more influence over God’s decisions and will than the fact that it is in God’s nature to bless and glorify free will creatures. Evil should not be allowed to suppress the good. For God to keep from doing good because He knows there will be evil would be to let the concept of evil have the final say in what ought to happen. This is not God’s mode of operation.

I can only conclude that the provision to bless and glorify His image-bearers is extremely important to God in the scheme of things — more important than letting the fact that many will perish stop Him from doing what He loves and wills to do. Allowing the knowledge of unbelief to keep Him from creating those whom He can glorify together with Him would be giving too much credence to rejection. Is Yahweh a God who allows the negative to trump the positive, the evil to overcome the good? Apparently not. Let’s not forget, either, that God has made this salvation and glory available to all by His grace.

Every parent knows that bringing a child into the world runs a risk. The child can bring great joy and happiness, or the child can bring much sorrow and pain. Parents desire to have children that they can bless and care for. They know they will have times of great difficulty. They know there will be growing pains. They patiently work with their children through the hardships to bring them up. Parental desire to bless their children doesn’t change even as they grow up and move out. Yet that risk is there that the children will finally rebel, reject parental love, and turn their backs on the blessings and love that come through the family. Even so, knowing this risk and possibility, people keep having children and holding on to the desire to have a family they can bless and keep in close fellowship. The potential for the love and joy is great enough to take that risk. There is goodness in being able to bless someone. That goodness and love is in the nature of God, and this motivates God to bless and glorify a special people, even though others will have turned their backs on Him to be lost.

Likewise, every potential friendship runs the risk of causing great pain and heart-ache. Yet, we believe strongly enough in the love, the fellowship, and the joy that comes from it that we are willing to run that risk of loss. Should we let the fact that some may betray us cause us never to seek out friendship, fellowship, or love? Should we let the fear of loss keep us from the potential of love and joy?

Why would God create people whom he knew would reject Him and therefore be forever lost? It would seem, at least in part, that the answer lies in the fact that God, in His goodness, love, and grace, has strong motivation to bless and glorify free will creatures made in His image. Yet to make free will creatures He can glorify also meant making free will creatures who would choose to reject and hate Him, which puts them in a very bad position. Bear in mind, also, that even if we never fully understand this, that does not put us in a position to deny God.

God’s offer and desire is to glorify us, but He won’t force us to accept. Will we be vessels of wrath prepared for destruction or vessels of mercy prepared for glory? As Moses told the people of his day, “So choose life in order that you may live” (Deut. 30:19).

Posted in Bulletin Articles, Free Will, Grace, The Nature of God |

We Are Saved By Nothing “Alone” II

15th February, 2015 · Chapman · Leave a comment

Isaac Muñoz

[Editor’s Note: This article is a follow-up to last week’s article.]

Last week we ran an article in which we urged against the notion of saying that we are saved by one thing, and one thing alone. While many religious people have no problem declaring faith alone, grace alone, or baptism alone to be the determining factor in our salvation, the Bible makes it clear that we are not saved by anything alone. As proof that there are several things at work in our salvation, please study this list compiled from Scripture:

  1. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:5).
  2. We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8).
  3. We are saved by baptism (1 Peter 3:21).
  4. We are saved by obedience (Hebrews 5:9).
  5. We are saved by confession (Romans 10:9, 10).
  6. We are saved by repentance (Luke 24:47).
  7. We are saved by belief and baptism (Mark 16:16).
  8. We are saved by repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).
  9. We are saved by hope (Romans 8:24).
  10. We are saved by works (James 2:24).
  11. We are saved by mercy (Titus 3:5).
  12. We are saved by the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5).
  13. We are saved by the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
  14. We are saved by calling on the name of the Lord (Rom. 10:13).
  15. We are saved by the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1, 2).

Clearly, we err when we try to oversimplify the Scriptures by narrowing salvation down to one thing. That being said, some credit must be given here. When people assert we are saved by faith alone they can at least turn to Ephesians 2:8 as it appears to support their argument. This does not mean they are correct, but they at least attempted to use Scripture to defend their beliefs. The same could be said of those that would defend the doctrine regarding being saved by grace alone, because at least they can turn to a passage, in this case Ephesians 2:5, and make an attempt at using a portion of Scripture to defend their beliefs.

In short, one can understand why someone might hold to one of the doctrines enumerated above because they appear to come from Scripture. Again, this does not justify that belief but at least one can see why they might believe what they believe.

What is difficult to understand is how there are some that will say we are saved by things that are never connected to salvation or even found in the Bible. This happens all too often and is perplexing. Consider these two proposed means of salvation that have no biblical backing.

Sinner’s Prayer

Who knows how many millions of people have been told to recite this prayer to accept Jesus in their hearts which will result in salvation. Yet, where is this prayer found in the Bible? The Bible I use contains a “model sinner’s prayer” in the back, but it is obvious it has been added by humans and was not a product of God’s inspiration.

Saul of Tarsus, before being saved from his sins, prayed for three days and was then told what he must do in order to be saved. Calling upon Jesus was necessary but notice in Acts 22:16 that it is connected to baptism.

Salvation through Mary

On pages 189, 254, 255 in Glories of Mary (official publication of the Roman Catholic Church) makes it clear that Mary, mother of Jesus is essential in the process of salvation of the human soul. Again we ask the question, where is the biblical proof of this?

Please understand that Mary was a special woman. We do well to call her blessed (Luke 1:48). But to place her on a pedestal which rightfully belongs to her Son is wrong. Verses such as John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and 1 Timothy 2:5 demonstrate that salvation comes from Jesus and Jesus alone. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that Mary is not once mentioned following Acts 1:14.

The question of how man is saved is an important question to answer, and as we have seen, one which is attempted to answer in many different ways. As we speak with others in regards to this question, let’s make sure our answer comes from the Scriptures and that they are used in the way in which God intended them to be used.

Posted in Baptism, Bulletin Articles, Faith, Grace, Obedience, Repentance, Salvation, Works |

We Are Saved By Nothing “Alone”

8th February, 2015 · Chapman · Leave a comment

Isaac Muñoz

[Editor’s Note: Though we have run this article before, we think it is worth repeating and hope it is helpful to all.]
Hardly does any one question arouse more fervent debate and heated exchanges than the following question: “What saves men?” Being that the answer to this question has eternal ramifications, it is an important question and one which people will arduously contend for.
Just a cursory reading of the Bible reveals that men are saved by a number of things, yet we so often read and hear from supposed Bible scholars that men are saved by “grace alone” or by “faith alone.” But as soon as they say this they find themselves in a con-tradiction. Some say man is saved by grace alone, but then add that he must also believe. Others say he is saved by faith alone, but then pile on that he must repent of his sins and say the Sinner’s prayer.
Then there are others that say baptism is the only thing that saves man from his sins. Allow me to suggest that if we could all stick with what the Scriptures say about our salvation that would elimi-nate all the confusion regarding this subject.
How is man saved according to the Scriptures? Please note what the Bible has to say about how man is saved from his sins:

  1. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:5).
  2. We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8).
  3. We are saved by baptism (1 Peter 3:21).
  4. We are saved by obedience (Hebrews 5:9).
  5. We are saved by confession (Romans 10:9, 10).
  6. We are saved by repentance (Luke 24:47).
  7. We are saved by belief and baptism (Mark 16:16).
  8. We are saved by repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).
  9. We are saved by hope (Romans 8:24).
  10. We are saved by works (James 2:24).
  11. We are saved by mercy (Titus 3:5).
  12. We are saved by the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5).
  13. We are saved by the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
  14. We are saved by calling on the name of the Lord (Rom. 10:13).
  15. We are saved by the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1, 2).

Are we saved by faith, grace, or works? Or, are we saved by our obedience or God’s mercy? The correct answer to the question is all of the above! As the list above demonstrates, there are so many other factors that go into our salvation. (By the way, this is not an exhaustive list of what the New Testament connects to our salvation.)
At this point someone might be inclined to ask, “Why do you em-phasize baptism so frequently in your teaching and make mention of it in every invitation?”
That is a good question and one that I hope all that are reading can answer before proceeding with this article. It would be foolish and incorrect to respond by saying that baptism is somehow superior to the other things enumerated in this list. How then does one answer this legitimate question? Consider Galatians 3:26, 27.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
In this verse Paul says we are all sons of God by faith because we have been baptized into Christ and have put on Christ. Is Paul say-ing that baptism is the only thing that saves us in this verse? Not in any way. Men are not saved by merely being baptized, but because in the obedience of faith they have come into Christ and unto God’s grace. Said another way, baptism does not save us alone, but it is how we demonstrate our obedience and where we contact God’s grace.
Paul also says of Christ that men are baptized “into His death,” where His blood was shed, and are, thus, saved by grace. It is from baptism that they arise to walk as new creatures who are free from sin and its hold (see Romans 6:1-4 and 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Those who add “only” to grace, faith, baptism, obedience, confession, repentance, hope, works, mercy, or anything else are perverting the teaching of Scripture and in doing so are rejecting God’s plan of salvation.

Posted in Baptism, Bulletin Articles, Faith, Grace, Obedience, Repentance, Salvation, Sin, Works | Tags: Faith, Grace, Works |

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