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The most important question ever asked is, "What must I do to be saved?" We have at least three examples in the N.T. where this question, in at least similar form, was asked:
- Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:6);
- Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2:36-37); and
- the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:30b).
What must I do to be saved?
This is a question that deserves an accurate and loving answer. Virtually all the denominations are failing to teach the truth to people who are seeking the answer to this important question.
The New Testament speaks of the fact that faith saves, but many add a word to faith that totally changes the answer to the question, what must I do to be saved? They add "ONLY."
What is the answer to the question?
To be saved we are taught Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, and be Baptized for the remission of sins. This is to become a child of God and does not guarantee you will never lose faith and turn away from Jesus.
What is the problem with saying one is saved by "faith only," or at the point of faith, or ANYTHING only?
It denies other things the Bible states that are required or are involved in salvation. Thus, one objective in this lesson is to show the absurdity of the practice of adding ONLY to anything to which the Bible indicates as having a part in salvation.
We will start by asking if anyone knows of a passage that supports the idea that one is saved by faith only, or grace only, or anything at all ONLY. We TRULY want to know if such a passage is found. I'm using E-Sword to find where these phrases are found:
Grace only.
Confession only.
Repentance Only.
While grace, confession and repentance are words that are found in the Bible none of the "phrases" can be found in Scripture.
Let us now search for the phrase "faith only." Are we going to find anything? If it is in the Bible, E-sword will find it.
Upon searching, I did find the phrase "faith only," but it does more harm to the "faith only" doctrine than it does good, for it says, "NOT by faith only." Here is the passage: James 2:24 - Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
People try to explain this passage away, in various ways, in defense of their teaching. Some say this part of the Bible should not be there-that it is uninspired. Others say the word "justified" is not about initial salvation but is limited to the Christian's works. Yet these same people often argue that works have NOTHING to do with salvation. They not only don't preach that the Christian must continue in "good works" (found 52 times), many insist that once one is saved it does not even matter how you live - you cannot fall from grace, they say.
Someone says, "Jesus only" saves, or "only Jesus," but this just mean no one else can. It does not mean Jesus will save you based upon just one thing, such as accepting that Jesus is your personal savior.
What are the two examples we have in the New Testament that show that "faith alone" is not a true doctrine?
James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
John 12:42 "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:"
Examples are used to teach us important lessons. The lesson is, "faith only" does not save.
We are going to look at 27 things involved in salvation, which will be enlightening and show the absurdity of the "faith only" doctrine.
Things Involved in Salvation
1. God.
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth" (Rom. 8:33, ALSO John 3:16).
2. Jesus.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
3. Holy Spirit.
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor 6:11).
4. Faith.
"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" (Heb 11:6).
5. The Word.
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).
6. Preaching.
"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor 1:21).
7. Hearing.
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17).
8. Repentance.
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Cor 7:10).
9. Confession.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom 10:10).
10. Baptism.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
11. Grace.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
12. Mercy.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
13. Love.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
14. Jesus' Blood
Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
15. Jesus' Life.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
16. Jesus' Death.
Heb 9:15-16 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Col 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: KJV
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
17. Gospel.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
18. Doing the will of the Lord.
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. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
19. Being Righteous.
Matt 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
20. Enduring to the end.
Matt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
21. Calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22. Doctrine.
1 Tim 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
23. Turning a sinner from the error of his way.
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
24. The name of Jesus.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
25. Childbearing.
1 Tim 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
26. Obedience
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness
Col. 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
27. Truth.
John 8:31-32 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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