Letters to Tyro (Part 2)

[Editor's note: This exchange (between an older student of the word and a younger person who had suddenly become unsure about what he believes) is not dated, but the subject matter is of great importance.]

Tyro,

I don't mean to sound disparaging, but your first two responses have not really dealt with the material I sent you. For example, in two letters you have not yet dealt with 1 Peter 3:21, even though I specifically called upon you to comment on the verse. But, never mind; what I present here will not only recall that verse, but many others will be included that you may want to give some thought to.

Also, your re-emphasis on faith does not sufficiently answer the fact that in the same letters where faith is mentioned, so is baptism. You made no response to that—or to the context of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews, concerning which I spent some time delineating (that they were written to combat Judaizing teachers). But let's further notice what the Scriptures teach concerning our salvation. I start at the same place you do with grace and faith, but I do not get stuck there, as you do. You cannot seem to advance any further. So, consider the following list. The Scriptures teach that we are:

Saved by grace. Romans 3:24 teaches that "we are justified freely by His grace." Ephesians 2:8 says "by grace you have been saved." Titus 2:11 states that "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." So, have I proved that we are saved by grace only? No. None of these verses says grace only; furthermore, the full quote was not even presented. Ephesians 2:8 says: "For by grace have you been saved through faith…."

This indicates that something is needed in addition to grace. If all people were saved by grace only, then there is not a person on earth who would not be saved. Salvation would come 100% from God, and nothing we could do would make any difference at all. We could either obey or disobey God, and it would not matter—if salvation were by grace only. Ephesians 2:8 shows, however, that God expects an appropriate response to His grace, and that is our faith. The person who does not have faith in God cannot be saved by His grace.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).

Notice a second condition of God's grace from Romans 3:24: "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." God offers us salvation through His grace, but it cost Him something to be able to make salvation available. Our redemption comes through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, particularly the shedding of His blood.

Titus 2:11 is a wonderful verse, but notice that conditions must be met. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. We live with respect to the fact that Jesus is coming again (Titus 2:11-14; cf. Matt. 24:37-51). So, are we saved by grace? Yes—but not by grace only. We are also:

Saved by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Does Paul mean to say that grace and faith are sufficient to save everyone? Is it implied that our response consists of faith only? You have cited more than a dozen verses that emphasize faith and its connection with salvation. Have you failed to notice, however, that none of them say that we are saved by faith only? Let's consider Romans 5:1-2:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the glory of God."

Of course, we agree with these and all other passages that bespeak the value of faith. But none of them teaches that we can be saved by faith only—totally separated from anything else. But don't take my word for that. Consider what other verses of Scripture teach. We are also:

Saved by truth. Jesus taught that those who continued in His Word, would know the truth and that the truth would make them free (John 8:31-32). Paul would later teach the Galatians that they had obeyed the true gospel but that some were teaching a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).

In fact, he also pointed out that those who did not have a love of the truth could not be saved (2 Thess. 2:10). In the same letter in which Ephesians 2:8-9 appears, Paul had previously written: "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…" (Eph. 1:13). This verse brings to mind that we are also:

Saved by the gospel. Paul wrote that he was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation, for everyone who believes…" (Rom. 1:16). One cannot simply have faith all by itself, but faith in the gospel system. Paul declared the gospel in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 15:1, he mentioned that by this gospel they were saved and (in verse 2) that the gospel involves the death of Christ on the cross for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). We are:

Saved by our faith in God and in Jesus. We must have faith both in God (Heb. 11:6) and in Jesus. Our Lord appealed to His apostles: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God; believe also in Me" (John 14:1). Salvation comes through Christ (1 Thess. 5:9; cf. 2 Tim. 2:10; 3:15). But there is more. We are:

Saved by our love of God. The greatest commandment is to "love the Lord God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). Can anyone argue that the love of God is unnecessary when it comes to being saved? Would anyone avow that faith in God is essential but loving Him is optional? We are:

Saved by repentance. Jesus said both in Luke 13:3 and 13:5: "…unless you repent you will all likewise perish." These words pretty much show that salvation depends on our repentance. Was this not the message God commissioned Jeremiah to speak to His people?

"Return, backsliding Israel," says the Lord…. "Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice," says the Lord (Jer. 3:12-13).

When people wanted to know what to do on the Day of Pentecost (having been convinced that they crucified the Son of God, Who had been raised from the dead), the very first word was: "Repent…" (Acts 2:38). We are:

Saved by confession. Paul wrote: "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9). Paul goes on to say that confession is made "unto salvation" (v. 10). The preposition translated "unto" is the Greek word eis. It is most frequently translated "into, to, unto." It is a preposition that shows direction toward or into something. Repentance moves one toward salvation (Acts 2:38); confession also moves a person toward salvation. And so does baptism. We are, in fact:

Saved by baptism. In Acts 2:38, both repentance and baptism are eis ("unto") salvation. The most common translation for eis is "for." Below is a list of common renderings from major translations.

KJV – "for" ASV – "unto"
RSV – "for" NAS – "for"
NIV – "for" NKJ – "for"

These are the major translations that people use, and they all show direction. Repentance, confession, and baptism are all leading toward salvation. First of all, notice that these contradict the false notion that salvation is by faith only. Next, notice that eis is translated "into" in Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:27.

Although repentance and confession move one toward salvation, the final step is that of baptism. Paul asks in Romans 6:3: "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Both times "into" was translated from the Greek word eis. That preposition is also translated "into" in Galatians 3:27: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." In Acts 2:38, however, baptism is linked to repentance, and eis is translated "for" or "unto," as shown previously.

Acts 22:16 makes it clear that baptism is for the removal of sins. Consider the context. Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus to further persecute Christians when Jesus interrupted him. When Saul asked who was speaking to him, He answered, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 22:8). Jesus instructed Saul to go to Damascus. A man named Ananias came to him and restored his sight (v. 13). Concerning his salvation, he asked, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (v. 16).

Now, Tyro, think about this account carefully. When did Saul believe that Jesus was the risen Christ? Yes, he believed that on the road to Damascus, but was he saved yet? Had he repented of his sins? "And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9). He also spent time praying (Acts 9:11). Most people in the religious world would conclude that Saul was saved. He had repented; he had prayed. But notice that his sins remained with him. He was to be baptized to have them removed. They would be washed away; this is the correct way to call on the name of the Lord.

Now consider 1 Peter 3:21. Having talked about Noah and his family being saved by water, Peter adds: "There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism…." The inspired apostle says that baptism saves us. What do you say, Tyro? It will not suffice to return to all the passages that deal with faith; we already agreed with them, but genuine faith also means that we are saved by the truth, the gospel, faith in God and in Christ, our love of God, repentance, confession, and baptism. Will you argue that faith makes all of those unnecessary? Be careful, lest you end up fighting against God. Lastly, we are:

Saved by obedience. Jesus warned against saying and doing not (Matt. 7:21-23). But consider the following passage about our Savior and ourselves. "Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:8-9). These verses alone show that salvation by faith only—apart from these other ingredients—is false to the core. Why would God give us laws if we could be saved by ignoring them? Please consider these things carefully.

Your Spiritual Friend