Letters to Tyro
[Editor’s note: Who knows how far back the following letters go? Most people today text, use snapchat, or make a quick phone call. Communication takes place swiftly, if not effectively. The writing of letters was a previous form of communication that allowed both parties the time to consider what was said and respond to it in a profitable fashion. The following exchange is one-sided, but different views are represented. No indications are given concerning the time period of these letters, but it does not really matter since the main issue is what the Bible teaches.]
Dear Tyro,
I hope you do not mind me calling you that; it is a word seldom heard these days. It means “a novice, a beginner.” Of course, you are not strictly a beginner since you have devoted yourself to studying the Bible to some degree. But if we compare ourselves, you are a novice. You asked, “Why should I believe you—just because you said it?” Well, that’s not a bad reason, but there is a better one, which involves the matter of correct interpretation of the text.
It is not a boast to point out the amount of time we have both spent in studying the Scriptures differs greatly. Of course, that does not guarantee that I have everything right and that you have everything wrong, but it does carry some weight. However, we will put all that aside and discuss each matter that you have brought up. Since you raised so many issues, it will take some time to answer each one adequately.
Let’s begin with two statements from your letter. One was that Paul taught that we are saved by faith. You cite Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” You also mention Romans 5:1: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” You seem to think we will, somehow, disagree with those statements, but why would we do that? Paul said it; the Holy Spirit inspired it to be written (2 Tim. 3:16-17). So, why would we object? However, we will deal with the context later.
While we are on the subject, however, do you agree with Peter when he says: “There is an antitype which now saves us—baptism…” (1 Peter 3:21)? I can affirm in all good conscience that we are saved by faith; can you in all good conscience affirm that we are saved by baptism?
Which brings us to the other main point of your letter. You stated: “I sincerely believe that a man can be saved without baptism.” Why is this such a strange proclamation? First, it contradicts 1 Peter 3:21. But also, you have given up what you have been taught from a youth onward. All your life, you have been taught that a person’s sins are washed away in baptism (Acts 22:16). Yet you seem to be eager to denounce all of those preachers as being in error—as well as your own family. And on what basis? Was it that you searched the Scriptures and found that baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) is erroneous? No. You did not mention that.
Over the years, I have studied with many individuals who came to understand what the Bible teaches. In some cases, however, though they knew the truth about salvation taught in the Scriptures, they refused to leave their denominational affiliation because of what various family members would say about it. Imagine, being more afraid of Aunt Bertha or Grandpa Bob than the God Who will hold us accountable for what we believe and practice! It can be quite difficult to get people to leave their ancestral religion.
But you have turned this scenario on its head. Having been raised with the truth, you are willing to throw it all behind your back as though it were a mere trifle. So, what is the attraction to do such a thing? Usually, the only thing that will move someone away from the truth is a woman—or possibly a circle of friends. I have met Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Catholics who have all given up their religious upbringing for marriage.
In your case, then, after years of hearing—and speaking—the truth concerning salvation, how is it that you are so soon removed from the gospel of Christ to another gospel, which is not another (Gal. 1:6-9)? If you are going to remove baptism from the gospel and have people saved by faith only, then you have a false gospel. We will come back to that in a later letter.
For now, let me show you all of the other changes you will need to make in your theology. If baptism is not part of salvation, and if people are saved by faith only, then anyone claiming to be saved by faith only must be a Christian. Who exactly would that exclude? Would you say that C. S. Lewis was saved? Was he ever baptized? He believed in the doctrine of purgatory. Would faith only be sufficient for him?
If you adopt faith only, then practically everyone is saved. But, next, what are you going to do with the church? Yes, the New Testament only describes one church over which Christ is head, but those being saved by faith only are attending a number of religious denominations. What about them? Is it all right for people to attend a manmade religious group and give honor to that group instead of to Jesus?
And what about worship? Those professing faith only will likely be using instruments of music in their worship. Is that going to be acceptable to you, also? Exactly how much are you going to be willing to give up for your friends or the woman who has caught your eye? When you give up baptism for the forgiveness of sins, you are giving up everything.
What will be next? How about Calvinism? A large segment of the Protestant world accepts Calvin’s teachings. Can they be fellowshipped as well? How about those who believe in transubstantiation? Is it all right to remember the Lord’s death a few times a year? Shall we have fundraisers instead of the members supporting the church? Have you decided what to do with Pentecostalism? Do those folks actually possess the Holy Spirit? Do they really speak in tongues?
Oh, and yes. Is it true that once we are saved, we cannot lose salvation? Can we live immorally yet expect the grace of God to save us in the end? What a handy doctrine! No matter how much I err morally or doctrinally, it doesn’t matter because God will save me in the end.
Is this, dear Tyro, what you are signing up for? When you leave the truth in one area, it affects so much else connected with it. Please give these matters serious contemplation.
Your Spiritual Friend
Tyro,
I suppose if you want to refer to me as Know-It-All, you may; such was not the impression I wished to convey, but as I pointed out previously, I have been around the Biblical block a few times. If you make an argument I have not heard before, I will let you know. Having read the Baptist Manual and a number of debates, I can assure you that what you have written has been used oft before.
Your reply was astonishingly short. You said you would not adopt any of the false teachings to which I alluded, but you did not say why or on what basis you would reject them. Perhaps you could explain your position more fully. And I notice that you did not answer the question regarding 1 Peter 3:21. Does baptism save us, as Peter declares, or not? In fact, you mostly kept repeating the verses which emphasize the value of faith, concerning which I already affirmed we agreed with completely. For some reason, you seem to think we disagree. Is it possible you do not understand the context of those verses?
Some of the primary rules of Biblical interpretation include asking, “Who is the speaker (or writer)?”; “Who is being addressed?”; and “What is the purpose for the speech (or letter)?” Concerning the verses you cited, this information is fundamental.
One of the main problems in the church for more than three decades involved the Judaizing teachers, who insisted that both Jewish and Gentile Christians must circumcise their male children and also keep the Law of Moses (Acts 15:1, 5). The apostles and elders even met to render a decision regarding these claims and decided that they were false (read the remainder of Acts 15). The keeping of the Law of Moses was not to be bound on Christians.
When Paul wrote the books of Romans and Galatians, he was combatting those false teachers, which is clear, especially in Galatians 5:1-4. The writer of Hebrews devotes almost his entire message to demonstrating that Jesus and the gospel system are superior to the Law of Moses. Thus, the point is that we are saved by faith rather than by keeping the Law (of Moses). This is what Paul means when he writes in Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
The Law was inadequate in that no one could be saved by it because no one could keep it perfectly, except Jesus. Even the sacrifices God required could not absolve mankind: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). So, are we now lawless? No. We now are under “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25).
Why is it perfect? Because it recognizes that we cannot keep it perfectly, either, but it contains a built-in remedy that involves walking in the light and confession to keep ourselves cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7-10). I’m anticipating, Tyro, that you will demand to know, “So, are we saved by faith or law-keeping?” The answer is that we are saved by an obedient faith.
Consider what Romans teaches. Yes, we are justified by faith, but what else does Paul say in the letter. He basically explains how being born again works (which Jesus preached to Nicodemus). Those who are baptized are baptized into Christ’s death; the old man of sin is buried with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4). The old man having died and been buried, what is raised up is the new man in Christ; he has been born again (Rom. 6:5). Just as Jesus arose anew from the dead, so does the person whose faith causes him to be baptized. If not, why not? It is obvious that the faith Paul mentions includes this response.
What did Paul teach in Galatians? Did he write: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus”? Yes, he did, in Galatians 3:26. Does that faith exclude obedience? Look at the next verse: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Jesus Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Did they become sons of God through their faith? Yes, the faith that caused them to be baptized into Christ.
The Book of Hebrews contains what many call the “faith” chapter in that so many of the past heroes of the faith are listed. But how do we know they were men and women of faith? Because of their actions—what they did, what they accomplished. Hebrews 5:9 states the matter succinctly: “And having been perfected, He [Jesus, gws] became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” In fact, isn’t that what our Lord Himself taught in Matthew 7:21-23? The one who lives by faith is the one who does the will of the Father. This includes being baptized for the remission of our sins. If we fail to do so, or teach others not to do so, we have not obeyed the gospel, and our soul stands in jeopardy.