Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 8/27/2011

Question
Dear Mrs. Priscilla Lyons,

I'm Greg, a member in the United Methodist Church.  I cannot vouch for all United Methodists and their churches.  But I can vouch for mine, we believe that we are absolutelty convinced that we are saved by grace through faith without legalim.  We confess that salvation is for everyone calls on the name of the Lord.  We believe that just the faith statement, calling in the name of the Lord, is required to experience conversion.  The moment you have faith, believe in the resurrection, and call upon the name of the Lord "You Shall be saved."

Years ago, I was in a Pentecostal church with an extreme view: 1. You were not considered saved unless you spoke in tongues; 2. you were not saved unless you were water baptized


Now, I have performed much studying.  In Romans 10:10, the verbs for believe and confess are instantaneous presents resulting in the effects (justified, saved).  Thats the reason Paul concludes with the faith statement, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).  The effect, calling on the name of the Lord, results in the effect, "shall be saved" at the moment of conversion.  This why we hold to that conversion is instantaneous the moment you call upon theh name of the Lord for God to save you.

Now,
1.  Even though I had spoke in tongues before the day I believed, and called on the name of the Lord.  I believe that the conversion occured after I called on the name of the Lord and received the assurance aobut what Christ did for me: he loves me, forgave me, died for me, and he gave himself for me.  I did not acknowledge this after speaking in tongues, and therefore hold to the fact of instantaneous conversion when one calls on the name of the Lord.  Do you belive I was saved when I spoke in tongues or believed and called on the name of the Lord? and why?

2.  Even though we believe in baptism, some articulate that water baptism is a necesity.  However, one does not experience an instantaneous conversion the moment they make just the faith statement: calling on the name of the Lord.  I am saying that its not consistent with the Greek Grammar in Romans.  Please advise....

God Bless, Greg

Answer
I agree with you completely, Greg.  I believe you were saved when you called on the name of the Lord, for the same reasons you mentioned.  Also, I believe water baptism is simply an outward expression of and identification with the inward believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus(which paid for our sins)(Romans 6).
   Any reliance on outward expression for salvation is risky, because it may or may not be an expression of a genuine belief in God's salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.
   May your life continue to reflect God's image more and more! (Gen.1:26)
   Sincerely,
   Priscilla Lyons