Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 12/31/2004

Question
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Followup To::: After reading the book of acts (Acts of the apostles)I don't see one example given in which the people who became Christians were not bapitized. Jesus instructions to the twelve men (or apostles)
in Matt.  19.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
This had to deal with what one must do to be saved, right? Look at Mark
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; but he that believeth not shall be damned. This surely says we MUST be baptized does it not?
Look at acts ch. 2 Vs7.  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
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.
39.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.it seems to me this was the instructions the men (apostles) were given by Jesus is this not true?  and my bible notes directed me to the book of Peter.  look at 1 Peter 3:20.  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: Does this not say baptism has something to do with being saved?
22.  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
When I read about Paul it seems if just believing could save you he would have been saved on the road to punishing Christians.  Look at what he was told in Acts 22:14.  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15.  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16.  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.   Does this not say to wash away the sins, to me it has to have something to do with being saved or Paul would have been saved when he was struck down oh that road, right?
then notes directed me to Pauls writings in Galatians.3: 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. This seems to me coming from Paul it has something to do with being saved.  This is how we can be clothed with Christ.

I thank you for you answer, it is clear now to me I must search the word for answers. Looking forward to you answer.

Question -
Would you give me a Bibical answer as to what one must do to be saved. I'v see and heard many say just pray the sinners prayer. That seems like no answer to me from what I see in the scripture. look forward to your answer

Answer -
Hi Ken,

Thanks for this great question.  The Phillipian jailer asked the same question:

Acts 16:30-31
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

So...what must you do?  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

You may say...I have always believed in Jesus.  Some belief is not saving faith.... notice the following verse.

James 2:19
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Obviously the belief of the devils is not enough....so what kind of belief, or faith do we need?  

Let us first see what is the opposite of saving faith.

Habakkuk 2:4
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The opposite of saving faith is pride...or trusting in yourself.  Think of it this way.  How do you hope to get to heaven?  You may say because I try hard...I have been baptized....I take communion.   Although you believe historically about Jesus...you are trusting in your own efforts.

Galatians 2:21
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

So then, saving faith comes when you transfer your trust from your efforts onto Jesus Christ alone.  This transfer is usually expressed in prayer.

Romans 10:9-10,13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

There is not a magic "sinner's prayer" in the Bible.  It is the belief, or transfer of trust from yourself and your efforts to Jesus alone that saves.  Notice what Hebrews  says is the foundation truth:

Hebrews 6:1

... not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Salvation is a turning from (repentance) trusting in dead works... and turning toward Jesus. You can tell Him that in the prayer of your own words.  I hope that this clears things up.  Please feel free to follow up with any other qestions that you may have.

In Christ
Pastor Don  

Answer
Hi Ken,

You are right I did not mention Baptism as a means of grace or salvation.  If there were any work, rite or ritual that we could do in order to merit heaven, then Jesus died for nothing!

Galatians 2:21
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The writer of Hebrews was very clear that the foundational truth of the Gospel was to turn from (repent) trusting in dead works, such as communion, baptism, circumcision, keeping the 10 commandments etc., and turn tward faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Perhaps you are already pursuaded on this issue and disagree with me....that is fine, I am simply trying to explain what I believe the Bible teaches...but I do not want to argue.  One other thing to consider though....

Acts 16:30-31
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The Apostle Paul only gave one requirement for salvation...belief....do not get results confused with requirements.....   Belief is the requirement of salvation and works such as baptism are EVIDENCE that the faith has taken a strong root.

2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ,
Pastor Don