"Saved Through Faith"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article # 18 – “Saved Through Faith”

There are so many ways for people to be confused about Christianity.  This is certainly nothing new.  Confusion about the qualifications of Christians began not long after the Church came into existence.  The Jews questioned the validity of the Gentile converts.  The Jews believed the Gentiles must first be circumcised and could not eat certain foods.  The Apostle Paul had a real confrontation with the Council at Jerusalem over these issues. (Acts 15)  The issue was settled then and should remain settled.  There is only one requirement for being a child of God’s.  You must believe in Jesus Christ through faith.  “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8, 9)

           

There are still some who question what you must do to be saved.  Some feel you must be baptized to be saved.  Others think you must speak in tongues.  I am sure there are many other man-made requirements.  I read once where a person, when asked if he was going to heaven responded; “I am surely going to hell because I have lost my baptism certificate.”  It is sad that there is so much confusion about such a simple plan of salvation set forth by God.  We are not under laws such as circumcision, baptism, diets and others.  Those laws are imposed by man.  Paul’s confrontation with the Council at Jerusalem was to point out that Christian liberty depends on understanding that salvation is by grace alone, through Christ alone received by faith alone. (Eph. 2:4-9)  Where does faith come from, from the word of God.  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the work of Christ.” (Rom 10:17)

            Baptism does not make you a Christian.  There are millions of infants baptized a few weeks after birth.  That does not save them.  When they come to the age of accountability, that is when they come to the age where they can understand the gospel, they will then have to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.  Baptism should follow conversion not precede it.  Speaking in tongue is no sign you are save, the pagans spoke in tongues.  There is only one thing that can reconcile you with God, that is, believe in Jesus Christ. 

            God has a perfect plan of salvation, one which is so simple that anyone who desires will find it.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

            You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.

Lowell Parrish