by R. L. Morrison

We suggest two things in the beginning of this study in which we trust all are agreed. First: there are many differences among those who claim to be people of God. Second: All we can know about God and who are his people is revealed to us in the Bible. If all agree, we can begin this study on a common basis of understanding. The differences that exist between religious people are very apparent. The Bible claims to reveal the whole, or all of God's will for mankind. If it does not, we who live now, or those who have lived in the past, can never know it, and we are without hope in this life.

There are, of course, many subjects to which we could turn and study on this basis, but the title suggested above is the subject of this study. It might be restated in these words: "How is a sinner saved?" or again: "How can a sinner become justified before God?" These all refer to the same thing, and it is a very important subject. If there is no justification, there is no forgiveness; if no forgiveness, no salvation.

The answers given by men to this question reach from one extreme to the other. Some teach that God selected "the elect" to be saved before He created the earth and the number of the saved is set and is unchangeable. This we believe to be an extreme position, not at all taught in scripture. On the opposite side, there are those who teach that the sinner must entreat God through penitence and prayer, until God finally decides whether or not to save him. This, too, we believe to be error. As usual, when such extremes are created by men, the truth lies somewhere in between. However, this is not to say that every position held between these two extremes are true. For example, one of the most widely held positions or doctrines among religious people today is "The sinner is saved at the point of faith, or when he becomes a believer and accepts Christ as his own personal Savior". This, they say, justifies the sinner and makes him a part of the body of Christ. I once read an article on the religious page of a small weekly newspaper. It was written by a local Baptist preacher. He wrote," The sinner is saved by faith; plus nothing, minus nothing." This clearly teaches their answer to the question, How is one saved? Some who teach this doctrine of salvation by faith only will also encourage this person to join some good Bible oriented church; the church of your own choice. This position does contain some truth, for faith is essential to salvation. James wrote, "Faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:24).

With this as an introduction, let us turn to the Bible and find the answer to the question under consideration.

You probably will remember that the angel said to Joseph, Mary's son will "save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:19-21). Much later, Paul, the apostle wrote, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15). So Christ is the Savior. Salvation for mankind is made possible by and through him. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me" (John 14:6). In Hebrews 5:9, the writer says, "And being made perfect, he (Christ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all who obey him." Our task is to find not only what is required to obey Christ, but also to find what things are involved in his providing us with salvation and the sinners obtaining that salvation.

We now turn attention to a number of things found in the scriptures pertaining to this subject, but NOT of course, to everything found there. Those we shall consider are sufficient to show that man is not saved by any one thing, or even two things, but rather by ALL THINGS God included in the plan of salvation, or that which reveals how a sinner is saved.

1. God saves. Titus 1:3. "But hath in due time manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of God our Savior" In chapter 2, verse 10, he refers again to the doctrine of God our Savior. Again: "To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever" (Jude 25). Here is the testimony of two inspired men. It should be sufficient. But this question will undoubtedly follow; "How does God save?" The answer is easily found. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2-8). Grace is the unmerited favor of God extended to mankind. Since man could not and can not save himself, God did for man what man could not do for himself. By his grace or favor, God made provision for forgiveness of sins through his son, Christ Jesus. And you will remember that Jesus said, "No man cometh to the Father but by me."

2. Christ saves (2 Peter 1:1). Peter wrote: "To them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ." John wrote in 1 John 4:14, "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." Again we have the testimony of two inspired witnesses saying, "Christ saves." Although much more could be presented, this should be sufficient. We are saved by Christ. How? By his blood sacrifice for sin. "... and without the shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). "Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate". (Heb. 13:12). "But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7). It should be easily seen that we are saved by the blood of Christ. So among other things, the testament teaches that a sinner is saved by blood, the blood of Christ.

3. The Holy Spirit saves. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22). How is this done? By a direct operation or influence of the Holy Spirit on the heart of the sinner? NO, the scriptures do not so teach! The Spirit influences the sinner through the word, which he directed the apostles to write and preach. Read 1 Peter 1:23: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever." The apostles were given the words they used to teach the truth in both the oral and written form. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God, which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor. 2:12-13). So, the Spirit saves through the words he delivered to the apostles. These words are to be preached to all the world. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations ..." (Matt. 28:19). Concerning what is to be preached, Paul wrote, "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:9). He also said that which he preached was not after man, but received by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11-12). Without the Holy Spirit revealed word, men would have no salvation because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).

4. We are saved by the apostles. Paul, on one occasion, stood in judgment before King Agrippa. He related his experience about Jesus appearing to him on the Damascus road. He also stated some things he was told as well as some things he was told to do. "Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:17-18). Previously, Paul had written, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (2 Cor. 4:6-7). So men are saved by the apostles, as they were the earthen vessels in which the truth was placed. They fulfilled their responsibility by revealing the truth, the gospel which is God's power unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

5. We are saved by a resurrection from the dead. This does not refer to the resurrection that will occur at the return of Christ. It refers instead to a spiritual resurrection. Although we shall all be involved when Jesus returns and raises the dead, it will be too late then for one to be saved. Jesus himself, tells us of this event: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5: 28-29). Jesus said, in effect, the time of this resurrection has been set, the hour appointed. Paul also refers to this time. "And the time of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness ..." (Acts 17:30-31).

But perhaps, you ask, "If we are saved by a resurrection from the dead, but it does not mean a physical resurrection, then what does it mean?" It means there is a death other than that of the body. It is called a "spiritual death." When one becomes guilty of sin, it is spiritual death. Sin results in spiritual death. You will remember that God gave Adam and Eve the privilege of eating the fruit of every tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He said to them, "For the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." They heard what God said, but, tempted by Satan, were enticed to eat the forbidden fruit. As God said, when they ate of it, they died, not physically, but spiritually. They were separated from God, had no fellowship with him. They were spiritually dead.

And so it is with mankind today. Sin separates us from God. Some say, "Not so. We are born guilty of Adam's sin." However, as sincere as that one may be, the Bible does not so teach. Psalm 58:3: "We go astray ...". Jesus said: "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14). When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus 2:1, he said: "And you hath he quickened (made alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins." Further, (Eph. 2:5), "Even when we were dead in sins, hath 'he' quickened us together with Christ."

We can understand, then, that when one become guilty of sin, that one dies spiritually, or that sin separates the sinner from God. And as all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), all responsible people are sinners. To say it another way, "All are dead in sin."

So it is from this condition, spiritually dead in sin, that one is resurrected. "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). Again: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead" (Col. 2:12). And yet again: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). So the one dead in sin, is buried in baptism, in the likeness of the burial of Christ, and is raised from that grave (baptism) in the likeness of the resurrection of Christ. This is the resurrection that saves, and without which there can be no forgiveness of sins and no eternal life.

6. We save ourselves. At this point, many turn away, and will hear no more. However, ALL should remember the words of Peter, recorded by Luke, in Acts 2:40: "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." In the very first sermon by the apostles, Peter told these Jews, who were sinners, to save themselves! You will remember the Holy Spirit was directing the Apostles in what they said. Men today who preach that a sinner can do nothing to save himself do not preach what the apostles of Jesus preached. Theirs is another gospel, and you will remember what Paul said about those who preach another gospel: they stand condemned before God. In every example of conversion found in Acts, the book of conversions, sinners were required to act, to do something, not according to their own devising, but according to the requirements of the gospel.

How do men save themselves? First consider another passage or two of scripture. "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:17-18). They were said to be free from sin AFTER obeying a form of doctrine, not BEFORE that obedience. What was the form of doctrine? How did they obey it? These are good questions. Here is the Bible answer.

1. First, they had faith, and believed the gospel which declares Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:15-16). "And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).

2. Secondly, repentance follows faith. Repentance is a change of mind or heart which results in a changed manner of life. "Repent every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations" (Luke 24:47). Jesus said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish" (Luke 13:3).

3. Third, repentance is followed by a confession of faith. This is NOT a confession that one is a sinner. All have sinned (Rom. 3:23). "But, with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10). "... the eunuch said, See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37). This confession then, is a simple acknowledgment of one's faith in Christ.

4. Fourth, Baptism is the final act that saves the sinner. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us ..." (1 Peter 3:21). "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3). This burial in water, in the likeness of the burial of Christ, and his resurrection from the dead, obtains for the person baptized the forgiveness of past sins, and brings that one into a new relationship with God.

Salvation is by grace, but not by grace alone. Salvation is by faith, but not by faith alone or only. Salvation is by the blood of Jesus Christ but not by blood alone. Salvation is not by any ONE thing alone. It is obtained by God and the sinner working together. However, God's part in providing a sinner with salvation is a finished work. If you have done your part, that is, obeyed the form of doctrine the apostles delivered, been buried with him in baptism and raised in the likeness of His resurrection, you have done your part to obtain the forgiveness of past sins. You have been forgiven and added by the Lord to the church (Acts 2:47). If you have not obeyed that form of doctrine, you have not received remission of your past sins. You will not do so until you obey from the heart the form of doctrine the apostles preached.

Time is fleeting. This life is all the "time" we have. When this life in the flesh ends in death, all opportunity to be saved will have passed away. Eternity is forever. We shall all live there. BUT, the place where we shall live in eternity is determined by the manner of life we live here.

Finally, hear Paul: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7-8).

How are YOU sowing???