by R. L. Morrison

The purpose of this article is to discuss salvation -- what it is and how it is obtained. This information is revealed in the New Testament in language clear and easily understood. However, we shall also refer to doctrines taught in the religious world today. The purpose of this is to show that not everything taught by men today is in harmony with the scriptures.

First, we shall consider the definition of "salvation". The word denotes "deliverance or preservation." It is used to refer to temporal deliverance and apprehension, as from prison or from the sea. This is not, however, the primary use of the word. Generally, it refers to a spiritual deliverance, or freedom from sin, obtained by those who believe and obey the commandments of the gospel. Beyond this, there is eternal salvation. There is a difference in receiving the forgiveness of past sins and obtaining eternal salvation. Peter described it this way: "To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). This study concerns the deliverance, freedom, or salvation from sin which one can obtain in this life, which must be first obtained before one can receive that incorruptible inheritance which is reserved in heaven.

During his personal ministry, Jesus spoke many times of this salvation. He preached the gospel of the "kingdom of God" (Matt. 4:23). He also taught this kingdom was "at hand", which meant that it would shortly make its appearance (Mark 1:15). Later, He said, "There be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power" (Mark 9:1). In Matthew 16, Jesus said that he would build his church, and promised to give the keys of the kingdom to the apostles whom he had chosen (Matt. 16:18-19; 18:18). This is important, for when the church or kingdom (Jesus used these words interchangeably) was built, those who obtained salvation or the forgiveness of sins were added to it.

However, the church or kingdom was not built during Jesus' life on earth. He died, was buried, raised from the dead and ascended into the heavens. A few days later, he sent the Holy Spirit to those chosen apostles as he had promised them. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, those apostles revealed the will of God, the gospel of Christ, for all men who were then living, as well as for all men who would or will live in these last days. They began this revelation on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. The record of the beginning of these things is recorded in Acts 2. In verse 21, we find the record of Peter saying: "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

In the following verse, Peter began to declare to those Jews who were present that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was indeed the promised Messiah, he of whom the prophets had spoken. He also said that God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ. The record then says many of those who heard were pricked in their hearts, and asked: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter's reply told them how to be made free from sin, or to obtain salvation. Hear him: "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." Here is salvation clear and plain! What did they do? They heard the word, the gospel. They believed what they heard. No one should doubt their faith, for faith comes by hearing the word. (Rom. 10:17). Were these people saved at the point of faith? They did not think so, nor did Peter, for when they asked what they should do, they were told to "Repent and be baptized." Did these people understand Peter? Apparently they did, "for they that gladly received his word were baptized", about 3000 people. These were added unto them (the apostles) and the last sentence in the chapter says the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Just exactly what did these people do? They heard the word. They believed what they heard. They acknowledged their faith when they asked what to do. When told to repent and be baptized, many of those present did so. Baptism was "for or in order to receive the remission of sins". When they obeyed, they were saved, they obtained salvation. They stood justified before God.

Every example of conversion in the New Testament is found in the book of Acts. In every example, people were required to do the same things. God has given only one law of pardon or forgiveness of sins. There is no other.

One thing more should be considered just now. In Acts 2:21, Peter said "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." This question naturally follows: "How does one call on the name of the Lord?" The New Testament answers this question. The answer is plain and simple. In Acts 9, we find the account of the Lord appearing to Saul of Tarsus to make him an apostle. However, Saul was blinded by what he saw. He was sent into the city of Damascus, where he was three days without food or water. The Lord sent one Ananias to Saul, who put his hands on him that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Later (Acts 22:16), Saul, now known as Paul the apostle, related what Ananias said to him. "And now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Ananias told Saul to call on the name of the Lord, and he also told him HOW to do it, by being baptized in the name of the Lord. This is the Bible answer to the question "How does one call on the name of the Lord?" There is no scripture that teaches contrary to this, for truth does not contradict itself. This is plain and simple. It is easily understood.

But in order to make it "clear and plain", let us carefully consider the result of the first gospel sermon. It is found in Acts 2. A great multitude of people were assembled. The Holy Spirit directed the apostle Peter as he preached. He presented Christ as the son of God, the Savior of mankind. He convinced the people that Christ's coming had been prophesied and that He had been crucified, buried and resurrected. He ascended to the Father and received "all power in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). God had made him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ. The Jews heard and believed what they heard. They asked: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter's answer was clear and plain: "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 Spirit. They that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls."

As stated earlier, those who are baptized for or in order to obtain remission of sins receive the salvation the Lord promised. This is the salvation obtained in this life. The eternal salvation awaits in heaven those who have been saved here and remain faithful to God in this life. No man in this life has obtained eternal life, for eternal life is reserved only in Heaven!

We shall now consider some things taught in the religious world of today on this subject. In a tract in my possession a man has written: "A sinner cannot save himself. A man cannot save himself; that is an absolute impossibility." But what does the New Testament teach on this? In the first sermon preached by an apostle, Peter said, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). The context of this scripture has already been examined, so we ask, "How did Peter tell them to save themselves?" They heard the gospel, they believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. When they asked "What shall we do?", Peter told them to "Repent and be baptized." Could they do this? Well, about 3000 of them could and did do so. They obeyed what the apostles told them to do. In so doing they were saved! Were those who refused to obey saved? Who will so affirm? This form of obedience is later referred to by Paul in Romans 6:17-18: "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." Question: When did these people become servants of righteousness? Before or after obedience?

Again, in the same tract, it is written: A woman confessed to an evangelist "I am a no-good sinner. I need the Lord to forgive me of my sins." They prayed there together and she was saved. This doctrine is taught by many TV evangelists today (and others). They insist a group, or whosoever will, come to the front and pray the "sinners prayer". The amazing thing about this is that there is not a single passage of scripture, not one, where a sinner is told or taught to pray for the forgiveness of sin. We have considered already the example of Saul of Tarsus. He had seen the Lord. He had been fasting and praying for three days. But he was not saved! We can be sure and certain about this; for the Lord sent Ananias to tell him to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins. Later Peter wrote: "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (1 Peter 3:12).

The same tract also teaches that the Holy Spirit is the one who produces salvation in our hearts and in our lives. "I believe it is the duty, it is the work of the Holy Spirit, to reach into the hearts of men who are unsaved, and to convince them of these things which Jesus mentioned." Further: "You will get saved when the Holy Spirit speaks to you or you will never get saved at all." And yet again: "We receive the person of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we are saved. At that moment, instantaneously, God the Holy Spirit comes into his life (the saved person) to live and abide forever." This doctrine is called the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the heart or life of the believer. But does the New Testament so teach? Please carefully consider the following proposition.

Whatever influence is ascribed to the Holy Spirit within a person in the New Testament is also affirmed of the word of God. In other words, the Holy Spirit can do no more for man today than can the word of God! Surely all recognize that the Holy Spirit directed the apostles in their preaching and writing. That was the purpose for sending the Spirit to them. The word, the gospel, which they revealed is God's power to save the sinner. "I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). So God's power to save is not now, nor has it ever been in the Holy Spirit. Rather, the POWER is in the truth, the word, which the Spirit revealed through the apostles. The apostles began to preach it on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit told them what to say, even the words they were to use in preaching it (1 Cor. 2:12-13). There is no example of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, or even an angel telling a sinner what to do to be saved, after the ascension of the Lord, except Saul of Tarsus. The purpose of this was to make him an apostle. It has not occurred again, nor will it. Paul wrote: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Cor. 4:7). This "treasure" is the gospel. God gave men the responsibility of preaching it, not the Spirit or angels.

The idea that the Holy Spirit will take the word and "thrust it into the heart of a sinner is not to be found in the scriptures. No man can produce the passage which so teaches. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:24). If He sent the Holy Spirit to "thrust the word into one sinner's heart" would He not do so for all sinners? If not, why not? He respects no man above another.

All life is generated through seed. The word of God is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11). The word, the spiritual seed, is planted in the heart by preaching the gospel, by man. The word of God has the power to produce spiritual life. Paul told the Corinthians, "I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:15). James wrote: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth" (James 1:18). The religion that meets with the approval of God was begun, carried on, and completed by the Holy Spirit, in the same way it had its origin, the Holy Spirit directing MEN what to say. This is yet true today. This is not to say that the Spirit personally dwells in one today. It is through the WORD the Spirit guides or directs men now. The Holy Spirit can do nothing for man that is not revealed in the word. The Spirit can do nothing for any man that is not available for him through the word of God.

Does the Holy Spirit dwell personally within man today? With many, the answer is "Yes". But compare this with the person of God and that of Christ. Does God or Christ personally dwell in man? The answer, of course, is "No". If this is true, why is it not also true of the Holy Spirit? God, Christ, and the Spirit dwell in man, not personally but by faith, through the word. Paul wrote: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ..." (Eph. 3:17).

And now, a brief look at salvation by "faith only". Most of those who teach this doctrine are not consistent, for they also teach that repentance and prayer are necessary. So it is really not by "faith only". Sometimes repentance is said to precede faith, but if it does, what is the motive that leads to repentance? What can lead a non-believer to repent? This question needs to be considered and answered by those who teach the doctrine of repentance then faith! "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he offered Isaac, his son, upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only" (James 2:20-24). Martin Luther could not reconcile this to Romans 5:1, so he called James a book of straw, evidently rejecting it as a part of the New Testament. He had the same problem many have today. But no man has learned God's will on any subject until he has learned ALL God has said on that subject. God has said much about those things that free men from sin and provide salvation. Consider the following:

Man is saved by faith: Eph. 2:8; Man is saved by grace: Eph. 2:8; Man is saved by blood: Rev. 1:5; Man is saved by words: Acts 10:22; Man is saved by works: James 2:14; Man is saved by the gospel: 1 Cor. 4:15; Man is saved by baptism: 1 Peter 3:21; Man is saved by obedience; Romans 6:17-18. Here are eight things (there are more), by which man is said to be saved. How can one who claims to believe the Bible, and preach the truth, pick out ONE of these things, reject the others, and declare he believes and preaches the whole will of God? Reader, what do you think? Is this acceptable to God?

SALVATION CLEAR AND PLAIN is revealed in the second chapter of Acts, when the apostles began preaching the gospel of Christ. Those who heard the word believed it, repented of their sins, confessed their faith in Christ, and were buried with him in baptism, were forgiven of their past sins (saved), and the Lord added them to the church. The gospel today will have the same effect on people, who hear, believe and obey it. The Lord will add them to the church if they accept and obey His commandments. Then He will add them to the church of HIS choice, the one He purchased with his blood. This and this ONLY is SALVATION CLEAR AND PLAIN!!!

In the first paragraph we stated that some religious error taught today would be examined. At this point we shall notice two of these errors.

A very prominent religious group today teaches: "God has not changed the test since the Garden of Eden. He still requires the same kind of obedience. The only difference is that in Eden our unfallen parents had, by nature, the power to obey. Unfortunately, as the children of past-fallen Adam and Eve, we have inherited fallen natures which are not subject to the law of God, except by the miracle of conversion and Christ in you."

There are two grievous errors in these few sentences. First: the nature of sinful man is not subject to the law of God. If this is true, why did Jesus say: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Did Jesus know these people were sinners and invite them to come to him, when he knew it was not possible for them to do so? Who can believe it? In the last few days of his life on earth, Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and YE WOULD NOT." These people had the power of choice. They chose to reject Christ. They could have accepted Him, but they DID NOT! Were they subject to the law of God? Yes, certainly so! If they were not subject to the law of God, they would not have been guilty of sin! Sin is a transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Since this is true, they could not have been born sinners, or in any other way sinners UNTIL they violated the law.

Second: The miracle of conversion. It is difficult to understand why one would call a conversion a miracle. True, Jesus performed many miracles while he lived on earth. He healed many who were ill or lame or blind. He fed a multitude with a few small fish and a couple of loaves of bread. These and others were miracles. But when the apostles began to reveal the plan of salvation, there were no miracles involved. Men were simply told what to do to be saved. Those who heard had the power of choice. They could accept and obey, or reject and remain in sin. Again, there were no miracles involved. Believers (obeyers) were delivered from the power of Satan and translated into the kingdom of the son of God's love. They acted on their faith. There were no miracles involved. It was simply faith and obedience.

The gospel is God's power to save sinners (Rom. 1:16). When that gospel is believed and obeyed from the heart, he who does so is saved. It was true on the Pentecost of Acts 2, and is yet true today.

Here, then, is salvation CLEAR and PLAIN. It is clearly explained and easily understood. It was willingly obeyed by those who believed it. The gospel worked for them on Pentecost and will work for those today who follow their example.

Do YOU believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Have YOU obeyed His gospel? If not, why not? Today is the only time you have! Why not obey the gospel today?