“Where you place your faith determines where you’ll spend eternity.
How you live your faith determines how you’ll spend eternity.
Don’t confuse where and how.”
I’m thinking a lot about Christian discipleship these days. I’m defining genuine or biblical discipleship (as opposed to what many people assume is discipleship) as “The process of learning to live like Christ, then actually doing it.”
Open Vault Door (Picture by Eric Rice)
One of the most important discussions I have with people has to do with the concern about their salvation. Many people believe that they can lose salvation, or have it taken away, depending on how they live, what sins they may commit, or what good things they never do.
In this post, I’d like simply to show the Scriptures most frequently used to support their beliefs, emphasize a phrase or two, and give some questions I’ve been asked.
For those who believe “once saved, always saved”, these passages can be troublesome and are often called “problem passages”. In the following posts, we’ll explore them a little further and see if they accurately represent the teaching of the rest of the Scriptures.
But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves. 2 Peter 2:1 Does this mean that I could deny God and lose my salvation?
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you– unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 What if I don’t hold firmly to the message?
You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! Galatians 5:4 I can fall away from grace if I return to my old ways?
So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Could I be disqualified?
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me– and I in him– bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up.” John 15:5-6 If a person doesn’t remain in Jesus, he is sent to hell? How can I be sure that I am “remaining”?
For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God– harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. Romans 11:21-22 Again, how do I know if I have continued enough to be spared and not cut off?
For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4-6 What if I left the church for a long time and lived a sinful life? Is that apostasy? Is it impossible for me to be saved?
For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies. Hebrews 10:26-27 But I thought we would never stop sinning until we got to Heaven. How are we supposed to be perfect after we’re saved?
I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. Revelation 22:18-19 What if I have misquoted the Bible to someone – does that count as adding or taking away? Is that big enough to lose my salvation over?
Stay tuned, and we will study these and the rest of the Scriptures together.
No, this isn’t a review of that classic book, or the title would have started with “Book Review”.
Actually, I was reading Proverbs 3 yesterday, and verses 3-4 caught my attention.
Do not let truth and mercy leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and good understanding,
in the sight of God and people.
In our Treehouse Kids program on Sunday mornings, we use a curriculum called 252Basics. According to their website, the program “is built around three Basic Truths every child should embrace according to what Jesus modeled in Luke 2:52.”
Now Luke 2:52 tells us that “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.”
Since our mission in Treehouse Kids is to help kids grow in Jesus Christ, who grew “in favor with God and with people”, we should probably know how to do that.
Which brings us back to Proverbs. How does a person – whether a child or adult – “find favor…in the sight of God and people”?
By holding fast to truth and mercy. By planting them deep into our hearts.
Jesus said that the truth sets people free (John 8:32). Micah told us that God’s desire for his people is “to do what is right, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NLT).
That sounds a lot like the “three Basic Truths” that 252Basics is built on:
So, how are you doing at winning friends and influencing people? Better yet, is your life one that finds favor with God and with people?
If not, which of those steps do you need to take today to start heading in that direction?
We are looking at the biblical teaching of water baptism. So far we have established:
However, there is a teaching about baptism that contradicts what we have already seen. It is a well-known teaching, so prevalent, in fact, that the question comes up every time I teach at Hope Ministries. It is a teaching that I have discussed with many people over the years, and one that is hard to convince people who believe it otherwise. This teaching is that a person must be baptized in order to have salvation.
While there are many churches and denominations that hold this to be true, probably the most well-known is the Catholic Church. And its teachings on this are very clear. The following quotes come from the official Catechism of the Catholic Church (Second Edition). The bolding is all mine for emphasis.
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word.” (p. 312)
The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude [bliss, happiness]… (p. 320)
By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. (p. 321)
Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord’s will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism. (p. 324)
There are several footnotes to the above quotes, but they are all from other Catholic documents, not from the Bible. However, there are references to the Scriptures throughout this section of the Catechism. Since the Bible is where we go to center our study, here are the passages most often used to support this teaching (all quotes are from the NET Bible unless otherwise noted).
Do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. Romans 6:3-4
Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27
When the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:4-6
Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you– not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience– through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Peter 3:21 (New American Standard)
Let’s take these one at a time.
1. We have already seen in the first two passages (Romans 6:3-4 and Colossians 2:12) Paul’s teaching that water baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The person being baptized uses public water baptism to identify themselves with Christ and his church and committing to the new life offered by Christ’s salvation. Since this symbolism requires faith in Christ first, these passages do not support baptism as a means of salvation.
2. The answer to Galatians 3:27 (and many other misunderstood Bible teachings) comes from the context immediately surrounding the verse. Paul’s discussion in this chapter centers on the question, “Does salvation come through keeping the law or through faith?” His response is unashamedly “by faith.” In fact, in the previous verse he wrote, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.”
Notice also that he refers to being “baptized into Christ”, not “into water.” Upon faith in Christ, a person is added to the body of Christ, the church. He is “immersed” or “plunged” into new association with Christ and his people. Since this is the only reference to baptism in the whole letter, and since the context is about salvation through faith in Christ, not water baptism, this verse does not support baptism as a means of salvation.
3. In Titus 3:4-6 we find a similar instance to Galatians 3:27. In this letter we find no reference to baptism at all – into water or into Christ. The phrase “washing of the new birth” obviously refers to salvation, but it has no reference to water baptism.
Throughout the Scriptures salvation is referred to as a washing of sin, something that water – even water blessed by a person – cannot do. This is fact according to the writer of Hebrews: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
If baptism in water can wash away sins and give salvation, then traditional Christianity has major problems, including (but not limited to):
Since the rest of the Bible teaches salvation is available only through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and baptism is not even mentioned here, this passage does not support baptism as a means of salvation.
4. Another verse commonly used to support this teaching is in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:5. Once again, a look at the immediate context and the historical context makes the answer plain.
In this account, Jesus, an Old Testament Jew, was talking to Nicodemus, another Old Testament Jews, using Old Testament Jewish references and terminology. Jewish understanding did not (and still does not) allow for a suffering Messiah or a combination Jew-Gentile church. In Jewish teaching, the kingdom of God will be the Messiah’s literal reign on Earth, delivering the Jews from all outside government and oppression. It will be a time of complete peace under God’s headship.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he wondered if it was possible that Jesus was the Messiah and if the kingdom would be commencing soon. Jesus answered the (unasked) question by stating that entrance into the kingdom would be based on spiritual, not national or ethnic, criteria. This is why Nicodemus, not understanding, asked about being born – physically – again. His idea of the kingdom was purely physical.
Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets used both wind (translated “spirit” here) and water to describe God’s Spirit. By using both, Jesus was emphasizing the spiritual nature of the kingdom, rather than just the physical (which it will also be). Jesus’ follow-up statement in verse 6 compares physical birth to spiritual birth: “What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit” and emphasizes that entrance into the kingdom will be by spiritual birth.
That part of the conversation concludes with Jesus making reference to his crucifixion, “so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:15), making the case again that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Since this discussion is primarily about Jews, not Christians, and since baptism was not mentioned, this passage does not support baptism as a means of salvation.
The last three passages will take a little more time to explain, and this post is already long, so we’ll push those off to Part 4.
As I did my Bible reading this morning, I was challenged by this thought: Am I satisfied?
Now usually, we say that being satisfied is a good thing, because it is a synonym for content, and God is very clear that we are to be content when it comes to stuff (1 Timothy 6:6-8; Philippians 4:11-12; Hebrews 13:5).
So when I read Hosea 13:5-6 this morning, it made an impression, because it connected contentment with our stuff to our spiritual lives. This is God speaking to Israel:
“I cared for you in the wilderness,
in the dry desert where no water was.When they were fed, they became satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;
as a result, they forgot me!”
This is a commentary on human nature. When we get full of stuff, we say, “Look what I have!” But all to often, “Look what I have,” becomes “Look what I’ve done” or “Look who I am” – and that’s wrong. As John the Baptizer reminds us, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27).
We are to be content with stuff. But we are not to let our contentment make us proud and lazy in our spiritual growth.
Yes, we are to celebrate growth. Yes, we are to be glad when we take our next step and reach our next level. But we’re not to ever be satisfied and say, “That’s enough.”
Even the apostle Paul said, “I’m not there yet, so I keep pushing forward.” How could we do any less?
Our focus at OTCC for 2009 will be on commitment. I’m going to teach on commitment. And throughout the year, I’m going to help you stretch in your spiritual lives by asking you to make commitments to take some very specific spiritual steps.
Let’s never get so satisfied in our spirits that God says, “You forgot me!” Let’s press on.
