When Does God Declare a Man Saved?
WHEN DOES GOD DECLARE A MAN SAVED?
It is the most important principle or state ever known to man; tragically, it is ignored by most, and cherished by a precious few; it answers the questions, “Why am I here” and “what is my destiny?” No man can afford to live or die without it. God says there is just one way to access this privilege. Men declare there are many ways in which one can access this divinely given gift. This lesson is designed to let the Bible (God) speak for itself relative to the issue of salvation.
Contrary to what some teach, God sincerely desires that all men of all nations be saved. 1Timothy 2:3-4 plainly teaches: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (Deliverer); who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.” Does not this affirmation clearly contradict the incredibly false notion that God has–from all eternity–selected some men to be lost and some men to be saved, and neither party can change their eternal destinies? Joshua 24:15 and Mark 16:15-16 teach us that following the Lord is a personal choice. Unquestionably, humans are endowed with the ability to make choices.
The terms “saved” and “salvation” basically mean “deliverance.” In the biblical sense the terms refer to deliverance from eternal damnation. According to Romans 5:9 and 1 Thessalonians 1:10, to be saved is to be delivered from the wrath of God. Yes, God has set aside a day when He will judge all men who ever lived (2Cor.5:10). Those who failed to give heed to the plea to be saved will be eternally separated from God. They will experience a tortured soul and memory (Matt.25:41-46; Luke 16:19-31). Sadly, many have worked a considerable amount of “overtime” on their way to Hell. For the Scriptures declare, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23).
For those who love their precious souls, the most important question they can ask is, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). During the infancy period of the church the answer from varied sources was universal or identical. Unfortunately, one seeking the truth on this matter today will no doubt hear counterfeit forms of what it takes to be saved. God frequently warns us through His Word of counterfeit teachers, doctrines, and churches. Matthew 7:13-29 vividly reveals that many will settle for that which feels good (the broad way) instead of that which is ordained of God (the strait gate). They will die convinced that they were/are indeed saved, only to experience immediately a very tragic reality. On the Judgment Day, they will unsuccessfully plead their case before the Judge of judges. While on earth, they acknowledged Jesus as their Master, were convinced they were performing miracles through Him, and exhibited works comparable to that of His saints. In actuality, the Lord never knew or acknowledged them. Reason: They pledged allegiance to false doctrines and became members of unauthorized churches.
Those to whom Jesus is referring are, and will be, guilty of not investigating or comparing what they were practicing with the Bible for accuracy. Also, large crowds do not always equate to truth or accuracy. Yes, the man may be eloquent, teaches from the Bible, and have a large following, but it does not mean that he is teaching the Truth. Apollos fits this very description (Acts 18:24-28). He was eloquent, powerful in his presentation, and well versed in the Bible. Yet, a part of his doctrine was not in line with God’s Word; it could not bring forth salvation. In truth, he was sincere. Regrettably, he was sincerely wrong; his doctrine needed correcting.
In spite of the multitudes of “faiths” existing today, one need not fear; the Lord, the embodiment of truth, promised, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Truth is obtainable. The honest heart will find the very truth to which Jesus is referring (Heb.11:6).
Literally, God gave man only one Faith or system of belief (Eph.4:5; Jude 3). From this one body of doctrine comes one answer to the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The reason why there are so many counterfeit answers to the above question is because men have created their own so-called systems of “faith.” These multiple departures from the Truth were predicted by God (Acts 20:29-31; 1Tim.4:1-5). Be advised: “God is not the author of confusion” (1Cor.14:33). Jesus commands that we teach the same thing doctrinally (1Cor.1:10). There are no exception clauses or options to the command. The often-used slogans, “Attend the church of your choice,” and “It does not matter what you believe as long as you believe,” have absolutely no biblical support.
The Bible very straightforwardly gives the required steps unto salvation. (1) God links belief to salvation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) (NKJV); (2) God links repentance to salvation; “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Cor.7:10) (NKJV); (3) God links confessing Christ to salvation: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom.10:9-10) (NKJV); (4) God links baptism to salvation: “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. 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: (1 Pet.3:20-21) (KJV). Therefore, all steps unto salvation are equal in authority, though different in nature. In other words, if any one of the steps is missed or excluded, salvation will not be granted.
Strangely and sadly, many in the denominational world teach just the opposite of what the Bible says about baptism. Many openly teach that one is saved as soon as he believes in Jesus. Some teach that baptism is not for the remission of sins. Others teach that baptism is required as an “outward sign of an inward grace.” The Bible teaches that baptism is required prior to one’s being saved (Mark 16:15-16). Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Where is the confusion? Where does Jesus place baptism in the salvation process? Tragically, some argue that Mark 16:16 excludes baptism as a requirement unto salvation. Answer: It is understood that if a man does not believe in Christ, he will not submit to the command of baptism. There was absolutely no need for Jesus to say, “he that is not baptized,” in Mark 16:16. Baptism puts one into Christ (Gal.3:26-27). How can one argue against such a clear passage of Scripture? To be in Christ is to be in his body the church (Eph.1:22-23). So, those who argue against baptism argue against being in Christ.
Acts 2:38 connects baptism to the remission or forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the command and explained its purpose. Again, how clear is the Bible relative to this matter? If Acts 2:38 does not teach baptism is for the remission of sins, neither does Matthew 26:28. Jesus said: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Both verses in question have the identical grammatical construction. If one does not mean what it truly reveals, neither does the other. So, according to some, the blood of Christ is not for the remission of sins. Likewise, 1Peter 3:21 teaches that baptism saves us; baptism, like the water in Noah’s day, served as a dividing line separating the saved from the doomed.
Romans 6:3-4 reveals that baptism brings one in contact with the death of Jesus; at His death He shed His precious blood (John 19:34). There is nothing special about the water or the administrator of the baptism. In 2 Kings 5, there is a story about a man by the name of Naaman who suffered from leprosy; he was told to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times in order to be cleansed; he first refused, but later obeyed the command of God. His leprosy was cleansed not because the river contained some special power, but because he complied with the conditions set by Jehovah. The same applies to the command of baptism.
Lastly, in the original language the verbs “believeth” and “baptized” (Mark 16:15-16) are aorist (air-o-rist) tense verbs. It is noted that this verb always comes before the main verb in a sentence. The main verb “shall be saved” is placed in its proper and original setting, thus revealing the true meaning of Mark 16:15-16. Dear reader, such a fact is indisputable, and, of course, absolutely true.