| How We Are Saved, Part 7, Man's Viewpoint - Acknowledgement |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, September 29 2008 00:00 |
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As we see our own salvation, we know that we reach a point when we want to acknowledge the fact that we have found salvation in Christ. What we do is, in fact, a sign that our faith is true and living (James 2:20-26). The public acknowledgement of our faith is so important in the process of our salvation, that the writers of the Bible tie it to salvation itself. While we are not saved by works (Eph. 2:8-9), we are saved to do works (Eph. 2:10). It is inconceivable that if we have truly come to Christ and put our trust in Him, if we are genuinely sorrow for our past rebellion, that we would refuse to do so. Thus Paul writes these straightforward words in Rom. 10:8-10: "’The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” A refusal to confess Christ would be an indication that one did not really believe and thus would not be saved. We also confess Christ in our baptism, which is a symbol of washing away of sins (Acts 22:16). Thus on Pentecost Peter told the Jews to “repent and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Jesus said that “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Nowhere in Scripture is justification (pardon, right standing with God) taught to be the result of baptism, nor do we find the teaching that we are reborn by our act of water baptism (baptismal regeneration). However, the public acknowledgement of faith in a believer by the act of baptism confirms his/her faith. It is again inconceivable that a true believer would refuse Christian baptism. In the end, as Jesus says, it is unbelief that condemns, and refusal to acknowledge faith is an indication of unbelief. We also acknowledge our faith by regular attendance at communion which shows forth the Lord’s death (1 Cor. 11:26), and by regular worship, prayer, and living out the Christian life. As we see these good works develop in our lives, it confirms our faith and thus our salvation (See 1 John, the entire text, James 2, 2 Pet 1:1-11, and other such passages.) |
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