“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
By Kenneth E. Thomas
No greater question could possibly
be asked than the one by which this tract is titled. It has to do with
eternity. It deals with man’s eternal abode in one of two prepared places:
(1). Heaven for all who love and obey Christ; (2). Hell for all who reject
the grace of Christ as granted through His gospel “plan of salvation” centered
“in Christ,” and “in the church purchased with His blood” (Acts 20:28;
Ephesians 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:10-17).
If my premises above are correct, you can see the
importance of answering this question correctly in your mind and in your
life. To this end this tract is being written. I hope that the reader is
of the “honest and good hearted“ variety of which Jesus spoke in the parable
of the sower (Luke 8 & Matthew 13). Jesus said “those who hunger and
thirst after righteousness, shall be filled“(Matthew 5:6). The answer to
this question is clearly taught in Scripture when one looks carefully,
first at Christ’s “great commission“ and then observes the cases of conversion
as the commission is carried out by the apostles of Christ and other “inspired“
teachers in the Acts of the apostles.
"Great Commission''
The worldwide commission of Christ to His chosen
apostles is recorded in (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:25-49).
This puts into practice for the first time what Jesus had said to Nicodemus
about citizenship in His kingdom, the church, in John 3:3-5. It required
a “new birth” from above involving two elements, “water and the Spirit.”
When one parallels Jesus’ statement to this ruler of the Jews with what
Paul wrote by inspiration in Titus 3:3-5, it becomes evident to one with
an unprejudiced mind that water baptism is what is under consideration
in these passages. Most scholars will agree that this is true especially
of Titus 3:3-5. Some deny this of John 3:3-5, and try to make the ``water”
in this passage the “water of the physical birth.” This is the same mistake
Nicodemus made which Jesus refuted. You do not enter the kingdom of Christ
by a physical birth but by a “new birth” of the “water and Spirit.” By
the teaching of the Holy Spirit one learns what to ``do” to be saved. The
Spirit reveals that after one believes with all of one’s heart that Jesus
is “the Christ” the Son of the living God, one must “repent and be baptized...for
the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38). This is when one is “born again”
don’t you see?
You Bury The Dead Man!
Most, if not all of the Protestant religious world
has the “cart before the horse” as regards this matter of salvation from
one’s alien sins! Sure they do. They have a person who is spiritually alive
(according to their theology) as the only fit subject for baptism. Saved
first and baptized later. The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches by Edward
T. Hiscox D.D. says “baptism is not essential to salvation,...;but it is
essential to obedience, since Christ commanded it” (Pgs 20-21). This is
saying that obedience isn’t essential to one’s salvation don’t you see?
But Jesus is the “author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.”(Hebrews
5:9; Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46). Please read these passages before proceeding
in this study!
What About The “Great Commission” Passages?
In the “great commission” passages cited above,
Jesus said “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). Can
one misunderstand these passages? Not if one isn’t prejudiced by a theology
born of the creeds of uninspired men, or affected with a dose of John Calvin’s
T.U.L.I.P. doctrine or at least a part of it, one cannot. I have often
asked the following question in religious discussions with my Protestant
friends: “What if I could show you a passage of Scripture which says “baptism
saves,” would you accept it?” Some will affirm that they would, only to
argue the passage into a meaningless statement with no bearing on how one
is actually saved, the moment I produce the passage! Now I ask you, is
this being honest? What about you? Will you accept the passage? The same
book that required belief in God and in Jesus as the Son of God, commands
not only baptism, but repentance and a confession with one’s mouth that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God before baptism is effective to the
saving of one’s soul from alien sins! Why will folks accept the faith passages
and teach “salvation by faith alone” and reject the “repent and be baptized
for remission of sins” passages? Can one be honest and so do? Obviously
they cannot. The passage I promised above is often unknown to members of
various Protestant churches. Many have never read it. I had a man almost
tear my New Testament out of my hand when I simply read from 1 Peter 3:20-22
what the apostle Peter wrote by divine inspiration concerning baptism and
its relationship to one’s salvation. Look below at the passage.
"..Baptism Saves.."
“...When the longsuffering of God waited in the days
of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls,
were saved through water: which also after a true likeness doth now save
you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but
the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ; who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven;
angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.”
Do these passages teach that “baptism saves us?”
Obviously. What will you do with these passages? My brethren and I accept
without question each and every passage in the New Testament which teach
“salvation by faith.” Will you not be as honest and accept that these passages
teach baptism saves? Don’t allow your church’s creed or your “Pastor” to
sweep away a plain passage of Scripture. The moment you do, you have Christ
at odds with Himself. The New Testament says “God is not the author of
confusion, but of peace...”(1 Corinthians 14:33). See also (John 17:20-21;
1 Corinthians 1:10; 3:-6).
Protestant Preachers Teach
That Baptism Has Nothing To Do With Your Salvation!
As recently as December of 1991, a Missionary Baptist
preacher by the name of Patterson debated one of my brethren in Mississippi.
Following is a quote from that debate: When Kevin Campbell quoted from
the inspired Book of Acts what Peter told believers on Pentecost AD 33,
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Mr. Patterson said “I know it says
( and he quoted the passage above Acts 2:38) but there’s just too many
places where it’s not mentioned.” “Baptism for the remission of sins is
false, untrue and is biblical idolatry.”
Quoted from an account of the debate by Larry R.
Hafley in the Guardian of Truth Magazine December 19,1991 pg. 734. Is it
any wonder that the masses have lost respect for the authority of Christ
as stated in the New Testament? They are lead to this end by many of their
“Pastors.” In the same debate Mr. Patterson who believes “once saved always
saved,” was in great trouble when questioned about a professional ball
player who had been voted into the local Baptist church after having done
what they affirm saves one, namely “accepting Jesus as personal Savior
and asking Him to come into his heart and save him,” who later renounced
God for Allah, Jesus for Mohammed, and the Bible for the Koran. Kevin asked
“was he still saved?” Our relay would be that he was not (even it he had
been which they affirmed by voting him into the local Baptist church fellowship)
for he had not obeyed the gospel which culminates in baptism “for the remission
of alien sins.” Too, he was not walking in the light of divine revelation
to be, and to remain in fellowship with God (1 John 1:6-9; 2 John 9;11;
Ephesians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
More recent than the above mentioned debate is
one which appeared in the March 3,1994 Guardian of Truth between a gospel
preacher and a Baptist preacher. The Baptist preacher is editor of a paper
called The Berea Baptist Banner in Mautachie, Mississippi. His name is
Milburn Cockrell. The gospel preacher’s name is Pat Donahue. The first
part of the debate was the signed proposition affirmed by Mr. Cockrell:
“The Bible teaches that a sinner is saved at the point of faith in Christ
before baptism in water.” Where do you suppose he learned this? He did
not learn it from Jesus. He did not learn it from any apostle of Jesus.
No inspired evangelist ever taught such! It is actually born of Calvinism,
from the idea that folks are “born in sin.” That’s another doctrine of
men not taught in Scripture (Matthew 18:1-3; 19:14; Ezekiel 18:20). This
same ungodly doctrine is why the “once saved always saved” position persists.
Cases of Conversion..
It should suffice to show some clear cases of conversion
from the Acts of the apostles of Christ-as they carried out His commission.
What were they taught? What were they told to do after believing on Jesus
as “the Christ?” What did they confess? To which church did they belong?
What name did they wear? Important questions-every one! Protestants and
Catholics dare not give the Bible answer to the above questions. The moment
they do, they acknowledge that their beliefs and practices are at odds
with the Biblical facts in these cases of conversion! A case in point is
the wording of page twenty two of the Standard Manual for Baptist Churches
by Edward T. Hiscox. Here he wrote the following.
“It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when
there was “but one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,” and no differing
denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted
him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the right
and privileges of full membership. In that sense, “baptism was the door
into the church.” Now, it is different; and while the churches (Baptist
churches ket) are desirous of receiving members, they are wary and cautious
that they do not receive unworthy persons. The churches (Baptist
ket) therefore have candidates come before them, make their statement,
give their “experience,” and then their reception is decided by a vote
of the members. And while they cannot become members without baptism, yet
it is the vote of the body which admits them to its fellowship on receiving
baptism.”
While there are a couple of doctrinal mistakes
in the above quote, it is very telling to be sure! It tells us that this
gentleman at least knew that what they now teach and practice is “different”
from how it was in the Apostolic age! Our question is-who made it different?
And, is Christ pleased with the differences? The Bible’s answer is, No!
See and read carefully the following passages (Galatians 1:6-11; Revelation
22:18-19; 2 Timothy 4:1-8). Too, Mr. Hiscox says that they baptized a “convert.”
No, they baptized a believing penitent person “for the remission of sins”
(Acts 2:38). Compare (Acts 3:19). Here Luke records that Peter told another
audience to “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may
be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord.” So it is clear that the statement on Pentecost in (Acts 2:38),
“Repent and be baptized...for the remission of sins” and his statement
here to “Repent and be converted” are parallel and mean the same thing!
Thus we can see clearly that being baptized and being converted mean the
same thing, and that one is not converted until one is baptized! Baptism
is the final act completing the “new birth” which changes one’s state or
relationship from an alien to a citizen of Christ’s kingdom. It is from
out of Christ to “in Christ,” (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:26-29). Paul says
one is a “new creature in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But one is “baptized
into Christ,” therefore one isn’t a new creature before one is baptized.
The conclusion is inescapable.
Why Are We To Be Baptized?
For The Same Reason That Jesus Shed His Blood
on The Cross of Calvary
Why did Jesus shed His blood? You say it was “for
the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). I agree. Compare (Matthew
26:28) with (Acts 2:38). It is clear from the original language
as well as the English translations of each passage- that the “for remission”
is identical. Therefore, if one is to be “baptized because he is
saved already” as most Baptist and others teach, then Jesus died on
Calvary shedding His precious blood “because we were saved already!”
Who can believe it? Still, the majority teach “saved at the point of
faith and baptized later.” You know I am not misrepresenting the Protestant
position. It is false and will cause untold multitudes to face Christ in
judgment yet unsaved (Matthew 7:13-29)!
Contact us for more study about these matters if the above
interests you! Can't you see the need for more study after having read
this? It is our prayer that you do. Call me at 347-3582 or my home at 347-5645.
Kenneth E. Thomas