Very few realize there exists a special relationship between the shed blood of Jesus Christ and baptism. That such a relationship exists was established by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:1-3, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

Blood In God's Redemption Plan

In God's unfolding plan of redemption, blood has always had a special significance. Under all covenants, God has allowed blood to bring the forgiveness of sin, that is, release from the penalty of sin. This was the purpose of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, which we will discuss later. But consider some other examples from the oldest books of the Bible.

In the garden, after Adam and Eve sinned, it was God who made coverings of skin for them (Gen 3:21). Where did these skins come from? It is implied that God sacrificed animals to make these skins to cover the “sin” of Adam and Eve.

Also, consider Job. Job was in the common practice of sacrificing animals for the sins of his children after they had a celebration (Job 1:5). He did this in case they had “sinned,” and he wanted to make amends with God.

These sacrifices of various animals was not the main thing, but the blood of these sacrifices was the major theme and this theme carried all throughout the Bible, yes, from Genesis to Revelation, as we will see.

The Scripture says: “…nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb 9:22). Blood has sin cleansing power because a sacrifice of blood is actually a sacrifice of life, and death is the penalty for sin; the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). Moses commanded, “But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.” (Deut 12:23). As the writer of the book of Genesis, he would have remembered the words of God that stated that meat must not be eaten that has the “lifeblood” still in it. (Gen 9:4) Even the early church had this view of blood as they commanded the gentile churches to, among other things, “abstain from blood.” (Acts 15:20)

Now, not just any blood can forgive sin. Even the blood of the bulls and goats offered in sacrifice to God lacked real sin cleansing ability, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Heb 10:4). No, these animal sacrifices were types or representations of the atoning sacrifice Christ would make. Only his blood can take away sins (Heb 9:22-10:18). In Scripture Jesus is called "the lamb of God" (John 1:29), "our Passover lamb“ (1 Cor 5:7-8), and "the Lamb slain from the creation of the world.” (Rev 13:8). Jesus is readily described by New Testament writers as our sacrifice for sin.

Blood Must Be Applied

In order for the blood to "cleanse," it was necessary that it be applied to the sinner for whom the sacrifice was made. There are numerous Old Testament examples of this; however, let us consider only these three.

First, blood was applied to the house of Israel at the first Passover (Exod 12:13). “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” Notice that it was essential that the blood be on the houses. Those houses which did not have blood applied to their doorposts would not be protected from the plague of the death of the first born. God only passed over those houses where he saw the blood.

Second, blood was applied to the house of Israel when God made his covenant with them (Exod 24:6-8). “Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Here we see that before Israel could be God's covenant people they had to be sanctified with the blood of the covenant. Their relationship to God was sealed with his blood.

Third, the priests of the Tabernacle worship were consecrated by the application of blood (Exod 29:20). “Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then splash blood against the sides of the altar.” These individuals could not be set aside in the priesthood until they had the blood of the offering applied to them.

The New Testament has a considerable amount of references to the blood; not just of animals and sacrifices but most importantly, the blood of Jesus.

Jesus purchased the church with his blood (Acts 20:28). We are redeemed through “faith in his blood.” (Rom 3:25). We are also justified by the blood of Christ (Rom 5:9). 1 Cor 6:9-11 tells us that we are washed, sanctified and justified by the blood of Jesus. We have redemption and forgiveness and are brought near to God by the blood of Jesus (Eph 1:7, 2:13-16, 1 Pet 1:18-22). We have peace through his blood (Col 1:19-20). Even our consciences are cleansed by Jesus’ blood (Heb 9:13-14), and we are freed from our sins by His blood (Rev 1:5).

We must remember that the Old Testament was a shadow and a copy of the realities in the New Treatment and the blood of all those sacrifices served to point to the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ and the blood that he shed on the cross for our sins.

Baptism: When the Blood is Applied

The three illustrations from the Old Testament, as well as all the examples in the New Testament should establish that there was always the application of the blood of the offering to those who offered the sacrifice. Even now the blood of Christ must be applied to sinners who seek the forgiveness of their sins. “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ…cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Heb 9:13-14) Among other ideas, the writer of Hebrews is referring to Numbers 19 where the ashes would be sprinkled into a “cleansing water” to purify the sin of the people.

Unlike the examples we have given from the Old Testament the application of the blood of Jesus is not a literal application. However, the Scriptures teach that disciples are washed in this blood. "To him [Jesus Christ] who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” (Rev 1:5).

We must determine where and how the blood is applied to sinners in order to make them "clean."

When we read the New Testament we find that just as the blood of the Passover was applied to the house of Israel, so the blood of our Passover lamb, Christ, has been applied to God's House, the church (1 Tim 3:15). Paul told the Ephesian elders: "…Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28). Also, we read that just as Israel was sprinkled with the blood of Moses' covenant before they were God's people, so today, we are sprinkled with the blood of the New Covenant (Matt 26:28). “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:19-22). Finally, we noticed that priests were set aside for service by the blood. Today, Disciples, God's holy priesthood and a kingdom of priests, are set aside by Jesus' blood (1 Pet 2:5; Rev 1:5-6). “For you know that it was not with perishable things…but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Pet 1:18-19) Somehow and somewhere the blood of Jesus is applied to sinners seeking salvation.

I submit that the Scriptures teach that there’s a direct connection between the blood of Christ and baptism, and the Scriptures teach the blood of Christ is applied to sinners in baptism, and that this is what the apostle Paul had in mind in Rom 6:3 when he said we are "baptized into his [Christ's] death?”

The phrase, “for the forgiveness of sins,” connects the blood of Christ and baptism. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matt 26:26-29), He said these words with respect to the cup: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (v.27-28). This clearly shows the reason that Christ shed His blood, for the forgiveness of sins. Indeed, the Hebrew writer affirms, “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” (Heb 9:22). However, in Acts 2:36-38, when the people asked Peter what they must do to be saved, He said, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v.38). Note that we are baptized for the very same reason that Jesus shed His blood. This connects the blood of Christ to baptism!

The phrase, “death of His Son,” connects the blood of Christ and baptism. Paul said to the disciples in Rome, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Rom 5:10). The death of Jesus by the shedding of His blood results in being reconciled. But just a few verses later, Paul continued, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Rom 6:3). Just as we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son, we must be baptized into that same death. This connects the blood of Christ to baptism!

The phrase, “washed from our sins,” connects the blood of Christ and baptism. In the book of Revelation, John described Jesus as “…him who loves us and has freed [washed (KJV)] us from our sins by his blood,” (Rev 1:5). It is the blood of Jesus Christ that washes away our sins! But don’t forget what Ananias told Paul, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’” (Acts 22:16). Just as Jesus washes away our sins by His blood, He only does so when we are baptized. This connects the blood of Christ to baptism!

The phrase, “hearts sprinkled… bodies washed,” connects the blood of Christ and baptism. The Hebrew writer said, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:22). The sprinkling is a reference to the blood that was sprinkled in the Old Testament, and the blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:2). And the washing of water is a reference to baptism (Eph 5:25-26, Act 22:16). These two seemingly different things are brought together in this one verse. This connects the blood of Christ to baptism!

The phrase, “shall we be saved,” connects the blood of Christ and baptism. In Romans 5:8-9, the apostle Paul said, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” But when Jesus gave the “Great Commission,” He said these words: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16). So, while there is no doubt that Jesus saves us by His blood, He only does so when we are baptized. This connects the blood of Christ to baptism!

The connection is clear: Christ shed His blood on the cross to make salvation possible; and in baptism, we obtain the benefits of that shed blood.

Baptism is designed to change our relationship to Christ. Baptism changes our relationship by bringing us into Christ. Before baptism we are aliens, outside of the realm of the blessings for the saved (Eph 1:3), but after baptism we are in Christ where the blessings can be had. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Gal 3:26-27). Again, baptism changes our relationship by bringing us into the body of Christ from outside the body of Christ, which is the church (Col 1:18). “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body…” (1 Cor 12:13).

Baptism carries the disciple to where forgiveness of sins is found.

Baptism into Christ's death enables us to reach the blood of his cross (John 19:34). Baptism is God's work of washing us in the blood of the Lamb and cleansing us of our sins (Col 2:12-13). “…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,” How much clearer can it be? God forgives men of their sins when they understand the purpose and obey his command for baptism.

A Case Study from Scripture

Let us examine one case of conversion and determine when and where God washed our sins in Jesus' blood. In Acts 9 we read of Saul's conversion. On the road to Damascus the Lord Jesus appeared to him and said, “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6). There Saul fasted and prayed for three days waiting to be told what to do. Finally, Ananias came and asked him, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’” (Acts 22:16). Now, when was Saul washed in the blood of the lamb of God? When he got up and was baptized.

The Connection

Jesus shed His blood in His death on the cross, John 19:33-34, sinners are baptised into His death, Romans 6:3.

Jesus shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins, Matthew 26:28, sinners are baptised for the forgiveness of sins, Acts 2:38.

Jesus shed His blood to cleanse our conscience, Hebrews 9:13-14, sinners are baptised as a pledge for a clear conscience, 1 Peter 1:21.

Jesus shed His blood so that we can be washed of our sins in it, Revelation 1:5, sinners are baptised to have their sins washed away, Acts 22:16.

Conclusion

The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus’ blood saves us, but the Bible also tells us that His blood can only be accessed by being baptised in water for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16).

It’s through the waters of baptism that God washes us clean from our sins (Col 2:11-13), and gives us a pledge of a clear conscience towards Him (1 Pet 3:21).

We come into contact with the blood of Christ in the waters of baptism, it’s then that we become ‘in Christ’ and all of our past sins are forgiven, and we receive a new life (Rom 6:1-5).

After we’ve been baptised, His blood will continue to cleanse us and purify us from all unrighteousness, if we remain faithful to Him and confess our sins, walking in the light (1 Joh 1:6-9).

Now, as we have seen the evidence from the Scriptures, a big question can rise in our minds about baptism being a work; and not an act of faith. Let's make sure that we are clear about this aspect of salvation as well.

Appendix Articles

Baptism: The Work of God

One of the most common objections that I hear regarding the necessity of baptism goes something like this: "Baptism can't be necessary for salvation because that would be an attempt to earn our salvation through works. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9 that grace is a gift we receive by faith." Baptism is indeed a work, but it's not the kind of work that people often think about. Consider what the Apostle Paul says about baptism in his letter to the Colossians:

“In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:11–12)

Baptism is "the working of God." Notice what God is doing in baptism:

God is performing a circumcision. But he clarifies that it's not a physical circumcision "performed by human hands." It's a spiritual circumcision; "circumcised by Christ." He elaborates on this further in verse 13: "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins." Through baptism, God is removing the sin that is counted against us.

God is raising someone from the dead. But again, this is not a physical resurrection, but a spiritual one. When we are baptized, we are both buried and raised with Christ through faith. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that raises us up from spiritual death (Eph 1:19–20).

When someone gets a heart transplant, the patient does not come out and say, "I did such an amazing job giving myself a new heart!" All the patient did was give their consent to the surgeon and allow the surgeon to perform the heart transplant. The surgeon did the work. In the same way, when we are baptized, all we are doing is putting our faith in God and allowing Him to give us a new spiritual life.

Even the physical act of being immersed in water (lit. baptism) is a passive experience. With that being said, the water itself doesn't contain the power to cleanse us spiritually (1 Pet 3:21). Instead, Jesus' blood, as we have already seen, is how our sins are washed away, and baptism is the moment God chose for this cleansing to occur. Grace is a gift of God and baptism is how we accept that gift "through faith" (Col. 2:13).

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom 6:3–4)

Baptism, as with repentance and everything else that we do out of faith is a “work of God” and is in no way anything that can be credited to us.

The Thief on the Cross

Many religious people appeal to “the thief on the cross” (Luke 23:39-43) to "prove" that baptism is not essential to salvation. Some say that the thief on the cross was saved, because Jesus said he would be with Him in “Paradise” – even though he was not baptized (v.43). But is that really what is taught here? Let us analyze this text carefully to determine: 1.) Whether or not the thief was baptized; then, 2.) If this really teaches that baptism is not essential to salvation. So, let's dig into this text!

How do we KNOW that the thief was not baptized? This is often assumed by people, but it has never been proven! I would argue that this point should not be thoughtlessly granted, but proven. Where did anyone get the idea that the thief was not baptized? I guarantee you that they didn’t get that idea from the Bible! And if this idea is found in the Bible, please show us where. Indeed, it would be wise to consider the work of John, the baptizer. Of his work, the Bible says, "and were ALL baptized by him" (Mk.1:1-5). Yes, I realize that this means, “virtually all,” because we know that some rejected John’s baptism (Lk.7:29-30). But notice that, even here, the text says that ONLY "the Pharisees and lawyers" rejected John's baptism. Next, consider the work of Jesus Himself. The Bible says that Jesus "made and baptized more disciples than John" (Jn.4:1-2). Could the thief on the cross have been in that number? Certainly! Therefore, it should not be assumed that he was never baptized.

Consider evidence that the thief WAS baptized! In this brief glimpse into the life of the thief, he reveals much about himself! Notice that the thief feared God (Lk.23:39-40). Also notice that he said things about Jesus that only a disciple would say. For instance, he knew that Jesus was a sinless man (v.41). Not only that, but he also knew that Jesus was "Lord" (i.e., master or king), and that He had a "kingdom" (v.42). On top of all of that, he knew that Jesus could "remember" him when He became King (v.42). Now get this picture! Though they’re both dying, the thief knows that King Jesus has power beyond the grave to remember him. It is clear that this thief has knowledge of Jesus that could have ONLY come from exposure to his teaching. While this is by no means conclusive proof, it does seem highly likely that the thief was baptized!

Also notice WHEN the thief was forgiven of sins. It is very important to note that he was forgiven BEFORE the death of Jesus (v.43-46). Why do I say this? Because the New Covenant had not yet gone into effect (Hb.9:15-17). The Bible says that a covenant does not go into effect until a death has taken place. Think of it like a “last will and testament.” You make a will, which can be altered by you at any time in your life; but once you die, your “will” goes into effect. This is the very argument the Hebrew writer is making! After the death of Jesus, His “will” (the New Covenant) went into effect. The will of Jesus clearly says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk.16:16; cf. Ac.2:38; 22:16). To illustrate further, consider the situation where you are approaching a red stop light, but there is a police officer who “overrules” that light and motions you through. As long as the officer is there, he can motion you through as he sees fit; but once he leaves, the stop light controls the traffic. Likewise, while Jesus was here, He could save people as He saw fit; but once He ascended to Heaven, His will (the traffic light) takes control of the situation!

In addition to this, when we look at the pattern of salvation while Jesus walked the earth, the thief clearly had faith, he had clearly repented in his heart and it resulted in his behavior; even sharing his faith with the other thief. Matthew 9:6 clearly states that Jesus had full authority to forgive sins while still on this earth, and was within his power to forgive the thief while he was on the cross. Notice that it was after his repentance and demonstration of faith that he forgave the thief.

Why cite the thief? Why not be saved like others? Did you ever notice that no one ever says that they want to be saved like the woman caught in adultery (Jn.8:1-11, go and sin no more). No one ever asks to be saved like the rich young ruler (Mt.19:16-22, go, sell everything, and give it away). No one ever asks to be saved like the laborers in the vineyard (Mt.20:1-16, go work today in my vineyard). It seems that people are constantly looking for the easy path to salvation, rather than to just do what Jesus said! (Mk.16:16).

The real issue is: What is the will of Jesus today? And the answer is clearly revealed by both Jesus and His apostles. You must repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Mt.28:18-20; Mk.16:16; Jn.3:5; Ac.2:38; 22:16; Rm.6:4; 1Pt.3:21).

Faith and Obedience are Linked

One of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible is “faith.” Many who claim to be Christians insist that “faith” and “obedience” are completely separate concepts. As long as that misunderstanding continues, we will never be in agreement with our denominational friends. Nevertheless, the Scriptures are very clear that “faith” and “obedience” are linked concepts! Would you explore this with me?

Let us begin with the definition of “faith.” Basically, to have faith is “to trust in; to depend or rely on.” In terms of saving faith, we speak of “trusting” in Christ (Jn.3:16). Now if you “trust in, depend on, or rely on” someone, you will do what they ask! If you fail to do what they ask, it means that you do NOT “trust in, depend on, or rely” on them! This can be illustrated with your personal physician. When he tells you what is wrong, and prescribes a treatment, you will accept his diagnosis, and take the treatment! It’s just that simple!

This brings us to Jesus as the great Physician. “And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, ‘How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard it, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance’” (Mk.2:16-18). If “Doc Jesus” gives us a prescription for our sin-sickness, we would be well-advised to take it! (cf. Jn.12:48)

In commenting on this understanding of “faith,” W.E. Vine says this: “The main elements in "faith" in its relation to the invisible God, as distinct from "faith" in man, are especially brought out in the use of this noun and the corresponding verb, pisteuo; they are (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God's revelation or truth, e. g., 2 Thess. 2:11-12; (2) a personal surrender to Him, John 1:12; (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender, 2 Cor 5:7. Prominence is given to one or other of these elements according to the context.” Notice that third element very carefully! Biblical, saving “faith” requires a certain “conduct” from us! This concept of “faith” can be seen in a number of Scriptures. Let’s examine a few of them.

In Romans 10:16, we read this: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘LORD, who has believed our report?’” If you will take note, the word “obeyed” is equated with the word “believed” in that passage! This just confirms in a direct way what I have said, namely, that “faith” and “obedience” are linked! Now let’s consider another example.

In Hebrews 3:16-19, we read this: “For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So, we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” This passage confirms what we have already observed, but from the negative perspective. Those who “rebelled,” “sinned,” and “did not obey” did so “because of unbelief.” Now, let’s consider one more example.

In John 3:36, we read this: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (cf. ASV, NASV, ESV). Once again, the one who “believes in the Son” is clearly the one who will “obey the Son.” In fact, the words “faith” and “obedience” are so linked that they can be used interchangeably (cp. KJV, NKJV).

It should be clear that those who try to “disconnect” faith from obedience are grievously mistaken! Those concepts are linked in Scripture. To “believe in Jesus” is to “obey Jesus” (Mk.16:16; Ac.8:12; 18:8; Ga.3:26-27; Col.2:12). Now, the only question which remains is: “Do you TRULY believe in Jesus?”

What Is Faith?

The Bible clearly declares that we are saved “through faith” (Ep.2:8-9). The very same passage also says we are saved “by grace” – hence, any notion of “salvation by faith only” is false (cf. Jm.2:24). Man is saved by many things: grace, mercy, love, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, faith, obedience, etc. Simply put, there is NO “one thing alone” which saves! With that said, I still believe there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the true nature of “saving faith.” In this article, I will try to further define what is meant by the word “faith,” and how that applies to salvation.

1. Faith is something MAN does. You might think that is too obvious, but there are those who teach that faith is given directly by God, in some miraculous way. But in John 6:28-29, we read, “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” This passage should forever put to rest the popular notion which says, “There is nothing you can do to be saved,” because there IS something YOU can do: BELIEVE!

2. Faith, at its core, is “trust.” To have faith in your parents is to trust in them. To have faith in your spouse is to trust in him or her. And to have faith in God or Christ is to trust in them. In other words, it is not simply believing in the existence of your parents, your spouse, your children or God. Instead, it is to have an implicit trust in them; to rely upon them (cf. Pr.3:5-6).

3. Faith involves compliance. This is the logical consequence of our previous point. If I trust in my parents, I will comply with their loving instructions. If I trust in my spouse, I will accommodate her wishes. And if I trust in God or Christ, I will comply with His will. This fact is so well-established in Scripture, that faith and obedience are often used interchangeably. Note: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘LORD, who has believed our report?’” (Rm.10:16). “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So, we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hb.3:18-19).

4. Faith in ourselves brings failure. “Also, He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you: this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk.18:9-14). We simply cannot be saved by trusting in our own good works, for that requires perfect compliance (Ga.3:10; cf. Tit.3:5).

5. Faith in CHRIST brings forgiveness. “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin’” (Rm.4:5-8). In the above passage, the phrase, “does not work,” does not mean this man does nothing, for the very next phrase says that he “believes.” Hence, the word “work” (v.5) refers to works of perfect compliance (see previous paragraph).

6. Faith in Christ must be continual. “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” (Jn.3:16). The word “believes” in this text is in the present tense; and it means, “keeps on believing.” In other words, as long as one “keeps on believing” (in the sense described in this article) that one will not perish but have everlasting life!

Obedience is Essential

I know it’s hard to believe, but there are some so-called “Christians” who do not believe that obedience is essential to salvation. Instead, they argue that salvation is “by faith alone, apart from any acts of obedience.” They also believe that once someone has been saved, they cannot be lost – aka, “once saved, always saved.” Faithful Christians have fought against such false doctrines for as long as I can remember. Once again, I know that for those who believe the Bible, it is hard to believe that anyone would deny the need to obey the Lord. So, in this article, I wanted to provide some actual proof that this is not a “made-up” controversy; that some actually do teach these things.

To begin, I shall quote a man named Sam Morris, who is a Baptist preacher: “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn his soul! The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul… All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debt he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform, will not make his soul one wit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger… The way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul.” (From: A Discussion Which Involves a Subject Pertinent to All Men).

Another man, named Bill Foster, said, “If I killed my wife and mother, and debauched a thousand women, I couldn’t go to hell – in fact, I couldn’t go to hell if I wanted to. If, on the judgment day, I should find that my loved ones are lost and should lose all desire to be saved, and should beg God to send me to hell with them, He couldn’t do it.” (From: The Weekly Worker, March 12, 1959).

Now friends, I do not know how these men could have been any plainer! According to them, whether you obey the Lord or not has nothing to do with salvation. Simply put, they do not believe obedience is essential to salvation! And these are just two examples of many which could be cited. Now, let’s compare that with the word of God…

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men’” (Ac.5:29).

“But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek” (Rm.2:8-9).

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rm.6:16-18).

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” (Ga.3:1).

“And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2Th.1:7-9).

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hb.5:8-9).

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1Pt.4:17).

Grace and Works

(Editor’s note: Many continue to struggle with the concepts of “grace” and “works” – and this confusion is worsened by a few misguided preachers. The church is going through another phase where some have grown weary of “traditional teaching” (in this case, “truth”). They claim that we do not understand “grace” – but they can clear it up for us! They tell us that when we “stress obedience,” we are “divisive” and “legalistic.” Then they cry “foul” when their teaching is exposed as Calvinistic (though the evidence speaks for itself). The issue is simple: Must we obey the Lord or not? Some will argue vehemently against “legalism” (and they mean “strict obedience”), then act surprised, hurt, and offended when they are exposed and forced to backtrack in order to assure us that obedience is essential. But they cannot have it both ways – i.e., preaching obedience while simultaneously ridiculing it. With that said, I introduce this article on grace and works by Robert F. Turner. His writings on this subject are some of the clearest I’ve seen. Please read it; then pause, ponder, and profit!)

In the Roman letter the apostle Paul clearly contrasts grace and works (Rom. 4:2-5; 11:6), and some have concluded he makes any act of obedience incompatible with grace. We believe this error is the result of failure to consider the context of his arguments concerning "law" and "works." Will you think with us?

He begins his main argument by showing that God is Just in condemning all, for "all have sinned." Law, both moral and positive, identifies sin. It makes sin apparent, and shows the futility of seeking to be acknowledged "free of guilt" on the basis of law alone. Since a single sin is all that is necessary to establish guilt, and no amount of obedience can remove guilt, once established; it follows that the only way one may be justified (free of guilt) on the basis of law alone is to obey perfectly. In Rom. 10:5 we read, "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them" (emphasis mine). In Gal. 3:10-f. he makes the same point, saying, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them" (emphasis mine).

When Paul says, "If Abraham were justified (free of guilt, rt) by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God;" he is saying there would be no need for the grace of forgiveness if Abraham had never sinned. He is not saying that any act of obedience on Abraham's part would nullify grace. When we recognize that God's grace is expressed in Christ on the cross, and that this "gift" is the MEANS of forgiveness, then we can appreciate the meaning of faith (or trust) in Him. Seeking "freedom from guilt" by (perfect) works, we put our trust in ourselves — and fail. But recognizing that salvation for any but the absolutely perfect (who would need no saving) must be by gift or grace of God, we put our trust in Him who died for us.

The thought of Rom. 11:6 is, therefore: "If by grace, then it is no more of (perfect, meriting) works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work (that is less than perfect, and needs forgiveness) is no more work" (such as Paul has in mind in making these statements.)

With Paul, trust in Jesus Christ involves obedience. Note: for obedience to the faith" (1:5), "who will render to every man according to his deeds" (2:6-13), "ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine" (6:17), "who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit" (8:4), "for the obedience of faith" (16:26).

God's plan for making man righteous — in right standing with Him — was to forgive those who put their trust in the crucified and resurrected Lord. (Read carefully Rom. 4:6-8.) Christ is the MEANS; forgiveness is the OPERATION; and faith (obedient trust) is the CONDITION. The Jews who went about to establish "their own righteousness" (on the basis of law — Phil. 3:9), did not "submit" themselves, being ignorant of God's way. There is no conflict in salvation by grace, and at the point of baptism.

The Conditions Of Salvation vs. The Plan Of Salvation

I have long believed – and preached – that we need to revise our way of teaching about salvation. When I first began preaching, whenever the topic was “The Plan of Salvation,” you could almost guarantee that the sermon points would be: 1) Hear, 2) Believe, 3) Repent, 4) Confess, and 5) Be baptized. Since that time, many preachers, including myself, have thankfully improved upon that sermon model.

Before I go any further, I’d like to say for the record that the five-point outline above is perfectly Scriptural! That is exactly what we must do to be saved (cf. Rm.10:17; Ac.2:38; Ac.8:35-38). This article is NOT about removing those essential duties from our preaching! These things must be taught, and I continue to teach them to every sinner who will listen. But the point I want to make is that this is NOT the plan of salvation! Instead, these five things are the conditions of salvation for the alien sinner. When we call those five things “the plan of salvation,” we have left out of lot of necessary information – and we’ve misrepresented the true plan of salvation! Will you open your mind and think with me about this?

If I may just get to the point, “The PLAN of Salvation” is Jesus on the cross! Note: “For the message of the CROSS is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being SAVED it is the power of God;” then later, it says, “it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to SAVE those who believe” (1Cor.1:18,21). In other words: without Christ, without the cross, without the shedding of His blood, the five conditions of salvation would be powerless to save anyone! When we stress the conditions, without mentioning their connection to the cross, it should not surprise us when some accuse us of trying to “earn” our salvation by works – because that’s exactly what it sounds like! Keep in mind that I’m talking about others’ perceptions of what we say. So, if I may be sold bold, I would like to suggest a better outline for teaching sinners about salvation:

I. The NEED of salvation (sin)

Definition of sin – transgression of God’s law, by commission of omission (1Jn.5:17; Jm.4:17)

Cause of sin – NOT an inherited trait, but a deliberate choice to do evil (Ezk.18:20; Jm.1:13-15)

Extent of sin – EVERYONE becomes guilty of sin at some point in their lives (Rm.3:23; 1Jn.1:8)

Result of sin – sin results in eternal “death” (note the contrast with “eternal life,” Rm.6:23)

II. The PLAN of salvation (Christ)

God provided a sacrificial lamb as a substitute for our punishment (cf. Jn.1:29)

The life (blood) of Christ was the ransom price paid to free us from sin (Mt.20:28)

If it were not for the shedding of His blood, there would be NO salvation! (cf. Hb.9:22)

His selfless sacrifice is designed to “compel” repentance and faithfulness (2Cor.5:14-15)

III. The CONDITIONS of salvation

Hear and believe in Christ (Jn.8:24; Rm.10:17)

Repentance from all our sins (Lk.13:3,5)

Confession of our faith in Christ (Ac.8:37)

Baptism for the remission of sins (Ac.2:38-39)

IV. The RESULT of salvation (church)

Those meeting the conditions of salvation are added to God’s church (Ac.2:38,41,47)

As God’s people, the church has one mission: to glorify God (Ep.3:20-21; 1Tm.3:14-15)

We glorify God by doing what HE says, rather than doing what WE want (Mt.5:16)

This would include working with other saved people in a local church (Hb.10:24-25)

The above outline can certainly be improved upon. But don’t you think it is a much more comprehensive treatment of the plan of salvation, rather than just looking at the conditions of salvation?

Assurance Of Salvation

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2Tm.4:6-8). In these verses, Paul makes it very clear that he was ASSURED of his salvation! Let’s think about WHY he (and we) can be confident of our salvation...

The first assurance factor which God has provided is the propitiation of Christ. The word “propitiation” refers to a sacrifice which allows mercy to be extended. If you and I got what we deserved (apart from any mercy), then we would all die (Rm.6:23). But there is good news! Christ came and died for our sins, and God is willing to accept His death on our behalf. In other words, His death is the means by which God extends mercy to the believer (Rm.3:25). John said, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1Jn.2:1-2). Indeed, without the shedding of the blood of Christ, there would be no remission of sins (Hb.9:22-26). Further, His blood is sufficient for ANY and ALL sin! Paul sets himself forth as an example of such, saying in effect that if HE could be saved, then ANYONE can (1Tm.1:12-16)!

The second assurance factor that we find in Scripture is the promises of God. Peter indicated that there are many “exceedingly great and precious promises” in the gospel (2Pt.1:3-4). Let’s notice a few of them. First, there is the promise of initial salvation from past sins. One who believes the gospel message and is baptized is promised salvation from past sins (Mk.16:15-16). If I have done this, then I KNOW and am ASSURED of salvation from past sins! Second, there is also a promise of future salvation on the condition of our continued faithfulness. Jesus said, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rv.2:10). Yes, I am quite aware that this means “be faithful – even if you must die,” but this would most certainly include a lifetime of faithful living! If not, why not? So, if I continue to live a faithful life, then I am assured by this promise that I am saved! Third, there is a promise of a way of escape for every temptation (1Cor.10:13). Fourth, If I fail to take the way of escape, I can confess my sins, with the promise that God will forgive (1Jn.1:9). It’s pretty hard to fail with all these promises to back me up!

The third assurance factor revealed in the gospel is the precepts of Scripture. While it is true that we are not saved by perfect law-keeping (Rm.3:20; Ga.3:10), this does not mean that we may ignore law! Law has a very valuable function: it serves as a “guidepost,” telling us what we should and should not do. Simply put, breaking law gets us in trouble; and keeping law keeps us out of trouble. Thus law-keeping is a form of assurance, because I know whether or not I am on the right path. This theme is woven throughout the book of 1 John. Notice a few places where John gives this type of assurance: 1 John 2:3-5; 1 John 3:14-19; 1 John 4:1-6; and 1 John 5:2-5.

The fourth assurance factor I want to consider is the prayers of many. Our own prayers are very helpful – indeed they are essential! They assure to us “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Ph.4:6-7; cf. Ac.8:22; Ps.19:12). We may also solicit the prayers of others in our struggle with sin (Ac.8:24; Jm.5:16). Above that, we have the prayers of our Lord Jesus Christ, who “ever lives to make intercession” for us (Hb.7:25). Finally, we have the intercessory prayers of the Holy Spirit (Rm.8:26-27). Some quibble with this verse, by saying it refers to our own (human) spirit; but this makes the passage nonsensical. How can my spirit intercede for me? The very word, “intercession” (i.e., to petition one on behalf of another), DEMANDS three parties: one interceded for (me/you), one interceded to (God), and an intercessor (Spirit). By definition, one simply CANNOT intercede for himself! While there is ONE “mediator” who died to bring God and man together (1Tm.2:5-6), there are MANY “intercessors” who pray for me (cf. 1Tm.2:1). With so many prayers being offered up for each of us, how can we fail?

The bottom line is this: God has made salvation available, and given us every possible advantage. He has given the propitiation for sin, a host of promises, the guidance of His precepts, and the prayers of many. How can we NOT be assured? In the final analysis, our salvation is a strong as our faith – which comes by hearing the word (Rm.10:17). Hence, the stronger my faith in Scripture, the more assured I am of my salvation! If we are unsure, we need to get our noses in the book, and strengthen our faith!