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Errors Regarding Salvation
Reprinted from The Carolina Messenger, June
2003
David R. Pharr
Nothing is more fundamental
than a correct understanding of the gospel plan of
salvation. This is vital in the absolute sense of
the word “vital.” All other commendable practices
in religion and life must be of secondary
importance, because if one is not saved from the
guilt and consequences of his sins, all else will
be in vain. Further, it would of necessity follow
that any church that does not teach the plan of
salvation correctly cannot possibly be a church of
Christ.
In spite of this, however, Satan has been effective in perpetuating
numerous errors concerning how people may be saved
from their sins. Denominations characteristically
fail to teach the truth on this and people
generally misunderstand God's will in the matter.
Here are seven common misconceptions.
1) The notion that salvation is by grace alone. This view argues
that man has no responsibility, that he is not
required to do anything in order to be saved.
Instead, it is assumed that God saves without
regard to man's obedience. There are two major
theologies that hold to grace only. There are the
universalists who reason that God loves all men
and that therefore no one could possibly be lost.
Then there are the Calvinists who argue that God's
grace is extended only to certain predestinated
souls. The first view is wrong because the Bible
teaches plainly that in spite of Heaven’s love,
there will still be many lost in torment because
they have refused the Lord’s plan for pardon
(Matt. 25:41, 46). The second position is wrong
because the Bible is just as plain in showing that
God's grace is extended to all (Titus 2:11; I John
2:2). There are some others who are arguing that
it is by grace alone, not because they accept
either of the above named alternatives, but
because they want to deny that obedience is a
necessary factor in redemption. The truth is that
no one can be saved without God's grace, but
neither are we saved by grace alone. It is by
grace that salvation has been made possible and it
is grace that has made known what is required on
our part, but grace makes no promise of redemption
without man’s faith and obedience.
2) The doctrine that salvation is by faith only. This doctrine
says that one is saved at the instant he believes
in his heart, before and without any additional
response to God's commands. Most who argue for
this position do so specifically to object to the
necessity of baptism. Such must, of course,
ignore what the Bible says about baptism (Mark
16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:4; I Pet. 3:21; et al.).
It is also a direct contradiction of James, where
in chapter 2 he thrice declares that faith without
works is dead (17, 20, 26) and that man is
"justified, not by faith only" (24).
3) The delusion that morality is all that matters. Many people
feel that as long as one lives a fairly decent
life, not participating in gross sin and being
reasonably charitable, he is justified before
God. This is a view that seems plausible to many
because they see it as practical. This thinking,
however, ignores the reality of sin and the need
for a Savior. If people could be saved by their
own goodness, Christ died in vain. There is
absolutely no salvation for any person (regardless
of how morally good he is) except in Christ and
through His plan. (Rom. 3:23; John 14:6; John
8:24; Acts 4:12; John 3:5). A good moral man is
as surely in need of a Savior as is the worst
criminal in the land.
4) The illusion that one is saved by a religious
affiliation. This may not be commonly expressed,
but it seems evident that some people think they are
safe simply because they belong to a certain church,
regardless of their obedience or lack of obedience to
God’s commands, and regardless of how they live. If
questioned about his soul’s condition one might
reply, “I am a member of the - - - - church.” Such a
view does not consider that salvation is personal, not
corporate. God saves individuals, not organizations.
It is true that all saved people are added to Christ’s
church (Acts 2:47) and that He is the Savior of the
body which is composed of such (Eph. 5:23), but it is
a deadly mistake to think one is going to heaven
simply because his name is on a church roll.
5) The false security that claims “once saved always saved.” Few
errors are more forcefully answered in the Bible (Luke
8:13; I Cor. 10:12; II Pet. 2:20-22; et al.). Yet a
great many still think that having been once saved,
they will always be saved, no matter how they live.
Those who walk in the light, confessing their sins,
continue to be cleansed by the blood of Christ (I John
1:7-10), but those who willfully choose to turn away
from the Lord will fall from grace (Heb. 10:26-27;
Gal. 5:4).
6) The erroneous doctrine that baptism is not directly connected with
conversion. Almost every denomination contradicts
Bible teaching regarding baptism. Most say that one
can have his sins forgiven, be born again, and become
a Christian without being baptized. However the New
Testament is clear. From Jesus’ words to Nicodemus
(John 3:5) to Peter’s reminder in I Peter 3:21, every
verse that mentions baptism and salvation (or any
equivalent terms) always shows that baptism comes
first (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal.
3:26-27; et al.).
7) The unscriptural practice of “praying through” at a “mourners’
bench,” etc. Many denominations give what is
sometimes described as an “altar call,” which tells
people to pray until they feel they have been saved.
Sometimes this is a very emotional experience and in
other cases it may be somewhat formal (“Sign a
decision card”), depending on how sophisticated the
group happens to be. Either way, it is totally
without scriptural sanction. Closely associated with
this is the idea that one is saved through some
mysterious experience, or by having simply “received
Jesus into my heart.” Never, however, do we find such
things in the Bible. The apostles, who had a mandate
from Christ and who were miraculously guided by the
Holy Spirit, never taught or countenanced anything
like this. Even when the penitent Saul of Tarsus was
fasting and praying he was urged, “And why tarriest
thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
Conclusion
Salvation is always by grace through faith and can
never be through the works invented by men, nor on the
basis of human merit (Eph. 2:8-9). Those who would
be saved through Christ, therefore, must comply with
His terms. Five requirements must be met by any
person who wants to become a Christian.
1) He must
come to know the truth of the gospel (John 8:32; Rom.
1:16).
2) He must sincerely believe it (Heb. 11:6;
John 8:24).
3) He must repent of sin (Acts 17:30).
4) He must confess his faith in Christ as God’s Son
(Rom. 10:9-10).
5) And he must be baptized in the
Lord’s name for the remission of his sins (Acts
2:38).
When one has complied with these requirements,
God forgives him of sin and adds him to Christ’s
church with the assurance that if his faithfulness
does not fail, he will have a home in heaven (Rev.
2:10).
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