Another Musick-al Note: # 28
Does the Bible teach that when one believes that Jesus is the Christ, that person receives remission of sins and thus enjoy salvation? If so, why then on the day of Pentecost, did Peter tell those who believed to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)? And why was Paul (even after three days of prayer) told to be baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 22:6-16)? The Bible does teach that salvation comes as a result of faith but the Bible also teaches that belief or faith is brought to fruition only when it is coupled with obedience (Hebrews 5:8-9, James 2:19-26). Faith is only the beginning of all that man must do to be saved. Jesus said in John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). The “right to become” is not the same as “becoming” therefore one must know what is required of man to actually “become” a child of God. We must believe (John 8:24), also we must repent (turn from all sin) (Acts 17:30), confess the name of Jesus before men (Matthew 10:32-33) and be baptized, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). Paul said in Romans 6:17-18, “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.” That form of doctrine is baptism which is a form of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as Paul declared in I Corinthians 15:1-4. The new birth, (baptism) gives us status as sons of God through faith, having obeyed the commands that Jesus has given which enable us to “put on Christ”. We must then follow Jesus teaching in our lives (Matthew 7:21-27, Romans 6:1-14). Remember also that Jesus said that the apostles were to follow and teach all His commandments to all who believe (Matthew 22:18-20). The words of the New Testament is all the truth that God has given to man. Anything added, subtracted or substituted will be the doctrines of men (Matthew 15:9) which makes worshipping God vain (empty).
Musick-al Notes 