Salvation Dialogue: Faith Alone?

Rainbow Ark

The following is an imagined conversation between a Student and a Teacher. The purpose is to show the silliness of what some Preachers and Bible College Professors teach concerning what is the Biblical doctrine of Christian Salvation. And, of course, since such authorities are respected by the common believer, what such authorities say gets repeated--just as in scientific circles!

What is Necessary for Salvation?

Pulpit Student: Teacher, I am very confused! I just heard a preacher say that repentence is not necessary for salvation. And another preacher said that it was not necessary to confess Jesus as Lord!
Teacher: What?!! What did they say?

S: They said that we are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone. That means that nothing else is necessary. So repentence and confession are not really necessary. But I cannot find any Bible verse that says that. I really want to know what I must do to be saved. Can you tell me what is required?	T: That is indeed a difficult question to answer! The Bible is not very clear at all. Indeed, the Bible seems very confusing about this matter.
S: What does the Bible say? I thought such an important matter would have very clear instructions.	T: Well, for example, the Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved" (Acts 16:31), and "He who believes on me (Jesus) has everlasting life" (John 6:47).
S: That seems pretty clear. It also sounds like what those preachers said. So all we have to do is believe and we can be saved.	T: That's right! And, since repentence and confession are not mentioned, then we can say that those are unnecessary to be saved.
S: But doesn't the Bible also say, "If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." (Rom 10:9) That sounds like faith plus confession, not faith alone!	T: That's true. A lot of people quote that passage. But it only says IF we confess and believe those things... It does not say we MUST confess and believe those things.
S: But didn't Jesus say, Whoever does not confess [denies] me before men, I won't confess him before My father? That sounds like we must confess Him, or at least not deny Him, before people.	T: Yes, it sounds like we'd better speak out about Him. Now, how about this one, Unless you repent you too will perish! (Lk 13:3,5)
S: That also does not sound like faith alone! That's even more complicated. It is pretty clear, though.	T: Ah! But the Bible also says, "repent and be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the Holy Spirit (Act 2:38). Further, it says, "be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).
S: But that does not say anything about salvation; only about how our sins can be removed and how and when we get the Holy Spirit It doesn't say baptism is necessary for salvation!	T: Yes, that is true. But Paul says that without the Holy Spirit, we are not part of Christ. (Rom 8:9) And of course, we cannot be saved without our sins being removed!
S: But teacher, the passage also says nothing about faith!	T: That is correct! So we can say that faith and confession are unnecessary to be saved.
S: I begin to see what you mean about the Bible being confusing. Does it give any other instructions?	T: Indeed, it does. It also says, "whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom 10:13; Acts 2:21).
S: Aha! So all we have to do is call on Jesus (Act 4:12), and we will be saved! That seems pretty easy and clear.	T: Right! And, again, neither faith, nor repentence, nor confession or baptism are mentioned, so...
S: I understand! So, they are not necessary to be saved! You only need to call on Jesus.	T: That is exactly what the Bible teaches! But now, consider this. In the Bible Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life" (John 6:54). What do you think about this way of salvation?
S: I do not think I would like to have to eat someone's flesh and to drink their blood, even if it meant I could be saved! Are you sure Jesus said that? It sounds horrible!	T: Well, I do not know for sure if Jesus said it, but the Bible says He did.
S: It still sounds terrible. I think I prefer some other way of salvation. I like that one about calling on Jesus' name. That sounds easy enough.	T: Yes, I agree. Eating human flesh and drinking blood both sound horrible, but the Bible also says that Jesus said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life." (Jn 6:53) That sounds like doing this is not optional! So, no matter what else we do, I guess we will have to eat his body and drink his blood. And I also agree that, Calling on Jesus' name sounds like the easiest thing to do. That faith business seems so unsure. I mean, what is faith? How can you be sure you have it, or have enough of it? How can you be sure it is true saving faith, and not just ordinary faith?
S: Yes, that has worried me, too. I remember reading in Matthew about some people who had faith, but Jesus said they couldn't enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 7:21-23) That certainly doesn't sound like faith alone.
Does the Bible say anything about raising your hand after an invitation?	T: No, the Bible does not say anything about raising your hand after an invitation to be saved, or even as a sign that you have been saved. It says something about "raising holy hands" but does not clearly say how you get your hands to be holy.
S: Is there an easier way still?	T: Well, the Bible does say, "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved" (Acts 15:11).
S: Ah! I like that one! That means I do not have to do anything at all! Jesus' grace will save me, just like that! Is there not also some verse that says something about being justified with God?	T: You mean the one that says, "when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son...being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:10)? Yes, that certainly is God's grace!
S: So Calvin was right. Actually, we do not need to do anything. God will do it all.	T: What do you think about this often quoted verse? For by grace you are saved, through faith; not of yourself, it is God's gift. (Eph 2:8)
S: I have often heard some preachers use that verse to say that God gives us faith, and that therefore salvation is by God alone, through faith alone.	T: I have heard the same, but did you know that the original Greek text cannot be explained that way?
S: What? What do you mean?	T: Greek nouns have endings which make the words either male, female, or neuter. Both adjectives and pronouns that are connected to a noun word must have the same sort of ending as the noun.
S: So what? Why is that important here?	T: I know this sounds complicated, but the words "grace" and "faith" are both female nouns, and the pronoun "it" is neuter. So whatever "gift" it is that God gives, it cannot possibly be either "grace" or "faith". It probably is "salvation" which is both neuter and fits the context.
S: Does the Bible say anywhere that faith is a gift from God?	T: The only place is 1 Cor 12:9, but it is clear that this is faith to work miracles. It is also clear this faith is given to people who already believe, but is not given to every believer, so it is not salvation faith.
S: Hmm. So our faith doen't come from God. Interesting!	T: But consider what else the Bible says, "Unless you are circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1)
S: What? That sounds like another non-optional requirement! I thought circumcision was part of the Law that was done away with in New Testament times.	T: But, the Bible says it, so it must be true. Have you been circumcised yet?
S: Not yet.	T: Don't worry, if you read on you will find that the Holy Spirit and the Apostles decided we do not need to be circumcised.
S: Whew! That's really good news!	T: And of course Paul taught that the man who is circumcised, must keep the whole law and can no longer depend on Christ to save him. (Gal 5:2-4)
S: Teacher, I have heard some people say that baptism is a work and so cannot be a requirement of salvation. But baptism is something that is done to the believer, not something he does. On the other hand, confession with the mouth is something the believer does.	T: I do not understand this myself. It is clear that believing, repenting, and confessing are all things which a believer does. We are never told to "be faithed," or "be repented," or "be confessed." So, I don't know why faith, repentence, and confession are not counted as works, but that baptism is.
S: Maybe it is because some think that baptism is like circumcision.	T: But since Paul clearly taught against works (of the Law) and against circumcision, this would make him contradict himself. He himself baptized several people (1 Cor 1) and most of his letters teach about baptism and in Luke's journal, it seems like everywhere Paul went, he taught the need to be baptized.
S: You were sure right when you said the Bible seems unclear and confusing in its teaching about how to be saved. Teacher, what do you think? How can we be saved? What is necessary?	T: Well, some Bibles say, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).
S: So, we need to believe and be baptized. But we do not have to repent or confess or call on Jesus' name?	T: It sounds like that is it. But I have heard one preacher say that the baptizing part must be unnecessary, because it says, "he that believes not shall be damned." It doesn't say, "he who is not baptized shall be damned."
S: But, Teacher, that's silly! Would it make a difference if the person were baptized, but did not believe? And why would someone be baptized if they had not believed? And who would baptize an unbeliever? So is it necessary to say, "he that believes not and is not baptized shall be damned"?	T: I think you are right. Otherwise, it would follow that repentance, while important, is not necessary, since it also does NOT say, "...and does not repent..." . That is the same as, "He that believes on Him is not condemned, but he that believes not is condemned already" (Jn 3:18). Clearly, according to that preacher's interpretation, we are condemned if we do not believe, not because we do not repent! So, by his reasoning, repentence is not necessary.
S: That is a lot to think about. Earlier, you mentioned about being part of Christ. Do any Bible verses explain this, or should I just assume it happened when I believed?	T: You don't need to assume anything. There are NO verses that teach that you entered Christ or His body when you believed. However, in three passages, Paul answered your question. He told the Galatians, we are "baptized into Christ and thus put on Christ." (Gal 3:27) He told the Romans, we are "baptized into Christ Jesus." (Rom 6:3) He told the Corinthians, we are "baptized into one body." (1 Cor 12:13) You should also know that the Bible never talks about a believer being baptized to become a member of a local body of believers. There is only ONE body! (Eph 4:4) [Also, only ONE baptism!]
S: But I thought baptism was just a symbol, a witness or testimony to show that God had already forgiven and cleansed our sins.	T: If it is just a symbol, then we have only symbolically entered Christ and His body. In that case, we are not really part of Him. But the Bible nowhere talks about baptism as being only a symbol.
S: But surely, when Paul describes us being killed, buried, and resurrected with Jesus (Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12) he is talking symbolically?	T: Perhaps. But perhaps his eyes of faith see more than some preachers' eyes. If we have not really died with Christ, then, according to Paul, neither shall we live with Him. Nor are Paul's words in Rom 6:6ff true!
S: All that seems obviously true, but surely our fellowship in Christ's death, burial and ressurection is a spiritual fellowship.	T: Of course! But that doesn't mean it is less real or true or actual!
S: Hmmm. Does the Bible anywhere teach that baptism is a witness?	T: The only place it is mentioned as a witness is in 1 John 5:8. There, it is combined with the Spirit and the blood as a three-fold, unified, witness. Should we conclude that the Spirit and the blood are also, just symbols? And if the waters of baptism are so unnecessary, why does John combine it with such important witnesses as the Spirit and the blood?
S: Those are good questions, but perhaps the Spirit and the blood are also unnecessary?	T: I think the opposite is true!
S: Me, too! Do you know of any other scriptures that say something about salvation's requirements?	T: Just one other major thing. Jesus said, "he that endures to the end shall be saved" (Mt 10:22; 24:13; Mk 13:13).
S: I wonder what that means. In what way endure. Until what end? Surely, the Bible is most confusing about what is required to be saved! Now, I am worse than before. Teacher, is there a solution? What must I absolutely do to be saved?	T: Well, one suggestion is that you choose one of the scriptures mentioned above and do what it says. Certainly, God will not blame you if you obey His word!
S: That sounds good, but which scripture should I pick?	T: To be on the safe side, why not pick two or three scriptures. Surely, that should cover enough of the requirements to get you into heaven. What do you think?
S: I think the safest way is to choose ALL the scriptures, and any others I can find in the Bible that mentions being born again, having my sins removed, becoming holy, getting into Christ, having eternal life, and being saved.	T: I think that is probably the wisest course. And in that case, you might also examine the following passages: Mt 26:28; 28:19; Lk 24:47; Jn 3:3,5,7; Tit 3:5; Acts 18:24-26; 19:2-6; Rom 6:3-4; Col 2:12; Gal 3:26-27; Phil'p 2:12; Heb 10:22; Jam 2:24; 1 Pet 3:20-21; 1 Jn 1:9; 5:1; and also, Rev 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21.

Of course some of the above conversation is intended to be ridiculous and the reader should take only certain parts seriously. The painful thing to consider though, is that many of the reasons given above for excluding something as being necessary for salvation are commonly heard in our time for excluding baptism.

Probably the most frequently quoted verse is Rom 10:9 as being the most authoritative instruction about what is absolutely necessary for salvation. Since it says nothing about baptism, today's Evangelical world concludes that baptism is not required. But what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The passage also says nothing about repentence, so to be consistent we should conclude that repentence is also unnecessary. The same reasoning applies in the case of other passages that are so misused.

Of course, we might notice that if repentence is necessary, then so is baptism, since the two are joined in the same verse (Acts 2:38).

However, no sincere Christian would think of excluding faith or repentence or confession from the list of salvation's requirements. In this it should be noted that if repentence and confession are accepted as absolute requirements, then the current Evangelical position that faith alone saves is wrong. (This is besides the fact that James clearly teaches faith alone CANNOT save!)

We should say instead that, repentence and confession along with, and motivated by, faith, saves.

And if it takes faith plus repentence plus confession, why could it not include baptism also, as the scriptures plainly indicate? Even though Peter says that baptism saves, no Biblically based believer would assume Peter meant that baptism by itself, apart from prior faith, repentence and confession, could save.

If the reader follows the final suggestions and studies and accepts ALL that the New Testament has to say about being saved, remission of sins, being washed clean, entering Christ, receiving the Holy Spirit, etc., it is safe to say that the way of entering salvation will be found as follows:

By God's grace, Jesus was sent, and voluntarily came, to shed his blood/life in our place while we were yet sinners.

This was done so that whoever believes this, repents, and confesses Jesus as LORD (not: as savior),

submits to being baptized into Jesus (Acts 2:38; Gal 3:26-27) for the remission of sins,
will have his sins washed away by means of

God's grace,
Jesus' blood,
the believer's faith, and
the presence of the Holy Spirit which comes to indwell him.

By this means he will be born again (regenerated), and become a new creature. (Jn 3:5; Tit 3:5; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15)

This condition of salvation will continue as long as the believer continues to have faith and to act faithfully in fulfilling the Father's will. (Mt 7:21-23; 10:22; Gal 5:4; Col 1:23; Heb 6:4-6; Rev 3:5)

Finally, if the reader still wishes to maintain that baptism is not necessary for salvation, let him answer the following questions:

Can one be saved and enter the kingdom of God with their sins unremitted?

Is there any other means than baptism clearly stated in the New Testament, after the Church and the New Covenant began, by which the believer can be washed clean of their sins and can enter Christ?

How do you explain the fact that, all the early Church Fathers that commented on Jesus' words to Nicodemus: "Except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven" (Jn 3:5) taught that Jesus was talking about baptism? (Augustine, Luther and Wesley taught the same!)

For more information, read the Bible, and/or drop an email to: David L. Mohn

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This page last updated 10-Mar-1998.

What is Necessary for Salvation?

T: That is indeed a difficult question to answer! The Bible is not very clear at all. Indeed, the Bible seems very confusing about this matter.

S: What does the Bible say? I thought such an important matter would have very clear instructions.

T: Well, for example, the Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved" (Acts 16:31), and "He who believes on me (Jesus) has everlasting life" (John 6:47).

S: That seems pretty clear. It also sounds like what those preachers said. So all we have to do is believe and we can be saved.

T: That's right! And, since repentence and confession are not mentioned, then we can say that those are unnecessary to be saved.

S: But doesn't the Bible also say, "If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." (Rom 10:9) That sounds like faith plus confession, not faith alone!

T: That's true. A lot of people quote that passage. But it only says IF we confess and believe those things... It does not say we MUST confess and believe those things.

S: But didn't Jesus say, Whoever does not confess [denies] me before men, I won't confess him before My father? That sounds like we must confess Him, or at least not deny Him, before people.

T: Yes, it sounds like we'd better speak out about Him. Now, how about this one, Unless you repent you too will perish! (Lk 13:3,5)

S: That also does not sound like faith alone! That's even more complicated. It is pretty clear, though.

T: Ah! But the Bible also says, "repent and be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the Holy Spirit (Act 2:38). Further, it says, "be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

S: But that does not say anything about salvation; only about how our sins can be removed and how and when we get the Holy Spirit It doesn't say baptism is necessary for salvation!

T: Yes, that is true. But Paul says that without the Holy Spirit, we are not part of Christ. (Rom 8:9) And of course, we cannot be saved without our sins being removed!

S: But teacher, the passage also says nothing about faith!

T: That is correct! So we can say that faith and confession are unnecessary to be saved.

S: I begin to see what you mean about the Bible being confusing. Does it give any other instructions?

T: Indeed, it does. It also says, "whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom 10:13; Acts 2:21).

S: Aha! So all we have to do is call on Jesus (Act 4:12), and we will be saved! That seems pretty easy and clear.

T: Right! And, again, neither faith, nor repentence, nor confession or baptism are mentioned, so...

S: I understand! So, they are not necessary to be saved! You only need to call on Jesus.

T: That is exactly what the Bible teaches! But now, consider this. In the Bible Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life" (John 6:54). What do you think about this way of salvation?

S: I do not think I would like to have to eat someone's flesh and to drink their blood, even if it meant I could be saved! Are you sure Jesus said that? It sounds horrible!

T: Well, I do not know for sure if Jesus said it, but the Bible says He did.

S: It still sounds terrible. I think I prefer some other way of salvation. I like that one about calling on Jesus' name. That sounds easy enough.

S: Yes, that has worried me, too. I remember reading in Matthew about some people who had faith, but Jesus said they couldn't enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 7:21-23) That certainly doesn't sound like faith alone.

Does the Bible say anything about raising your hand after an invitation?

T: No, the Bible does not say anything about raising your hand after an invitation to be saved, or even as a sign that you have been saved. It says something about "raising holy hands" but does not clearly say how you get your hands to be holy.

S: Is there an easier way still?

T: Well, the Bible does say, "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved" (Acts 15:11).

S: Ah! I like that one! That means I do not have to do anything at all! Jesus' grace will save me, just like that! Is there not also some verse that says something about being justified with God?

T: You mean the one that says, "when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son...being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:10)? Yes, that certainly is God's grace!

S: So Calvin was right. Actually, we do not need to do anything. God will do it all.

T: What do you think about this often quoted verse? For by grace you are saved, through faith; not of yourself, it is God's gift. (Eph 2:8)

S: I have often heard some preachers use that verse to say that God gives us faith, and that therefore salvation is by God alone, through faith alone.

T: I have heard the same, but did you know that the original Greek text cannot be explained that way?

S: What? What do you mean?

T: Greek nouns have endings which make the words either male, female, or neuter. Both adjectives and pronouns that are connected to a noun word must have the same sort of ending as the noun.

S: So what? Why is that important here?

T: I know this sounds complicated, but the words "grace" and "faith" are both female nouns, and the pronoun "it" is neuter. So whatever "gift" it is that God gives, it cannot possibly be either "grace" or "faith". It probably is "salvation" which is both neuter and fits the context.

S: Does the Bible say anywhere that faith is a gift from God?

T: The only place is 1 Cor 12:9, but it is clear that this is faith to work miracles. It is also clear this faith is given to people who already believe, but is not given to every believer, so it is not salvation faith.

S: Hmm. So our faith doen't come from God. Interesting!

T: But consider what else the Bible says, "Unless you are circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1)

S: What? That sounds like another non-optional requirement! I thought circumcision was part of the Law that was done away with in New Testament times.

T: But, the Bible says it, so it must be true. Have you been circumcised yet?

S: Not yet.

T: Don't worry, if you read on you will find that the Holy Spirit and the Apostles decided we do not need to be circumcised.

S: Whew! That's really good news!

T: And of course Paul taught that the man who is circumcised, must keep the whole law and can no longer depend on Christ to save him. (Gal 5:2-4)

S: Teacher, I have heard some people say that baptism is a work and so cannot be a requirement of salvation. But baptism is something that is done to the believer, not something he does. On the other hand, confession with the mouth is something the believer does.

S: Maybe it is because some think that baptism is like circumcision.

S: You were sure right when you said the Bible seems unclear and confusing in its teaching about how to be saved. Teacher, what do you think? How can we be saved? What is necessary?

T: Well, some Bibles say, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).

S: So, we need to believe and be baptized. But we do not have to repent or confess or call on Jesus' name?

T: It sounds like that is it. But I have heard one preacher say that the baptizing part must be unnecessary, because it says, "he that believes not shall be damned." It doesn't say, "he who is not baptized shall be damned."

S: But, Teacher, that's silly! Would it make a difference if the person were baptized, but did not believe? And why would someone be baptized if they had not believed? And who would baptize an unbeliever? So is it necessary to say, "he that believes not and is not baptized shall be damned"?

S: That is a lot to think about. Earlier, you mentioned about being part of Christ. Do any Bible verses explain this, or should I just assume it happened when I believed?

S: But I thought baptism was just a symbol, a witness or testimony to show that God had already forgiven and cleansed our sins.

T: If it is just a symbol, then we have only symbolically entered Christ and His body. In that case, we are not really part of Him. But the Bible nowhere talks about baptism as being only a symbol.

S: But surely, when Paul describes us being killed, buried, and resurrected with Jesus (Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12) he is talking symbolically?

T: Perhaps. But perhaps his eyes of faith see more than some preachers' eyes. If we have not really died with Christ, then, according to Paul, neither shall we live with Him. Nor are Paul's words in Rom 6:6ff true!

S: All that seems obviously true, but surely our fellowship in Christ's death, burial and ressurection is a spiritual fellowship.

T: Of course! But that doesn't mean it is less real or true or actual!

S: Hmmm. Does the Bible anywhere teach that baptism is a witness?

S: Those are good questions, but perhaps the Spirit and the blood are also unnecessary?

T: I think the opposite is true!

S: Me, too! Do you know of any other scriptures that say something about salvation's requirements?

T: Just one other major thing. Jesus said, "he that endures to the end shall be saved" (Mt 10:22; 24:13; Mk 13:13).

S: I wonder what that means. In what way endure. Until what end? Surely, the Bible is most confusing about what is required to be saved! Now, I am worse than before. Teacher, is there a solution? What must I absolutely do to be saved?

T: Well, one suggestion is that you choose one of the scriptures mentioned above and do what it says. Certainly, God will not blame you if you obey His word!

S: That sounds good, but which scripture should I pick?

T: To be on the safe side, why not pick two or three scriptures. Surely, that should cover enough of the requirements to get you into heaven. What do you think?

S: I think the safest way is to choose ALL the scriptures, and any others I can find in the Bible that mentions being born again, having my sins removed, becoming holy, getting into Christ, having eternal life, and being saved.