The right to become children of God in John1:12
Claim examined: Faith, grace, and obedience
Scriptural Answer
Fran, You said: " Yes, I am familiar with that quote on our site. I didn't write it but I believe it to true because it incorporates confession, repentance, and faith (belief). Nice try. Two examples of confession can be found in Acts 8:37 and John 11:27. One more thing, the Bible says "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:17) and Paul said this in 1 Cor 12:3, "...no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." So, just having someone say a prayer to be saved is FALSE doctrine and not what God has said in His word. Jesus said in John 3:5, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Water = baptism and Spirit = God's word. See James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Corinthians 4:15 and Ephesians 6:17. People are BORN into the family of God. Claiming faith doesn't prove faith. Faith is demonstrated by OBEDIENCE to the commands of God. (John 14:15) The substitution of the sinner's prayer for obedience to the gospel instead of repentance, confession and water baptism for the remission of sins is an affront to Bible teaching. The words of Jesus are plain enough. Repentance and remission of sins was to be preached beginning in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). Peter preached the great gospel message on Pentecost (Acts 2). Those who believed were told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38). Those who OBEY the gospel are saved. Those who REJECT the gospel will be destroyed. (2 Thessalonians 1:8). If you prayed the sinners prayer to be saved, then you are NOT saved. Then you said: "I do not believe that one must be baptized to be saved. I can give you my reasons for that in another email if you would like me to. Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved;" (Mark 16:16) Looks like baptism is a requirement to be saved here. Disciples are made by being baptized, see Matthew 28:19. 1 Peter 3:21 says that baptism saves us, and Paul was not saved until his sins were washed away in baptism. (Acts 22:16). Now, are you ready to say that Jesus didn't mean what he said? It most certainly seems that way to me. Then you said: " Are you saying that works save us? As far as your Hebrews 11 argument, Romans 4 says that Abraham was justified by faith. "He believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness." We are saved by works! James 2:24 and 2:26 say that as a fact and remember, the Bible never contradicts itself. Titus 2:7 also talks about "a pattern of good works." The truth is we must believe and obey. In fact, if one truly believes, he will obey. Where would we be if the Son had not obeyed the Father? To love God means to obey Him (John 14:15, John 14:23, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 5:3). The scriptures make it clear that only those who obey God receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32). Also, in the book of Matthew, we find that Jesus tells us that we must do God's will in order to be joint "heirs" with Jesus, and to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21, Matthew 12:50). Therefore, we can clearly see that the Bible tells us obedience to God's will is a necessary requirement for salvation. As for you saying that Abraham was justified by faith in Romans 4, to that I agree however, he WAS NOT justified by FAITH ONLY. James 2:21-23 CLEARLY state that Abraham was NOT justified by faith UNTIL he OFFERED his son Isaac on the altar. And verse 24 CONFIRMS this fact that was stated in Romans chapter 4. So much for your justification by FAITH ONLY view. Then you said: " All men, regardless of what time period they lived in, are saved by grace through faith, not by what they do. Their works are an evidence that their conversion was genuine (Acts 26:20). I DO NOT believe that if someone just mouths a prayer then they are saved. Works must come AFTER salvation to prove it out (Eph 2:10). No works basically means that someone most likely never got saved." Yes, we are saved by grace through faith, but NOT without OBEDIENCE to God's commandments. God's Word gives "salvation THROUGH faith (NOT FAITH ONLY) which is in Christ Jesus." God wants all men to be saved. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4). However, Jesus said of those who would find the strait gate and narrow way, "Few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14). The salvation God offers is accepted THROUGH obedience. (Hebrews 5:8-9). This obedience is what Paul speaks of in Romans 1:5: "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE to the faith among all nations, for his name." If we are saved before, Repentance - We shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3), Confession - Christ will deny us before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33), Baptism - we have not washed away our sins (Acts 22:16). Then you said: " I don't want to offend you but you strike me as a newer Christian who has learned the letter of the law but have not come to understand the majestic and awesome grace of our God. God is not a legalist with a book checking off things that we have done or have failed to do. What matters to God is if we have placed saving faith in the shed blood and atoning work of His Son. Notice I said SAVING faith, real faith-faith that produces obedience and works." Faith is dead until it acts (James 2:20). The faith that saves referred to by Paul in the book of Romans is faith that obeys (Romans 1:5, 16:26) - An obedient faith so the believer cannot have his faith reckoned to him for righteousness (Romans 4:9) until his faith leads him to comply with ALL of the pre-requisites of salvation: faith, repentance, confession and including baptism. The gospel is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16) however, that gospel MUST BE OBEYED to be effectual in saving the soul. Merely preaching it WILL NOT save souls. People saying they believe it WILL NOT save them unless they ACT upon that faith. See 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. The Lord WILL take vengeance on people who DO NOT obey His gospel. His gospel message is the last appeal to man to change his ways, deny himself, take up the cross and follow Jesus. It took the awful death of Jesus on the cross to atone for our sins. We MUST be baptized into the death of Jesus in order to reach His cleansing blood. Then you said: "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance." Eph 1:13-14. According to this verse, what must one do to be sealed with the Holy Spirit? Be baptized? Do works? The Holy Spirit is ONLY given to those who OBEY Jesus. (Acts 5:32). This includes ALL of what God says is REQUIRED for Salvation with BAPTISM being one of the requirements. Acts 2:38 says that the Holy Spirit was not given until AFTER they were baptized (verse 41). Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, but when did he receive the Holy Spirit? Not until AFTER He was baptized. (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22). Then you said: "How about John 5:24; 3:36; 3:16; 1:12?" John 5:24, does not mention Repentance, Confession, or Baptism, are we to exclude these from the plan of Salvation? John 3:36, does not mention Repentance, Confession, or Baptism, are we to exclude these from the plan of Salvation? John 3:16, does not mention Repentance, Confession, or Baptism, are we to exclude these from the plan of Salvation? John 1:12, does not mention Repentance, Confession, or Baptism, are we to exclude these from the plan of Salvation? This verse only says that as many as RECEIVED HIM had the RIGHT TO BECOME children. More than faith is required. See Romans 16:26, John 12:42, James 2:19, 20, 24. Then you said: "And, yes, I have obeyed the gospel and I am saved because of what Jesus did. I can't boast. I don't understand why you are on Christian web sites evangelizing when you could be out at the bars and strip joints telling people about Jesus Christ." If you were not Baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, then you have NOT obeyed the gospel and you are still in your sins. I am on what you call Christian web sites evangelizing because, most of them who claim to be Christian are NOT Christians including your web site that said that someone could be saved by saying a prayer. To be "OF CHRIST" in other words a Christian, one MUST be baptized INTO Christ. Paul makes this fact abundantly clear in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13. There are only 2 places in the Bible that show how we get INTO Christ and they are Romans 6:3, and Galatians 3:27. God says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). For Christ and those who love the truth in Him,
KJV Scriptures Used
Read each passage in its chapter and compare the Scriptures together.