Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 1
January 12, 1950
NUMBER 35, PAGE 1,7b

Pointing Out The Way Of Salvation

Cled E. Wallace

The Baptist and Reflector editorially points it out this way.

"Sinners can be saved without physically moving out of their places. The penitent thief on the cross is an example of this (Luke 23:39-43). One of the responsibilities of the Baptist and Reflector is to point out the way of salvation. Therefore, from time to time it discusses some phase of saving truth. And it may be that a study of saving truth as exemplified in the experience of the thief on the cross will lead someone to the Lord.

Jesus preached the same 'so great salvation' as now blesses the souls of believers (Heb. 2:3). Accordingly, He set forth the same conditions or means of salvation as were set forth by Paul in the Gospel of grace (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21.) Hence, people were saved during Christ's earthly ministry under the same plan and upon the same conditions as are in effect now. So the penitent thief can rightly be referred to as an example of salvation by grace and as being instructive to sinners on how to be saved."

The editor is persistent in playing up the Baptist notion that "sinners can be saved without physically moving out of their places." In order to make it even plausible, he must ignore numerous passages in the New Testament which are clear and specific to the contrary. He cannot defend his position even on the assumption that "people were saved during Christ's earthly ministry under the same plan and upon the same conditions as are in effect now." "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 7:21.) "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36.) "And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him...if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matt. 19:16, 17.) This was "during Christ's earthly ministry under the same plan and upon the same conditions as are in effect now." It would be quite interesting for the editor to demonstrate how sinners can do the will of the Father, obey the Son, and keep the commandments, "without physically moving out of their places."

The "so great a salvation which having at first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard." (Heb. 2:3.) Is it offered to sinners "without physically moving out of their places?" "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." (Mark 16:15, 16.) "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles. Brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37.) Did Simon Peter "point out the way of salvation?" Did he discuss "some phase of saving truth?" "And Peter said unto them." What did Peter say? "Sinners can be saved without physically moving out of their places." "The penitent thief can rightly be referred to as an example of salvation by grace." Is that what Peter said? No, that is what the editor of the Baptist and Reflector says. It does not sound like Peter at all. What did Peter say? He said, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38.) "They then that received his word were baptized." (verse 41.) It is not my task to explain to you how they did it "without physically moving out of their places." I do not occupy a position in religion that requires such absurdities.

Baptists err greatly in making the touching story of the thief on the cross an escape from the conditions of salvation found in the new covenant. Paul, who is an accepted authority on salvation by grace, says that, "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will we have been sanctified..." (Heb. 10:9, 10.) This will or covenant went into effect after the death of Christ. (Heb. 9:16, 17.) "One of the responsibilities of Baptist and Reflector" should be to learn some simple lessons in handling aright the word of truth.

It is clearly stated in the scriptures that Jesus Christ "became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation." (Heb. 5:9.) The very idea of obedience as a condition of remission of sins, if it involves any physical exertion whatever on the part of a sinner, highly excites the editor of the Baptist and Reflector. He says:

"The penitent could not be baptized and partake of the Lord's supper. He could not change these symbols into 'sacraments' and offer them for salvation. Furthermore, salvation could not and cannot be procured through so-called `sacraments'."

Who said anything about changing symbols into sacraments and offering them for salvation? A case is weak when it can only be established by misrepresenting somebody. Baptism is a symbol, not of remission of sins, but of the burial and resurrection of Christ. The Lord made it a condition of remission of sins under the new covenant. "Or are ye ignorant that all we who are baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Rom. 6:3.) Is a man saved in Christ or out of Christ? A man takes on a big assignment when he proposes to win an argument against Christ, Peter and Paul "Furthermore", if baptism and the Lord's Supper are like "symbols" to be observed by Christians, then why can a man be baptized only once, but can and should repeatedly partake of the Lord's supper? The Lord did not say. "He that believeth and partakes of the Lord's supper shall be saved."