Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
September 12, 1957
NUMBER 19, PAGE 9a-10a

Salvation By Faith

G. F. Raines, Huntsville, Alabama

The subject of faith runs through the Bible as a scarlet thread; there is scarcely a chapter in the New Testament in which the importance thereof is not stressed and emphasized. The following passages will serve to demonstrate that the person who disregards faith neglects the salvation of his soul; by an immutable decree of God salvation cannot exist in its absence:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1, 2).

"And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith" Acts 15:9).

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6).

It is contended by some that salvation is by faith only. If faith is the only condition of salvation, there is not an unsaved believer in the New Testament. But those who are at all familiar with the divine record know that a number of unsaved believers are mentioned therein. Upon the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus, Peter preached Christ to a great multitude; he said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2: 36). Upon hearing the overwhelming testimony, they believed. If, however, they were saved at the point of their faith, they didn't know it; for, "they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do" (2:37). If they were saved at the point of faith, Peter didn't know it, as is evidenced by his reply, as follows: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (2:38).

The expression "faith only" is used but once in the entire Bible; but the passage in which it does occur utterly destroys the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. James said, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (Jas. 2:24). In view of the fact that the Bible declares that we are not justified by faith only, it is astonishing that the Methodist Discipline says exactly the opposite. From Article 9, I quote the following:

"We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings; wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort."

Please compare the following passages:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom 5:1).

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Heb. 11:7).

It is obvious that the expression "by faith" in the latter passage does not and cannot mean faith only; every act of obedience essential to the building of the ark is included in it. As it is universally admitted that the phrase "by faith" in Hebrews 11:7 does not mean faith only, upon what basis and for what reason are we so willing to assert that the same expression means faith only in the former passage?

If we are saved by faith only, we are saved without calling upon the name of the Lord:

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

From the foregoing verses the following facts are easily observable: (1) Calling upon the name of the Lord precedes salvation. (2) Faith precedes calling upon the name of the Lord. (3) Calling upon the name of the Lord stands between faith and salvation.

It behooves us to find out how calling upon the name of the Lord is done. If you will lay aside all human opinions with respect to the matter, it will be an easy matter to determine from the word of God the exact manner in which it is accomplished. Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus:

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16).

There is a rule of grammar that says: "The active participle following an injunction points out the manner in which it is to be obeyed." "Calling," in Acts 22:16, is an active participle following the injunction (command) "be baptized." Consequently, being baptized is the manner in which calling upon the name of the Lord can be done. We cannot call upon the name of the Lord until after we have believed; we cannot be saved until we have called upon the name of the Lord; we cannot call upon the name of the Lord without being baptized; therefore, we cannot be saved by faith without being baptized:

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26, 27).

There is not a single example in the Bible, either in the Old Testament or in the New, of anyone's being justified on account of his faith until it had made itself manifest in acts of obedience; the faith that saves is the faith that works:

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6).

It is impossible to love God while refusing to obey his commandments; John said: "For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3). As we are saved by a faith that works by love, and as loving God includes the keeping of his commandments, it follows that the kind of faith by which we are justified is the faith that leads us, prompts us, and motivates us to keep the commandments of God:

"Not every one that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).

"He that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4).

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Rev. 22:14).