Grace, Baptism, Works
Missionary Baptists are loud in contending that they believe one is saved "by grace," as though they are the only people who believe the Holy Spirit spoke the truth in declaring: "By grace ye are saved." In their effort to make it appear, as they seem to try, that they are the only people who believe in "salvation by grace" they do wrong.
When they insist that if there is something one "MUST DO" to be saved, it cannot be true that they are saved "by grace."
The Lord said: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." (Matt. 6:33.)
Only a few years ago in nearly every revival service Missionary Baptists conducted they had what was called the "Mourner's Bench." At the close of a sermon they insisted the unsaved come to the bench, kneel, and seek the Lord. Often unsaved people accepted the invitation, would kneel at the bench, near the pulpit stand; and were instructed to pray, and "seek salvation." Though the Missionary Baptists seldom are found using the "Mourners Bench" today, the question is pertinent: When they used it, did they teach the sinner to do something? When the Master bade people "seek the kingdom" did those who obeyed work—is seeking something one does?
When the jailor at Philippi asked: "What must I do to be saved;" and Paul replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:30) was the jailor commanded to "do something?" That the man did believe is clearly declared, and that he was saved, is also stated, for it says: He was baptized the same hour of the night; and Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mk. 16:15, 16.) Do Baptists think that man was not saved "by grace?" Certainly not.
The Holy Spirit commanded: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts 3:19.) Is it a command to repent? Must one repent before he is saved? Is repenting something the man must do to be saved? Missionary Baptists declare it is an act one must perform before he is saved—that it is necessary to salvation; but the fact that one must repent—must do something—that does not change the fact that he is "saved by grace."
The Lord declared to "believe" is a "WORK." Read: "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" (John 6:28.) Clearly they thought there was something they "must do." Were they deceived? Was it necessary for them to "do" something? If "yes," would that change the fact that they would be saved "by grace?" Jesus made answer: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (vs. 29.) The term "work of God" cannot mean something God does—they were not asking about what God does, or must do; but what "must we do?" The answer was: "Believe," that is something you MUST do, and it is God's work. Something God commands, that you must do. He who believes in Christ relies on him completely, submits gladly to his commands, does what he says, walks as he directs, obeys him—it connotes the continuous act of believing, or doing the commandments of Christ. (See John 13:19.)
Though Missionary Baptists teach one MUST believe in Christ, and MUST repent of his sins—that these are acts of the one desiring, or seeking salvation, they do not teach that such obedience militates, or makes void the declaration that one is "saved by grace." But when it is taught that to "be baptized" is necessary to salvation, they are to the fore vocally declaring one is saved "by grace" NOT by works! They can understand how one MUST believe, and MUST repent, (acts that the man seeking salvation MUST do) and yet be saved "by grace;" but if one must be baptized to be saved, they are unable to understand how his salvation can be "by grace." Surely some people are dull of understanding, when their doctrine is questioned. In being baptized, the one baptized is passive.