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The Point of Salvation

 


On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the first gospel sermon. Within that sermon Peter convicted the men of that day that they were the ones who had consented to the death of the Lord. Consequently, they were cut to the heart, and they asked the all-important question, “Men and brethren what shall we do?”

Peter told them that they must repent and be baptized everyone of them into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins.” (Acts 2:38). In response, about three thousand souls were baptized (vs. 41) and thus added to the church (vs. 47).

What point were they saved? This question has been the subject of much debate among bible teachers. There is the popular teaching that salvation takes place at the point of faith. To prove their point, they will use such passages as Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Or they will use Acts 10:43, “…whoever believes in Him will receive the remission of sins.”

When we examine Acts chapter two, we see that the crowd believed they had crucified the Son of God. They had faith. If faith in Jesus was all they needed for salvation, Peter would have told them so. However, their salvation was not complete. Therefore, Peter taught them that they must repent and be baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins.

Another passage to consider is Romans 6:4. Paul writes, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

We should note that after a soul is baptized into the death of Christ, he then is raised to walk in newness of life. If the newness of life began after one put their faith in Christ, then this passage would have indicated such. However, Paul makes his point clear that the new life begins after one has submitted to baptism.

The last scripture we will consider is from the book of Galatians. Paul wrote, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you has were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)

Salvation is for those who are in Christ (2 Timothy 2:10). They way into Christ is through baptism as Paul indicated in Galatians 3:27. It is after we have been baptized into Christ that we have put on Christ, not before. Therefore, the point in which salvation has been achieved is at baptism.

One is Scripturally baptized after he has heard the message, put his faith in God, repented of his sins, and confessed Jesus before men. Then, when he rises from the waters of baptism, his sins have been washed away and the Lord adds him to the number.

God Bless each of you,

Eric Hicks

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