Mr. Richling’s Affirmative:
Download audio file (01_richling_affirmative.mp3)

Mr. Gentry’s Rebuttal:
Download audio file (02_gentry_rebuttal.mp3)

Mr. Gentry’s Affirmative:
Download audio file (03_gentry_affirmative.mp3)

Mr. Richling’s Rebuttal:
Download audio file (04_richling_rebuttal.mp3)

No greater question has ever entered the mind of any person!  And no greater quest has been pursued than the answer to this important question!  What must I do to be saved?  Have you ever asked that question?  If not, why not?  How do you think this question can be answered?  Will the answer be found in the creeds, catechisms, or councils of the various denominations?  Certainly not!  For they all teach something different in answer to this question.  Where, then, can the answer to life’s most important question be found?

Many people were saved in New Testament times.  And, they were all saved under the direction and doctrine of the apostles who had been commissioned by Jesus himself to go into all the world and to preach the gospel so that people could be saved (Matt. 28.18–20; Mark 16.15, 16; Luke 24.45–49).  If it can be discovered what they did in the first century to be saved, then the answer will be found to how a person can be saved in the twenty-first century.  This is especially true if it is discovered that every person saved in New Testament times was saved in the same way.  Let’s see.

Jews on Pentecost. The record of the conversion of 3,000 Jews on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is recorded in Acts 2.14–41.  What did they do to be saved?

• In verses 14–35, 38–40, they heard the gospel.
• In verses 36, 41, 44, they believed in the gospel.
• In verses 37, 38, they were told to repent of their sins.
• In verse 47, Luke implies they had confessed their faith in Jesus.
• In verses 38, 41, they were baptized for the remission of their sins.
• In verses 38, 47, these things are said to have resulted in their being saved.

Samaritans. The record of the conversion of the first Samaritans is in Acts 8.5–13.  What did they do to be saved?

• In verses 5, 12, they heard the gospel.
• In verse 5, it is said that they believed in the gospel.
• In verses 9, 10, Luke told of their sins of which they repented.
• In verses 10, 12, Luke implies they confessed their faith in Jesus instead of Simon.
• In verses 12, 13, they were baptized for the remission of their sins (cf. verse 16).
• In verse 16, it is said they had been saved (baptism in the name of Jesus is for the remission of sins according to Acts 2.38).

Ethiopian Eunuch. The record of the conversion of the first African is in Acts 8.26–39.  What did he do to be saved?

• In verse 35, he heard the gospel.
• In verses 36, 37, he believed in the gospel.
• In verse 36, he repented of his sins (he had been worshiping God under the Law of Moses that was no longer in effect and turned to serve God under the New Covenant).
• In verse 37, he confessed his faith in Jesus.
• In verse 38, he was baptized for the remission of his sins (according to Acts 10.47, 48, baptism in water is the same as baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, which according to Acts 2.38 is for the remission of sins).
• In verse 39, he went on his way rejoicing knowing he was now saved.

These are the first three recorded cases of conversion in the New Testament.  Do you notice anything similar between them?  Yes, so far all of the people who were saved did exactly the same thing to be saved.  They first heard the gospel, then they believed in the gospel, next they obeyed the gospel by repenting of their sins, confessing their faith in Jesus, and by being baptized or immersed in water for the remission of their sins.

If you stopped your search right here, you would know what they did in the first century to be saved and would then know what you need to do in the twenty-first century to be saved.  Please take time to read through the other cases of conversion in Acts and see whether or not they all were taught the same things, believed the same things, and obeyed in the same way.  See our website for a chart of the cases of conversion.

Every case of conversion in the New Testament involved the people hearing the gospel, believing the gospel, repenting of their sins, confessing their faith in Jesus (as commanded in Rom. 10.9, 10), and being baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins.  Wow!  This sounds a lot different than what you hear in most churches today, but this is exactly what they did in the first century to be saved and this is exactly what all people in the twenty-first century must do to be saved!

A common passage connected with salvation is Ephesians 2.8, 9, “for by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should boast.”  But before Paul said this to the Ephesians they too had heard the gospel (v13; Acts 19.1–7ff), believed the gospel (v13; Acts 19.5, 18), repented of their sins (Acts 19.18; 20.21), and had been baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of their sins (Acts 19.5; cf. 2.38; Eph. 5.26).  Today, if you want it to be said of you that you have been saved by grace through faith like it was said of the Ephesians, then you must do what they did before this can be said of you.

Also consider that Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18.3, NASU).  What does it mean to be converted?  After studying all the passages where this word and its various forms is found, B.F. Manire summarized the meaning of conversion by stating: “Conversion [is] defined as the turning of the whole man in heart and life from the love and practice of sin to the love and service of God, including a change of state, or relationship towards God.”  We see then that conversion is summed up in three categories: 1) a change of heart, 2) a change of conduct, and 3) a change in relationship with God.  So how is a person converted?

• Through belief your heart is changed, John 3.16; 8.24; Hebrews 11.6.
• Through repentance your conduct is changed, Luke 13.3; Acts 2.38; 17.30, 31.
• Through baptism your relationship with God is changed, Mark 16.16; Acts 22.16; Galatians 3.26, 27.

Have you been saved?  Have you obeyed the gospel?  Have you been truly converted?  If not, why not?  Please let us know how we can assist you in answering life’s most important question, “What must I do to be saved?”

Galena Guardian, 12.9
September 2010

I pray you are well. I want to make you aware of and invite you to a public discussion on salvation with a mid-Acts dispensationalist on August 21, 2010, at 6.00pm (EDT).

A mid-Acts dispensationalist is one who believes that Paul was given a gospel that he took the Gentiles that differed from the gospel given to Peter that he took to the Jews and that this occurred at some point in middle part of the book of Acts. One of the reasons for such a position is to skirt around the clear teaching of Acts 2.38 and 1 Pet. 3.21 regarding the necessity of baptism.

UPDATE: Mr. Richling wants it known that he does not believe and is not associated with the mid-Acts dispensationlists who believe that the church was not started in Acts 2.  In his words, “These heretics believe that the church started in Mid-Acts.  I DO NOT believe that.  The church started in Acts 2.”

The study will take place at the meeting place of the church of Christ in Galena, IN. For directions click here.

The study will take place as follows:

6.00–6.30, Martin Richling will have 30 minutes to present his case
6.00–6.50, John Gentry will provide a 20-minute rebuttal
6.50–7.00, Break
7.00–7.30, John Gentry will have 30 minutes to present God’s case
7.30–7.50, Martin Richling will have a 20-minute rebuttal
7.50–8.00, Break
8.00–9.00, Question and Answer (first questions from each other, then questions from the audience)

This is not a formal debate in the traditional sense with propositions, moderators, etc., but it will be a discussion in which both sides are allowed to be represented, defended, and opposed. Mr. Richling took us up on our open pulpit policy and asked to come and teach us the truth and attempt to show us where we were wrong in our teaching regarding how a person is saved.

Please pass this along to any who might be interested in the upcoming public discussion. And please feel free to ask any questions about this discussion, our policy of conducting open and fair discussions of God’s word, or any other biblical question you might have.

And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.  Neh. 8.8

What should a preacher preach?  “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4.2).  You would think this was a no-brainer, but unfortunately “the word” is seldom heard from pulpits today, including those of our own brethren.  I just returned from attending a seminar put on by a local church of Christ in which the number of jokes, quotes, anecdotes and comic strips outnumbered the number of scriptures nearly 50 to 1—actually only a single passage was used the entire sermon, and that passage wasn’t referenced until 10 minutes into the sermon.  Brethren, listen to the warning of the apostle: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard [the gospel message, jrg], lest we drift away from them” (Heb. 2.1).  We need fewer jokes, quotes, anecdotes and comic strips in our sermons and more reading of scriptures!

Biblical Examples

What was the practice of God’s people in the Bible?  In Exodus 24.7 Moses “took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient.”  In Deuteronomy 31.11–13 Moses commanded the priests and elders

when all Israel is come to appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.  Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Jehovah your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.

In Nehemiah 8.5, 8 we read,

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up …. And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

In the New Testament we see a similar emphasis being placed on the public reading of scriptures in connection with teaching and preaching.  For example, in Luke 4.16–21 we read that Jesus

came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.  And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.  And he began to say unto them ….

We read of a similar occasion in Acts 13.15, 16ff:

And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.  And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken ….

The sermons recorded and described in Acts and the epistles (not to mention the content of the epistles themselves) included many quotations of Old Testament scriptures.  Sound, solid preachers read from the scriptures during their sermons.

Practical Points

Much of the underlying drive behind the accumulation of preachers (cf. 2 Tim. 4.3) who use fewer scriptures and more jokes, quotes and anecdotes is the mentality of many who want to be served rather than serve and the desire to be entertained.  How do we reverse this tendency, or at least not fuel the fire?

Encourage those in the audience to take out their Bibles, turn to the passage and read along (cf. Acts 17.11).  There may be times when quoting a passage is the most efficient thing to do, but limit quick quotations and encourage those in the audience to see the passage in their own Bibles.  It is even good to give enough time for the children to turn to the passages so that they too can read along.  If we don’t teach and train our children to expect the reading of scriptures in sermons, what sort of sermons will they preach?

PowerPoint and projectors promote the ease of displaying scriptures for the viewing of the audience.  However, if a preacher places every passage on the screen for the people to read along with him, is this not encouraging the let-me-sit-here-and-be-served/entertained mentality?  Would it not be better to place the reference on the screen, have the audience turn in their Bibles to read the passage and then, if necessary to make a point, place the text of the passage on the screen?  Some will say, “Well the mothers with young children can’t turn and read in their Bibles if a baby is in their lap.”  Can the mothers not hear the passage being read?  This is not a question of whether or not it is scriptural to place the text on the board—it is a question of what is best (cf. Luke 10.38–42).

Conclusion

When describing the work of an evangelist, Paul told Timothy, “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Tim. 4.13, ESV).  The “public reading of Scripture” done by Timothy was not to be an isolated part of the worship service.  It was to be a part of his work as a preacher and was to be included with the exhortation and teaching he was to be doing.  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10.17; cf. 1.16).  Do you want to have saving faith?  Do you, preachers, want to instill faith in some and exhort others to greater faith?  Jokes, quotes and anecdotes will not get the job done!  But the reading of scriptures in your sermons will.  “Preach the word!”

Galena Guardian, 12.8
August 2010

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.  Luke 18.1, ESV (66)

Pray without ceasing …. 1 Thess. 5.17, ESV (67)

The Creator and Ruler of the universe, the King of kings, allows me to approach his throne, to come into his presence, and to actually speak to him (Heb. 4.16; 7.19)!  Wow!  Is that not an amazing privilege?!  How often does the average person get to enter the presence of worldly dignitaries, much less speak to the them and know that we have their ear?  And yet we can come into God’s presence, speak with him, and know that he hears!

Our two passages point out another amazing thing about speaking with God.  If we ever were to have the ear of a worldly dignitary, it would probably be a once in a lifetime event, wouldn’t it?  Well, God desires, not just tolerates, that we speak to him often, even many times every day!

Pray Without Ceasing

What does it mean to “pray without ceasing”?  Does it mean words must be continuously uttered and muttered from our lips every second of every day?  No, certainly not.  However, let us not swing the pendulum too far in the opposite direction and think that the fewer prayers the better or that it is not necessary for us to pray but very little.  The truth is one who prays without ceasing will pray many prayers throughout the day.  One who prays without ceasing will wake with prayer (Mark 1.29–37; Ps. 5.3; 119.147) thanking God for the night’s rest, thanking God for the new day, petitioning his guidance and protection throughout the day; he will pray before every meal (Matt. 14.19; 26:26, 27; John 6.11; 1 Tim. 4.4); he will pray before making decisions (Luke 6.12, 13; Neh. 2.4, 5); he will pray as he travels to and from work or on a journey (Acts 20.36–38; 21.5, 6); he will pray for others throughout the day (Eph. 6.18–20; 1 Tim. 2.1; Jas. 5.14–16); he will pray upon observing God’s creation, mercy, love, opportunities, and good gifts (1 Chron. 29.10–13); he will pray when reading and studying God’s word (Col. 1.9; Jas. 1.5); he will pray when facing temptations and trials (Acts 16.25; Jas. 5.13); he will close the day with prayer (Ps. 55.17); he will pray, pray, pray (Dan. 6.10).

Do Not Lose Heart

One of the big things that prayer does for us is to help us not lose heart.  Jesus connected prayer with not losing heart in our first passage.  But how is prayer connected with not losing heart?  Things that cause us to lose heart are those things that trouble us and give us anxiety, things that burden our hearts and minds.  In prayer we draw near to God.  In connection with that Paul said, “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4.5–7).  And Peter said, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5.7; cf. Matt. 6.25–34).  Being able to give all of our cares, anxieties, and burdens to God in prayer—knowing he hears, is able to bear our burdens, and is able to answer our prayers—will result in the release and relief of that anxiety, provide the peace of God, and enable us not to lose heart.  What a wonderful blessing to be able to give all of our worries to God!

Does God Hear You?

Before concluding this article, we want to think for a moment on who God hears (with the intent of answering) and who he doesn’t hear.  Quoting from Psalm 34.15, 16 Peter said, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, / and his ears are open to their prayer. / But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Pet. 3.12).  The Jews who conversed with Jesus said, “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him” (John 9.31).  And Isaiah said to the Israelites who questioned why God was not answering their prayers, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, / or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; / but your iniquities have made a separation / between you and your God, / and your sins have hidden his face from you / so that he does not hear” (Isa. 59.1, 2).  From these passages it is clear that God only hears (with the intent of answering) the prayers of those who are seeking to do his will.  God does not hear the prayers of those who are not faithful to him (cf. Matt. 6.24; Jas. 4.4).  So if you want God to hear your prayers then you must serve him and love him with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind.  Don’t expect God to hear your prayers if your heart is not fully set on him.

Pray without ceasing!

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.  Acts 2.47, ESV

And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2.47, NKJV (65)

In this article we return our attention to the memorizing of various scriptures.

Acts 2 provides the historical record of the first converts of those who would later be called Christians (Acts 11.26).  From this account we learn several things, perhaps most notably of which is how people in the first century were saved.  However, for sake of brevity we just want to notice a few things from the latter part of verse 47.

Who Did the Adding?

Who is responsible for determining whether or not you can be a member of the church?  Among some religious groups it is necessary that a certain council or the entire congregation take a vote before someone is considered a member of the church.  It’s true.  On page 18 of Church Manual for Baptist Churches by J. M. Pendleton (1867 ed.), we read, “persons wishing to unite with a church give an account of the dealings of God with their souls, and state the ‘reason of the hope that is in them’; whereupon, if, in the judgment of the church they ‘have passed from death unto life’, they are by vote of the church recognized as candidates for baptism, with the understanding that when they are baptized they are entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership.”  I have no doubt that Mr. Pendleton and those who follow his Manual have good intentions.  However, it must be asked, is this how people were added to the Lord’s church in the first century?  According to our passage the answer is a resounding, “No!”  The Lord, not “the judgment of the church,” determines who has “passed from death unto life” and is considered saved.  I’m certainly thankful for that.  Aren’t you?

Who Did the Lord Add?

Yet we are not left guessing and wondering who the Lord considers to be saved as if it were some mystical, arbitrary decision on his part.  In fact, it is pretty plain that Luke clearly understood who was added by the Lord.  Notice what he said in verse 41, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”  The people added by the Lord were those who had heard the facts of the gospel as presented in verses 22–36, those who had believed in these facts of the gospel about Jesus (v37), and those who obeyed the commandments of the gospel by repenting of their sins and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (vv38, 40, 41).  These were the ones to whom the Lord gave the promises of the gospel (vv21, 38–40) and the ones he added and considered saved.

To What Did He Add Them?

But to what did the Lord add those who received and obeyed the gospel?  Many of our newer English versions simply say that he “added to them” or “added to their number” “those who were being saved.”  However, due to a manuscript variation, the KJV and NKJV say, “the Lord added to the church.”  These versions make it plain that the Lord added those who had believed and obeyed the gospel to the church, the body of Christ.  If we don’t have the word “church” in this verse, we can still determine that it is the church to which the Lord added these baptized believers.  Luke tells us that the Lord was adding those who were being saved.  Those who are saved are those who have Christ as their Savior.  In Eph. 5.23 Paul tells us that the group of saved people of which Christ is the Savior is described has his body, the church.  So the Lord was adding those who were daily being saved to the body or church of Christ.

What about you?  Have you believed and obeyed the gospel so that the Lord has added you to the church of Christ of which he is the Savior?  If not, why not?

Though one at first glance might expect this to be an article better suited for last week’s Valentine’s Day, it actually isn’t even close.  Here I plan to take up a statement used time and again in our religious world.  That statement is simply: “I just know in my heart.”

Many well meaning and sincere people decide to “trust in their heart” with regard to spiritual things and believe that by this they can’t go wrong.  To point out from the Bible wherein they err is fruitless because they “know in their heart” they are saved.  To press them for authority on infant baptism, praying to Mary, or speaking in tongues is useless because they “know in their heart” these are approved.

Yet contrary to being a reliable source, the Bible reveals “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer. 17.9).  Ultimately, it alone can’t be trusted.  Elsewhere it is stated, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14.12).  And again we are told, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3.5).  Notice we are not to trust in the heart, but rather we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart.  Without question, there is a world of difference.

The only way we can really “know in our heart” about our condition is if we abide in the word of truth. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by  the word of God” (Rom. 10.17).  “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And  you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free’” (Jn. 8.31, 32).  By abiding in the word of God we can know we are acceptable to Him.  However, if we rely on emotions and feelings alone we’ll inevitably be led astray.

Since this is the case, what will you do?  Will you lay aside divine writ and go with your heart?  Or will you take up the Bible and place your heart in it?  This is a very important question seeing the word of truth will judge in the last day (Jn. 12.48).

Galena Guardian, 12.7
July 2010

The apostle Peter writes that Christians are to behave in this world “as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God” (1 Pet. 2.16).  While the New Testament employs several different Greek terms which are translated as “liberty” in English versions of the Bible, “liberty” may generally be defined as, “The condition of being free from restriction or control” (American Heritage Dictionary).

Each July 4 is set aside in these United States as a celebration of liberty.  “Independence Day,” as the fourth of July has come to be called, marks the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which formalized the intent of the American colonists to secede from England.

While the church is not authorized by Christ to celebrate “Independence Day,” or any other civic holiday for that matter, the New Testament does frequently make reference to the concepts of liberty and freedom (cf. Rom. 8.21; 1 Cor. 8.9; 2 Cor. 3.17; Gal. 2.4; James 2.12).  In fact, the liberty in Christ of which the Bible speaks is infinitely more profound and definitely more important than the form of liberty which is annually celebrated on the fourth of July.

At the outset of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Luke records the following incident which took place in the synagogue in Nazareth:

And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk. 4.17–21).

Nothing could be more apparent than that Jesus Christ came into the world in order to bring spiritual liberty to mankind. Consider the following concerning true liberty:

1. Liberty from sin is found in Christ. To the saints in Rome, the apostle Paul writes, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Rom. 6.12).  Sin is personified in Scripture as a tyrannical master holding mankind under its grip of power.  But the tyranny of sin is cast off in a relationship with Jesus Christ, as Paul goes on to state, saying, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8.2).  One is granted liberty from the spiritual death, condemnation, and guilt of sin through Jesus Christ (8.1).  While freedom from an oppressive government may increase one’s earthly joy in the short term, freedom from sin provides eternal joy (6.23).

2. Liberty from sin is received when one obeys the gospel of Christ. Concerning freedom from sin, Paul writes, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6.16–18).  When one is “united together in the likeness” of the death of Christ in baptism (6.5), he is then set free from the oppressive guilt of sin (6.3–6).  Concerning those who have been baptized into Christ, Paul further writes, “For he who has died has been freed from sin” (6.7).

3. Liberty in Christ must be maintained. Paul warned the Galatian Christians against returning to the tyranny of sin by seeking to enforce the Law of Moses rather than the Law of Christ, saying, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5.1).  The liberty which is possessed by those in Christ is not license to live however one may please, but instead grants one the privilege of living in such a way so as to please the Lord.  In other words, freedom in the Lord is not to be confused with freedom from the Lord.  Liberty in Christ is maintained by following after the “perfect law of liberty,” which is the gospel of Jesus Christ (James 1.25).  As Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8.31, 32).

Conclusion

The liberty that is available to all men in Christ is a wonderful blessing that should continually be celebrated by His people.  At the same time, we must strive to use our spiritual liberty in a manner which pleases Him.  “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal. 5.13).  Are you free in Christ?

Galena Guardian, 12.7
July 2010

As mentioned in the previous article, in this article we want to discuss what they did in the first century to be saved—for when we know what they did, we can know what we must do.  Let’s notice the conversion of the Jews on Pentecost in Acts 2.  What did they do in order to be saved?

• In vv14–35, 38–40, they heard the gospel.
• In vv36, 41, 44, they believed in the gospel.
• In vv37, 38, they were told to repent of their sins.
• In v47, Luke implies they had confessed their faith in Jesus.
• In vv38, 41, they were baptized for the remission of their sins.
• In vv38, 47, these things are said to have resulted in their being saved.

If you will take the time to read through all the cases of conversion in the book of Acts, you will see that this is exactly what everyone did when they were converted or saved.  (Visit our website and click on “What Must I Do To Be Saved” for more information, including a chart of all the cases of conversion that are recorded in Acts.)  That’s right, every case of conversion in the New Testament involved the people hearing the gospel, believing the gospel, repenting of their sins, confessing their faith in Jesus (as commanded in Rom. 10.9, 10), and being baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins.  Wow!  This sounds a lot different than what you hear in most churches today, but this is exactly what they did in the first century to be saved and this is exactly what all people in the twenty-first century must do to be saved!

What about you?  Have you been truly converted, or did you think you were saved by listening to the teachings of men as discussed in the previous articles on common misconceptions regarding salvation (see website for archives)?

Our goal at the church of Christ in Galena is to preach and practice only what we can read in the New Testament despite what the religious world around us says—we’re going to take our stand on the Word of God.  We invite you to join with us and to take your stand on the Word of God and the Word of God alone.  Let us know how we can help in your study of God’s Word.  JRG

Banner Gazette
2010.06.30