LET THE BIBLE SPEAK
In the last article we began with the tract "Baptismal Regeneration and Bible Salvation," by Dennis W. Costella. He states: "It is necessary, however, to stand firm on the Gospel of the Bible which teaches that there is only one way of salvation-and that by grace, through faith, alone!" The Bible nowhere teaches salvation by faith alone. James did refer to the term, but not as Mr. Costella used it. In our first article he added the word "not," to what Peter said about Noah. He said: "Noah and his family were not saved by water." Peter said they "were saved by water." This time, in the only passage in the New Testament where the phrase "faith only" is used, he took out the word "not." Note what the inspired James said. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
Edward T. Hiscox, in his "Standard Manual For ______ Churches," states that justification is "...solely through faith in Christ..." The word "solely" is defined by Webster as "alone, only." Do we believe God or man? When we do as John instructed us in I John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world," we find some contradict God's word.
Then when we read from the "Standard Manual," we see more inconsistencies. "We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace." Webster defines "wholly": "To the whole amount or extent; totally; entirely." Mr. Hiscox says, "solely through faith," but he also says "wholly of grace." Of course it is not possible for it to be both, solely by faith and wholly by grace. The fact is, it is neither. God, speaking through James said that one is "not saved by faith only." In Titus 2:11 we read: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men." Now if we are saved totally or entirely by grace, then everybody will be saved because "the grace of God...hath appeared unto all men."
Then Mr. Costella says: "Nowhere is there found a direct connection which brings these terms-water and baptism-together." "And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized... And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8:36,38). When we "try the spirit" as God instructed, we understand what he meant when he said: "Because many false prophets are gone out into the would" (I John 4:1).
The "Standard Manual," states that "baptism is not essential to salvation." What does the inspired Peter say in I Pet. 3:21? "Baptism doth also now save us." But the "Standard Manual" in essence says: "Baptism doth not also now save us." The "Standard Manual" also says: "No person can rightfully or properly become a church member except he be first baptized...." According to the "Standard Manual," baptism is not essential to salvation, but it is essential to be admitted to the _____ Church. We can logically deduce that it is easier to get into heaven than it is to get into the _____ Church.
Mr. Costella states: "Water baptism has been viewed by true believers as an outward testimony of the inward reality of having already been born again by the power of God." Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). It is not possible that the term "shall be saved" means that he has already been saved. The conjunction "and" ties the word "believeth" to the word "baptized." Both are required to be saved. "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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