Things that Save
Wayne Fussell
Through the media and from the pulpits of our land, the sincere cry is made that “man is saved by faith only.” This statement is made so often that you would think the Bible actually teaches it. The fact is that there is only one verse in the entire Bible in which the expression “faith only” is used, and it has the word “not” before it. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24).
God’s Word never speaks of one thing by which one is saved, and then follows that one thing with the word “only.” To do so would automatically exclude any other necessity. For example, to say the Christian has been saved by faith, by the blood of Christ, by grace, or by baptism is all very scriptural; but man violates God’s Word when he says that one can be saved by “faith only,” by “the blood of Jesus only,” by “grace only,” or by “baptism only.” Adding the little word “only” after any of the various factors by which the Bible shows one is saved will automatically exclude all the rest.
If one were saved by grace only, believing and repenting would not be necessary. Paul declares that one is saved “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8). We know that this is a living, active and obedient faith because James says, “faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:26).
What do we need in this matter? We need a comprehensive view of the gospel in which all of the factors that contribute to our salvation are included. We must not become guilty of omitting that which God intended for us to include as part of His plan of salvation.
It is a biblical fact that a person can never “merit” or “earn” his salvation, but this is not to say that salvation is a passive thing in which no necessary response is required of the one who would be saved. There are conditions that must be met; and when they are, our faith has been “made complete” by obedient action. This is what the Bible says.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (Jas. 2:21-23).
Jesus is the “author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9). Jesus asked in Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?” Please take note that Jesus said “things which I say”—that is plural. There is not just “one thing” by which one is saved.
In this article, we will consider some persons and things that the Bible says save us. And these are not all of them. We just want to show that many things go into making a person’s salvation possible.
God Saves
Paul says, “It is God who justifies” (Rom. 8:33). “For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:10). It was God who designed the plan for our salvation. This He did before He laid the foundation of the earth (1 Pet. 1:20). It was a part of His eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11). Without God’s love and mercy, none of us could be saved.
Jesus Saves
The angel told Joseph, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). We take great delight in singing the classic gospel hymn “Jesus Saves.” Without the sacrifice of Christ on the cross we would all be hopelessly lost.
The Holy Spirit Saves
Yes, the Holy Spirit is also our Savior. “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). It is clear that the Holy Spirit has something to do with our salvation. It was He who brought the Word of God that reveals God’s plan of salvation. When one is baptized, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the heart to strengthen the inner man with might (Gal. 4:6; Eph. 3:16). Through His help we have the hope of eternal life (Eph. 1:13-14).
Faith Saves
There is no question that the Bible declares that we are saved by faith. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Faith is essential in becoming a Christian and in living a Christian life. The problem comes when folks say you are saved by faith alone.
The Word of God Saves
James says that the Word of God “is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21). Without the word, we would not know what to do to be saved. Without the Word, we would not know about God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit. It is through the Word that we obtain saving faith (Rom. 10:17). Without the Word, the question “What must I do to be saved?” would go unanswered.
Hearing the Word of God Saves
Paul affirms that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Since we cannot be saved without faith, and since faith comes by hearing the Word of God, hearing must be essential to our salvation. This is the reason Jesus said “Take heed what ye hear” (Mk. 4:24) and “Take heed therefore how ye hear (Lk. 8:18). It is important that we listen only to that which conforms to the word of God. It is also important that we have the right attitude as we listen. We must have receptive hearts. Our salvation is bound up in what and how we hear.
Repentance Saves
Jesus twice said, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Lk. 13:3, 5). On Pentecost, Peter commanded, “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” (Acts 2:38). Repentance is a change of the will that results in a change of the life. The brief definition in Isaiah 1:16-17 is powerful: “Cease to do evil; Learn to do well.” If you want to be saved, you must be willing to change your life.
Confession of Christ Saves
The Bible plainly teaches “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Of course, we must confess Christ as God’s Son (Rom. 10:9-10). Both Peter and the Ethiopian Eunuch give us an example of that confession—“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Mt. 16:16; Acts 8:37).
Baptism Saves
With great plainness of speech, Peter wrote, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). The essentiality of baptism could not be plainer — it “saves us.”
In the Great Commission, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). Anywhere in the Scriptures where baptism and salvation are mentioned in the same sentence, salvation always follows baptism. “Repent and be baptized…for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins (Acts 22:16). Why would anyone say that baptism is not essential to salvation?
Grace Saves
The Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” Eph. 2:8-9). This passage makes it plain that we are saved by grace and that we cannot merit or earn our salvation.
Grace is simply God’s unmerited favor. We do not deserve salvation — we deserve punishment. The “wages” or just deserts of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). Therefore, we all deserve death or eternal separation from God. Listen to this passage again: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23-24). Where does the inspired writer say that redemption or salvation is found? “In Christ.” How do we get into Christ? We are baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). So, we are saved by grace, but we benefit from that grace when we are baptized into Christ.
God’s Mercy Saves
Paul further declares, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tit. 3:5). Once again, we cannot merit our salvation — it is because of God’s mercy that we are saved. But please notice that we are saved by His mercy “through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” The washing of regeneration (the new birth) takes place in baptism. Jesus said that we are born again “of the water and the Spirit” (Jn. 3:5). We are born of water in baptism, and we are born of the Spirit when the Spirit enters our hearts.
Love Saves
The “Golden Text” still rings true: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). Paul says that even when we were enemies of God and ungodly sinners, God demonstrated “His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). God loved us when we were unloving and unlovable. His love effectuates the means for our salvation.
Love only on God’s part is not enough to save us; we must respond to that love. We must love Him and others in order to be saved. Jesus said that we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mt. 22:37). He also said that we must love our neighbors as ourselves (Mt. 22:39). John said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 Jn. 5:3). He also said, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 Jn. 3:14).
Jesus’ Blood Saves
Paul said we are “justified by His blood” (Rom. 5:9). He also said that we have “redemption through His blood” (Eph. 1:7). It is the blood of Christ that washes away past sins. It is His blood that cleanses us from daily sins (1 Jn. 1:7).
Jesus’ Life Saves
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10). It is a fact that Jesus is alive, and there are many things He is doing for the redeemed. He is the One who adds us to the church (Acts 2:47). He is the one who pleads our case when we sin (1 Jn. 2:1-2). He is one who intercedes in our prayers (Rom. 8:34). It is through Him that we can “do all things” (Phil. 4:13).
The Gospel Saves
Paul declared, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel has always been, and will always be, the power of God to salvation. We must preach it, believe it and obey it to be saved.
Doing the Will of the Lord Saves
Jesus warned, “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” (Mt. 7:21). Who is going to heaven? The one who does the will of the Lord. There is something for us to do in order to get to heaven — the will of God. That will is revealed in His Word. Whatever the Word says we must do, we must do. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4).
Being Righteous Saves
Jesus said, “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20). God expects righteous living on our part if we expect to go to heaven. Righteousness is something you do. John said, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 Jn. 3:7). Righteousness is simply doing what is right. It is doing what the Lord says. The Psalmist said, “All thy commandments are righteousness” (Psa. 119:172).
Enduring to the End Saves
Jesus said, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Mt. 10:22). The Christian life is not accomplished in one act — it is a lifelong business. When we obey the gospel, we enter the Christian race — we then have to run it to the finish line. When we obey the gospel, we enter the vineyard of the Lord — we must work in it until the Master of vineyard returns. Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).
More Things That Save
We have considered quite a list of things the Bible says saves. We could add many more such as: Abiding in the Lord (Jn. 15:1-6); Maintaining a good conscience (Acts 24:16); Dying to the sinful life (Rom. 6:1-6 , 12-13, 16); Fearing God (Acts 10:35); Forgiving others (Mt. 6:14-15); Holiness (Rom 6:22; Heb. 12:14); Hope (Rom. 8:24); Humility (1 Pet. 5:5-6); Spiritual mindedness (Rom. 8:6-9, 12-13); and even more.
One Point to Make
We have considered all of these points to make just one point. That point is that just one person or thing does not save us. We are saved by a combination of many things. The Bible teaches that salvation involves a co-operation between the Divine and the human (1 Cor. 3:9). God has done and is doing His part in our salvation. But you and I must obey the words of Peter, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40).