(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

There seems to be a lot of confusion among people over how one can arrange in this life to be saved from the eternal punishment he deserves in the next life. (Yes, what we all deserve is punishment.) But the Scripture is really very clear. Jesus Christ so very graciously came into this world to save from that punishment all those who would come to Him. He TOLD us in the Bible, HIS words, how to be saved: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).

Peter preached in the first gospel sermon after Jesus had gone back to heaven: “‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. … And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:37, 38, 41, 47).

Have you read about Paul’s conversion to Christ? Acts 9:6 states, “So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'” [Do you see it? “Must do.”] Then Acts 22 has Paul describing his meeting with Jesus and then, after Paul had been in Damascus “three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank,” with Ananias, who told him (Read it!) “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” When do you suppose Paul believed in Christ as the Son of God, the Redeemer, the One who came to take away the sins of the world? And if belief is all it takes to receive forgiveness of sins, why was Paul instructed (after 3 days!) to be baptized to wash away his sins?

There are some who believe that being baptized (immersed in water) is a “work” that earns you salvation when Scripture tells us that salvation is free. Being baptized is one’s faith response to the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing man can do “earns” him his salvation. We had no part in the decision God made to send His Son, Jesus, to die and to become the propitiation for our sins. But because we believe, we do good works to show our gratitude to God and Christ for our salvation. See what James writes (2:14-20): “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe in God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

Mankind is responsible for reading the Scriptures with reason and integrity. And since Jesus, the very Son of God, shed His blood to cleanse us from our sins, don’t you understand that He has EVERY right to tell mankind how to apply that blood? I implore you all, read the Bible and think for yourself!

Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

Linda Full

Vienna