The Importance of Belief and Works for Salvation

1. To be Saved – Works and More are Necessary

2. Those who are saved and those who are NOT.

3. He also showed us that Jesus, being a man, inherited the sinful flesh of Adam, and was subject to death, though he personally committed no sin. He also told us that Jesus’ accomplishment, through obedience unto death, opened the way for us to be saved. • Rom 5:10 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.

4. We have a choice: • To take advantage of Jesus’ work • NOT to take advantage of Jesus’ work

5. Focus • Belief • Baptism • Life in accordance with God’s commandments

6. Does it matter what we believe?

7. What we believe matters! • Because it has pleased God to make salvation conditional on believing certain things. "It hath pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). The Gospel is "The power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:16). "That the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe" (Gal 3:22). "And by him, all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39).

8. What we believe matters! 2. Because it is required of us that the "certain things" be none other than those preached by Jesus and the apostles. "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8). "It there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house" (2 John 10).

9. What we believe matters! 3. Because the apostles preached definite things styled gospel, or glad tidings, and therefore "the gospel" is the means to be employed in our salvation – it is defined as: the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and those things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ. "The gospel which I preached unto you ... by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (1 Cor. 15:1). "The gospel is ... the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:16). "When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). "Paul (at Ephesus) spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God" (Acts 19:8). Paul (at Rome) for two whole years preached the kingdom of God, and taught those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:31).

10. What we believe matters! 4. Because disbelief of the gospel makes our condemnation certain. "He that believeth not shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16). "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words ... the word that I have spoken ... shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

11. What we believe matters! 5. Because ignorance of the gospel leaves men in a state of darkness in which salvation is impossible. Other Gentiles "walk in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them" (Eph. 4:18). "At that time ye were without Christ, being strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope" (Eph. 2:12).

12. What we believe matters! 6. Because belief is faith, without which it is impossible to please God. "Faith is the substance (or conviction) of THINGS HOPED FOR" (Heb. 11:1). "He staggered not at the promise of God, through unbelief, but was strong in faith" (Rom. 4:20). "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6).

13. Faith and Works: James • In the first chapter, he points out that sin comes through yielding to the lust of the flesh, and introduces an exhortation on practical religion by saying: “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.” • The second chapter is opens with an argument against “respect to persons on account of their worldly position” and then follows by showing the intimate connection that exists between faith and works • The third relates to the use of the tongue. • The fourth inculcates various duties to God and man. • And the fifth, which begins with a denunciation against heaping-up corruptible treasure, consists mostly of an exhortation to practice patience and prayer.

14. Abraham • He staggered not at the promise through unbelief . . . . being fully persuaded that what God had promised He was able also to perform.—(Rom. 4:20, 21.) • The Apostle Paul intimates that this thought ran through Abraham’s mind, by saying that “the father of the faithful accounted that God was able to raise Isaac up even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”—(Heb. 11:19) • Thus Abraham, in believing God’s promise, was enabled without hesitation to obey God’s command respecting Isaac. In the words of James: “faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.”—(Jas 2:22.)

15. Faith and Works • God’s chosen are those who are “rich in faith” and proved through works. • Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

16. What works am I to do? • Strictly speaking, “works” are acts of obedience, and acts of obedience are works of faith because faith inspires obedience and we need to be obedient to God’s commands.

17. FREE • We know this because Jesus said: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”—Jesus. (John 8:32) • By the daily and methodical reading of the Scriptures, we are in a position that allows us to become “thoroughly furnished with all good works.”

18. Why we ought to be baptized 1. Because being baptized was one of the conditions of salvation proclaimed by Christ's authorized messengers in the first century. Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts 2:38). "He (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

19. Why we ought to be baptized 2. Because all believers of the gospel as preached by the apostles at the first, were baptized. "Then they that gladly received his (Peter's) words were baptized" (Acts 2:41). "And many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). "And when they believed Philip... they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12).

20. Why we ought to be baptized Philip baptized the eunuch (Acts 8:38). Lydia was baptized and her household (Acts 16:15). The keeper of the prison was baptized, "he and all his, straightway" (Acts 16:33). "When they twelve men at Ephesus) heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:5).

21. Why we ought to be baptized 3. Because baptism is the divinely-appointed rite for introducing believing sinners "Into Christ". "Baptized into Christ" (Rom. 6:3). "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27). "Born of water" (John 3:5).

22. Why we ought to be baptized 4. Because out of Christ, there is no salvation for any sinner (and all have sinned). In Adam all die" (I Cor. 15:22). "At that time ye were without Christ... having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12). Gentiles "alienated from the life of God" (Eph. 4:18). "All have sinned" (Rom. 3:23). "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). "But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh" (Eph. 2:13).

23. Why we ought to be baptized 5. Because Christ and the apostles were baptized. Jesus was baptized of John in the Jordan (Mark 1:9). Paul "arose, and was baptized"(Acts 9:18). Some of the disciples of John the Baptist followed Jesus and became the apostles (see John 1:35-37).

24. Why we ought to be baptized 6. Because in baptism, we obtain the forgiveness of our sins. "Be baptized... for the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38) Be baptized, and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16) "Baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience" (1 Peter 3:21) "Purged from his old sins" (2 Peter 1:9) "The washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26).

25. What is it to be Baptized 1. It is an action requiring the use of water. "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptised?" (Acts 8:36). "Can any man forbid water; that these should not be baptized?" (Acts 10:47). "John was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there" (John 3:23).

26. What is it to be Baptized 2. It involves being buried or immersed in water. "We are buried with him by baptism into death... planted together in the likeness of his death" (Rm 6:3-5). "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him" (Col. 2:12). "Born of (Greek, out of) water" (John 3:5).

27. What is it to be Baptized 3. In other cases where the word baptism is used, it is with the idea of complete covering over with the thing or element it is related to. "Baptized with the Holy Spirit... it filled all the house where they were sitting" (Acts 1:5, 2:2). Israel baptized "in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Cor. 10:2). Christ's baptism of suffering: it overwhelmed him (Luke 12:50).

28. What Good Will Water Do Me "HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER, THE SAME is my brother, and sister, and mother."

29. Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; • Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; • Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

30. Popular theology has reduced the commandments of Christ and His Apostles to a practical nullity. It has totally obscured the principle of obedience as the basis of our acceptance with God in Christ, by its doctrine of "justification by faith alone," and that too, of the most momentary character in the hour of death. It is part of the modern restitution of primitive apostolic ways, to recognize distinctly, that while faith turns a sinner into a saint, obedience only will secure a saint's acceptance at the judgment seat of Christ; and that a disobedient saint will be rejected more decisively than even an unjustified sinner.

31. The rule or standard of obedience is to be found in the commandments of Christ. Christ speaks very plainly on this subject in the statements quoted on the title-page. They are summed up in this saying of his - "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love."

32. Before we can keep his commandments, we must know them; and in order to know them to any purpose, we must remember them. This epitome is intended as a help to the memory. The commandments are picked out from the apostolic writings, and classified in a way convenient to remember, and printed in a form convenient for carrying about on the person daily, so that they may be often looked at, and imprinted on the mind. The references are supplied for the satisfaction of those who desire to be quite sure of their foundation. What excellent men and women are those who keep all these commandments! Where are they? Lord, increase their number. -- Robert Roberts

33. Commandments of Christ • CONCERNING GOD • CONCERNING CHRIST • CONCERNING BRETHREN AND SISTERS • CONCERNING THE STRANGER • CONCERNING YOUR OWN CHARACTER • CONCERNING YOUR ACTIONS • CONCERNING YOUR THOUGHTS AND SPEECH • CONCERNING MATRIMONIAL RELATIONS • CONCERNING PARENTS AND CHILDREN • CONCERNING MASTERS AND SERVANTS • CONCERNING DISOBEDIENT BRETHREN • CONCERNING THE ASSEMPLIES OF THE BRETHREN

34. "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." - Jesus. • "Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded." - Jesus • "If ye know these things, happy are ye, if ye do them." - Jesus • "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom, but he that doeth the will of my Father." - Jesus • "Be doers of the Word, not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." - James • "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar." – John

35. In every moment of his life, he presented his body “a living sacrifice” to Yahweh. Thus “in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Heb 5:7-9)

36. Christ can be denied in more ways than one. • You deny him, of course, if you say he was an impostor • you deny him also if, believing in him, you are ashamed to confess him for fear of ridicule • but you deny him in the worst way of all if, believing in him and professing your belief, you live as if you believed in him not at all

37. Such a man needs to listen to the exhortation of James: “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your ownselves.” • Many will find at last that they have been deceiving themselves in their hopes of acceptance. • Christ wants friends—people with hearts at his disposal—people given over to him—people with whom he is the star of their course and the inspiration of their life.

38. Privileges and Duties • It is our privilege to be sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. • It is a duty, arising out of that fact, to act the part of obedient children. • It is our privilege to have become enlightened in the truth. • It is our duty to walk as children of the light. • It is our privilege to be of those who have been forgiven their trespasses. • It is our duty to forgive those who trespass against us, even to the extent, if need be, of seventy times seven. • It is our privilege to be heirs of the kingdom and glory of Yahweh.

39. Grace! This word in the Bible means kindness, favor, benefit or gift.

40. …By grace are men saved, through faith that works by love, and purifies the heart—Eph. 2:8; Gal. 5:8; Acts 15:9. Assuming then, that a sinner “believes the things of the Kingdom of the Deity and of the Name of Jesus Anointed;” and that he has fallen in love with them; and that, loving what he believes, and the effect of this affectionate belief, or “believing with the heart,” has been to alienate his affections from “the pleasures of sin,” and “earthly things;” and has caused him to set them upon the things anew, or exalted, where the Christ is on the right hand of the Deity sitting; assuming this to be the state of his mind and disposition, he is then in a condition to receive repentance, and TO BE SAVED from his past sins, and to obtain a right to eternal life, through the Name of Jesus Anointed, who is “the Lord the Spirit.” Thomas, J. Eureka : An exposition of the Apocalypse. (electronic ed.) (volpg.1.281).