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Summary

In this presentation, George F. Beals discusses the biblical perspective on salvation, emphasizing that it is only found in Christ. He explores the process of salvation, the importance of faith and works, and addresses common misconceptions about baptism. Beals also highlights logical fallacies that can arise in discussions about salvation and reassures listeners of the possibility of knowing their salvation status.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Salvation in Christ
04:15 The Process of Salvation
09:28 Faith and Works in Salvation
15:39 Confusion Surrounding Baptism
23:32 Understanding the Purpose of Baptism
30:13 Baptism and Scriptural Requirements
38:39 The Formula for Baptism

Transcript

George F. Beals (00:00)
Good morning once again. Everybody happy today, I hope? As you can see on the slide, is salvation outside of Christ or only in Christ? That’s the subject matter today in this presentation. And in this presentation, I show that the Bible teaches salvation is only in Christ, and so then I’m affirming that. That is, there is no salvation outside of Christ according to the Bible.

Also, I will take the opportunity to address several additional matters on salvation. And there are two passages in particular that quickly and decisively show that salvation is only in Christ. These are Acts chapter four, verse 12, and that does it in and of itself, and also John chapter 14, verse six. Speaking of Jesus, Acts chapter four, 12 reads,

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” And then in John chapter 14 verse 6, a similar affirmation. This reads, said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father except through me. Notice the definite article here. I am the way, the truth, and the life.

He does not say, am a way, a truth, or a life. And then if we still don’t get it, he adds, no one comes to the Father except through me. So these passages show that salvation is only through Jesus Christ. Now, someone says, is this fair? Well, what about the person way over in Africa or in the middle of Asia that was not exposed to the gospel during that person’s lifetime and then dies?

Well, what about the guy up in the airplane that we sometimes hear about from the faith-only folks? The guy up in the airplane who would have obeyed the gospel, but the plane crashed before he had the opportunity. Is this fair? Now, Proverbs, chapter 8, verse 17, I believe addresses that. This reads, love those who love me and those who seek me diligently will find me. Notice it does not say might find me, but will find me.

I believe then based on this that God will see to it in his providence somehow or another, now I couldn’t do this nor could you, but somehow or another the omniscient and omnipotent God will provide the opportunity to anyone who would obey the Gospel. Now all of this having been said, although admittedly briefly, I would like to move on to several additional matters pertaining to salvation. Salvation from what?

We might ask, forgiven of what? And so we need God’s forgiveness according to the Bible, and this is because of the combination of three biblical facts. One, we’ve all sinned according to Romans 3 verse 10. Two, sin separates from God. This in the familiar Isaiah chapter 59, one to two.

And then each of us will be with God or without God forever. Now you put all those together and we see that we have a sin problem that needs to be solved. We all need forgiveness. We all need reconciliation back to God. I say reconciliation because I believe the Bible teaches that we are born sinless, but then eventually we decide to sin and now we are separated from God.

We need to be reconciled back in fellowship with God. Where is forgiveness found according to the Bible? Well, the good news is that it is available and that it is in Jesus Christ. This according to Ephesians chapter one verse seven. Also, salvation is in grace, Romans chapter five verses one to two, and in the church, that is the body of saved people.

This according to Ephesians chapter five, verse 23. Well then the next natural question is, how does one get into Christ where forgiveness is found according to the scriptures? How do I get in? And of course the Bible answers that. This is the very purpose for which Jesus came into the world according to 1 Timothy chapter three, verse 15. How to become saved is the same process.

as how to stand in God’s grace, which is the same process as how to become a member of the Church of Christ, that is the body of Christ. And this of course is, and this is familiar with most if not all of this in this audience, hear about Christ, Romans 10, 17 for example, believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be, John 8 verse 24 for example, repent that is turned to Christ,

Luke 13, three, confess belief in Christ. This is not confessing sin, but confessing belief in Christ, Romans 10, nine to 10, and be baptized into Christ, Romans six, verses three to four. Notice that each of these is connected to Jesus Christ. The power is derived from Jesus Christ. Well, how can we know that baptism is the last step

that the penitent confessing believer takes to get into Christ. And the answer to this is by noticing, for example, the expressions just as and even so in Romans chapter six, verse four. This reads, therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so,

We also should walk in newness of life. Note then that baptism is not just about the death, but is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So as Christ was raised to physical death, physical life from death, we are raised to spiritual life when we come up from the watery grave of baptism. The expression newness of life here in Romans chapter six, verse four.

is what John chapter three, three to five calls being born again. So there are some additional important facts about getting in, however, that we want to expand upon. First of all, the instructions and examples of conversion that people should be following today are those in the Christian age and not before the Christian age. This was after the cross, according to Hebrews nine, 16 to 17.

And more specifically, in the first century AD, in Jerusalem, on that Pentecost after the last Passover. This found in Luke 24, 44 to 48, especially verse 47, as well as Acts chapter two. That’s the birthday of the church. Second, we should realize that one or more steps in the plan of salvation can appear as a part for the whole.

For example, belief, faith, by itself appears in Romans chapter five verse one. Repentance by itself appears in Acts chapter 17 verse 30. Nothing about confession, nothing about baptism, nothing about belief in that particular passage. Further, only two of the steps, belief and confessing the belief, appear in Romans chapter 10, nine to 10. Nothing about repentance there. Baptism by itself.

appears in 1 Peter 3, verses 20 to 21. And so we must bring together all of what God said on a particular matter in order to see the whole counsel of God on that matter. If we do not do that, we run the risk of drawing conclusions too early. Third, regarding faith. We should realize that the Bible sometimes refers to the narrow sense of faith.

and a broad sense of faith. The narrow sense does not save according to the Scriptures or at least does not save yet because it has not blossomed into an act of faith, a work of faith. The Bible gives us an example of narrow faith in John 12, 42 to 43. This reads, nevertheless,

Even among the rulers, many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. But broad faith is faith that has blossomed into an act of obedience. James 2, 14 through 26, discusses both kinds and explains that only the broad sense is the saving faith.

That is, it teaches that faith has to act before it saves. James 2 verse 22 reads, do you see that faith was working together with his works, with his works note, and by works, faith was made perfect, that is complete. And James chapter 2 verse 24 reads, you see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only.

forth with respect to additional matters on getting into Christ. There are different kinds of works in the Bible as well. Not only these two different kinds of faith. Many of the arguments that faith only advocates use ⁓ fail to distinguish between the different kinds of works in the scriptures. I have heard it claimed as probably you have that one is saved by

⁓ without works of any kind. We may accurately call two kinds of works referenced in the Bible as works of merit and works of faith. A work of merit may be defined as a work performed with the idea that one can be saved by one’s own efforts without the need of the grace of God, which in the scriptures amounts to

without Jesus Christ. I can be saved without Christ. Ephesians chapter two verses eight to nine is what that is talking about. It teaches that these kinds of works do not save, works of merit do not save. On the other hand, a work of faith may be defined as a work performed in response to God’s instruction at the time with the admission that one needs the grace of God to be saved. James chapter two verse 24,

teaches the work of faith does say for it completes faith for salvation. Failing to distinguish the two kinds of faith that the Bible references and these two kinds of works has resulted in some professed Christians entangling themselves in logical fallacies, error. One such fallacy is the fallacy of equivocation.

This occurs when one uses the same word in the same argument but switches the meaning of that word to another meaning. Here are examples of fallacies of equivocation. Here’s one, one argument. Premise number one, some dogs have fuzzy ears. Premise number two, my dog has fuzzy ears. Conclusion, therefore, my dog is some dog.

Notice carefully what’s happening here. The same word, sum, is being employed all the way through this singular argument, but the word sum in the first premise has a different meaning than the word sum in the conclusion. Sum in the first argument means one or more, but in the conclusion, sum dog, that means something like of a good quality. The fallacy of equivocation has been committed.

and therefore this argument does not prove its conclusion. Another argument, and this one comes right out of a debate, an actual debate. Premise number one, you who believe can know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5 verse 13. Premise two, you must believe before you are baptized. Acts 8 verse 37. Conclusion, therefore you who believe can know you have eternal life.

before you were baptized. The problem here is that this commits the fallacy of equivocation. It equivocates on the word believe. The word believe in premise number one is as used in 1 John 5 verse 13, that is talking to people who have been baptized into Christ. This is people that have followed the Bible plan of salvation to become Christians.

Whereas in premise number two, you must believe before you are baptized that belief in Acts eight verse 37 is prior to baptism. It does not include baptism yet. And so then the fallacy of equivocation has been committed and thus the conclusion does not follow. A third argument commits the fallacy of equivocation relevant to our discussion here today. ⁓

Now, premise number one, works do not save, citing Galatians chapter two verse 16 and Ephesians two verses eight to nine. Premise number two, baptism is a work conclusion, therefore baptism does not save. This commits the fallacy of the equivocation. Works referenced in Galatians two 16 and Ephesians two verses eight to nine are works of merit.

Whereas baptism is a work of faith. It’s a different meaning of work here. Now sometimes some brethren will try to avoid this argument by claiming that baptism is not a work. That’s not correct. A work is something that you do. Baptism is a work. The point here is, and the problem is with the argument, that the word works is used in two different senses and therefore the conclusion.

baptism does not save is not proved by this argument. In each case then, though the same word is used in the singular arguments, these words have different meanings and so then the conclusion is not proved. Another logical fallacy that some professed Christians commit on salvation is called the fallacy of composition. This occurs when one falsely attributes to the part

that which only is the case for the whole. This happens, for example, when a person cites a Bible passage that refers to one of the steps, one of the steps of the plan of salvation, oftentimes faith, and falsely takes that to be the whole plan of salvation. This is the fallacy of composition. Again, attributing to the whole, to the part, that which is true only of the whole.

Fifth, with respect to more facts about getting in to Christ. There is a lot of error and confusion among professed Christians pertaining to baptism. And so then it is important to study baptisms in the Bible. I count eight. There is one common element shared by all eight baptisms in the Bible and that is the meaning of the term. It means

immersion, and we could spend another session on that, proving that. This does not change. The meaning does not change from context to context. But there are three variables with respect to baptisms in the Scriptures. One, the element in which the immersion takes place. Two, the subject, who or what is being immersed. And three, the purpose or the result of the immersion.

By paying attention to these three variables, one can distinguish the different baptisms in the Bible. The biblical baptism, that is the biblical immersion that applies today, is that mentioned in the Great Commission in Matthew 28, verses 18 to 20. Its element is water, Acts 8, 29 to 40. Its subjects are believers who have repented and confessed this belief, Acts 2, 36 to 39.

and Romans chapter 10 verses nine to 10, its purpose is unto the remission of sins, Acts 2.38, Acts 22.16 as examples. Note by the time that Paul wrote the book of Ephesians, which was about 60, six zero A.D., there was one baptism according to Ephesians chapter four verse five. That has to be the baptism of the great commission.

just to give you some proof of that, we ⁓ can show that the baptism in mind there is something, is unto the remission of sins, and that was included in the preaching of the gospel according to the Great Commission, wasn’t it? Go into all the world and preach the gospel. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. And you see that demonstrated in the case of the eunuch in Acts chapter eight, verses 29 to 40.

Jesus said with respect to the Great Commission that he will be with us always even until the end of the world. And so then, if there’s ever a time when there’s one baptism during the Christian age, that would have to be the baptism that’s included in the preaching of the gospel. And thus, by the writing of the book of Ephesians, according to Ephesians chapter four verse five, the baptism commission was the only baptism that was operative. Now here are some examples of frequently taught

errors and confusion in the denominational world on baptism. Roman Catholics are known for practicing the wrong meaning, sprinkling, often on the wrong subjects, infants, while doing so for the right purpose, unto the remission of sins. However, in their case, even here, there is the added problematic claim that the baptism removes so-called inherited sins.

Furthermore, many faith-only folks practice the right meaning, immersion, and perhaps the right subjects and the right element, water, but they teach the wrong purpose because of remission of sins rather than in order to remission of sins, which is what Acts chapter two, verse 38, for example, teaches. Furthermore, there are many mistaken views regarding baptism among those associated with

the churches of Christ. One has to do with the question, must the one being baptized understand the purpose of the baptism in order for the baptism to have this biblical effect? Let me go over that again. Must the one being baptized understand the purpose of the baptism in order for the baptism to have this biblical effect? The Bible answers this yes, as I’ll show in a moment.

whereas some associated with us answer it no. Acts chapter two verse 38, for example, shows that the answer is yes. Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, unto the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Note that repent and be baptized unto the remission of sins. That expression, unto the remission of sins,

is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverb indicating the purpose of the baptism stated. If the person being baptized is not intending to do so unto the remission of sins, then he is not obeying the command, be baptized in the verse. Compare that with this. Go to the store to buy bread. The expression to buy bread

serves as an adverbial phrase modifying go here. If you do not go to the store to buy bread, then you are not obeying the command go in this context. Similarly, in Acts 2.38, be baptized unto the remission of sins, that is with a view toward the remission of sins. If one is not baptized unto the remission of sins, then he is not obeying the command stated in Acts chapter two, verse 38.

Note also John chapter eight verse 32 with respect to this question, must the one being baptized understand the purpose of the baptism in order for it to have its biblical effect, namely God’s washing away of sins? Well, John at chapter eight verse 32, I’ve heard referenced as in defense of the claim that such a person does not have to have an understanding of the purpose of the baptism.

And the end of the verse is sometimes cited as support for this. And the truth shall make you free, you see, is the claim. That it’s the truth that does the freeing from the consequence of sin in context. You don’t have to understand that that is the case, but that neglects the first part of the verse, doesn’t it? Acts chapter eight, verse 32 says, and you shall know the truth. And then it says,

and the truth shall make you free. Again, John chapter eight, verse 32. This of course, consistent with what I argued from Acts chapter two, verse 38, which is what we would expect. In fact, this is so often taught in the scriptures that a person is to understand what is being said and then respond accordingly that it’s difficult to understand how people can miss this. A second error among us that has to do with the question

must the baptizer be a faithful member of the church for the baptism to have its biblical effect? I’ve heard a few brethren insist, bind the answer yes, but the Bible answers this no. In fact, one time I was dealing with in a prison ministry, not too many years ago.

and came upon a situation where there were about 50 people in that prison taking a correspondence course by a brother, and I commend the brother for that activity. But unfortunately, he insisted that when a prisoner wanted to be baptized, that he had to wait because there was not a person who was a faithful member of the church to do the baptizing.

And when I came on the scene, there was one gentleman who had been in there, who was in there for several years for murder. He’s in there for life. And ⁓ as it turns out, and I know the family, his family, as it turns out, he wanted to be baptized for the purpose of remission of sins. He understood the Bible purpose. He understood the prerequisites and he wanted to be baptized, but he had been waiting five years before the baptism.

because his brother had insisted that there was no one faithful, no faithful member of the church to do the baptizing. Furthermore, in that particular facility, there was a problem with people being baptized because they were reluctant to let anyone be baptized again if they had been given the opportunity but then refused it. So ⁓ finally, if I may.

say with pleasure that I persuaded him to be baptized unto the remission of sins and he finally was. And there are other examples of this as well. Now again, must the baptizer be a faithful member of the church for the baptism to have its biblical effect? Well the Great Commission says he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Let’s believe this. This passage does not add

by a faithful member of the church? There is no passage in the Bible that adds the qualifier, believe and be baptized by a faithful member of the church and you shall be saved. Nowhere does the Bible teach, be baptized by a person who meets a certain criteria shall be saved. Look at the Great Commission again. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. It does not say he that believes and is baptized by a person who meets certain criteria.

shall be saved, that’s being added in. You cannot find that anywhere in the scriptures as an insertion. You might find it in ⁓ Revelation 22 verse 18.2, ⁓ just after where it says, ⁓ do not add to the word of God. Or perhaps you could find it in Revelation chapter 22 verse 22, or maybe in ⁓ 4th Corinthians chapter four verse one.

but it is not within the confines of the word of God. And so then, we need to be careful there. Furthermore, if the baptizer must be a faithful member of the church for the baptism to have its biblical effect, namely God’s washing away of sins, then the one being baptized could not know that God washed away his sins at the baptism.

You could not know you are saved. In a moment I’ll explain why that is the case. There was a preacher up in Tennessee who was committing adultery with a woman in the congregation where he was preaching for 20 years. And then finally the cat was let out of the bag. Now all the people that he baptized during that time, did they have to be rebaptized? Absolutely not.

Each person being baptized would have to know that the one who baptized him was faithful when he was doing the baptizing. You you’re oftentimes dealing with novices here. They have enough trouble understanding, hear, repent, confess, be immersed in water for the purpose or mission of sins. They do not have to understand the spiritual status of the one doing the baptizing on top of it.

Again, each person being baptized would have to know that the one who baptized him was faithful when doing the baptizing. But there’s more. One would have to know that the one who baptized him was faithful when he was doing the baptizing. There’s more. One would have to know that the one who baptized him was faithful. As a matter of fact, you would have to know

the chain all the way back to the first century, you’d have to be able to trace it all the way back to the first century in order to know that there was no break in the chain because according to this doctrine by implication, if there’s one break in the chain, that invalidates all the baptism from that point onward. Furthermore, how about the 19th century? Alexander and Thomas Campbell, both were Presbyterians, one baptized the other. Now Thomas,

was a Presbyterian when he baptized Alexander, as I understand it, from restoration history, and vice versa. then, what, Alexander then became a Christian, then he baptized ⁓ Tom? Well, Tom was a Presbyterian at the time that he baptized Alexander, so that invalidates the whole situation given this doctrine by implication. So we need to be careful about this. Must the one

Must the baptizer be a faithful member of the church in order for the one being baptized to have his sins washed away? The answer to that has to be no, my brethren. One is reminded of words in the Bible from a different context. They bind heavy burdens hard to bear and lay them on men’s shoulders. Next, what about the situation

of not being baptized right. A person must be baptized according to the Bible for it to have its intended biblical effect, that is God’s washing away the person’s sins at the baptism. Also, there are prerequisites to baptism. We’re to hear the gospel of Christ as we’ve indicated in Romans 10 verse 17, which of course means you have to learn about the good news, which does include.

of course the resurrection of Christ, which is part of the coming up, however, when we’re being baptized into Christ. And also there are prerequisites to baptism in addition to hearing. You have to believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be, and there’s more to say about that. Look at the entire book of John, whose purpose was to convince the reader that Jesus is who he claimed to be. According to John 20, 30 to 31, a person is to repent of sins.

A person is to confess this belief, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God with his lips, confess that, Romans chapter 10 verses nine to 10. Then one is baptized for the understood purpose that God will wash away his or her sins. If a person has not done this, he or she needs to be baptized scripturally. So with respect to this question, what about the situation of not being baptized right? Somebody said you cannot be taught wrong and baptized right.

⁓ and it is the truth that makes you free. And so then to the benefit of such a person, that person does need to be baptized scripturally. Next, what about if I am not sure later in life why I was baptized? Well first, as mentioned, take the person who was not baptized scripturally. The obvious thing for this person’s benefit,

It’s for him or her to learn and acknowledge the Bible’s instructions on the subject and then be baptized as the Bible teaches, as we’ve indicated. But then there’s a second case. Take the person who was baptized scripturally and later in life has doubts about it all and cannot shake the doubt. There is something that can be done here to erase the doubt, be baptized, of course,

for the scriptural reason. Now, since this doubt appears, I’m just curious, how many of you brethren and brothers and sisters have run into this situation where someone later in life, even decades later, wonder why they were baptized? I believe that there’s some wisdom emerging out of that that we should take into consideration. Here’s some advice to consider. Before we baptize someone,

alert them at the time to the fact that some later look back and question why they were baptized. Before such a person is baptized into Christ, as you’re studying with them, have them read, for example, Acts 22, 16, or other related passages. Acts 22, 16, and now why do you delay, arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins? You could raise the question.

According to the Bible, in that passage, does a person come to the point of baptism with the idea that God has already washed away his sins or that God is going to wash them away at the baptism? And almost everybody that I’ve talked to will see when they read that, that God washes away the person’s sins at the baptism, not before the baptism. Right along those lines, by the way, sometimes you’ll hear people say,

Of Acts 22 is in the context of talking about the apostle Paul, and as if he had been saved on the road to Damascus. But when he’s in Damascus, according to Acts 22, 16, he’s still in his sins. And so that cannot be the case. And so then the purpose of the baptism is for God to wash away your sins. Have people look at that.

and then say now, when you look back at this moment later in life, even decades later, remember that you have decided to be baptized for the Bible person. I believe that that can help somebody later in life. Next question, how much time do I have? come on, really? Next question, after baptism into Christ, can each of us know that we are saved?

during our Christian life according to the Bible. Yes, speaking to Christians, 1 John 5 verse 13 reads, these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 2 Timothy 1, 12, for this reason I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until this day. 2 Peter chapter one verse 10.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure. Colossians 1, 21 to 23, and you who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, no, no, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in his sight, if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast.

1 John 1 verse 7, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. Now be careful of course about living in intentional sin according to Hebrews chapter 10 verses 26 and 27. This reads for if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no longer remains a sacrifice.

for sins but a certain fearful expectation of judgment. And so in that situation, repent quickly. To help here, let’s look at the next two graphics, which one accurately represents the continuing in the faith grounded in steadfast of Colossians 1, 21 through 23, or the walk in the light, which is equivalent over in 1 John chapter one, verse seven. Which of the following two graphics

captures those teachings. Here’s the first one. On the top you’ve got the behavior of the Christian, and then the bottom you have the corresponding spiritual status. So the behavior, no sin, and then he switches to sin, and then he goes no sin, and then sin, no sin, et cetera, during his Christian life. And then the bottom claims the spiritual status correspond exactly with that, one to one. When no sin, he’s saved. When he sins, he’s lost. When he goes back to no sin, he’s saved.

Lost, save, lost. Is that the biblical picture being portrayed in Colossians 1.23 and 1 John chapter one, verse seven? Or is it this? No sin, this is for the Christian who’s walking in the light. No sin, sin, no sin, sin, no sin, sin, but spiritual status saved all the way through. The blood of Christ continually washes away sins. We’re not talking about the Hebrews 10, 26, 27 situation where a person’s living in sin.

but the person is in essence getting an A for effort. He’s continuing to walk in the light, he might slip here and there, but it’s not a matter of perfection, it’s a matter of direction. When he’s doing that, then according to these two passages, I believe Colossians 1, 23, 1 John chapter one, verse seven, he’s still in a safe condition due to the grace of Jesus Christ. Next question to look at.

Must there be a formula uttered for God to wash away one’s sins at baptism? More specifically, because of Matthew 28 verses 19 to 20, must the baptizer say something like, baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit? Does the Bible require this as a formula to be said?

Okay, this one, this one out. Oh well. It stopped. So the answer to this is no, because if you compare Matthew 28, 19 to 20, be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then go over to Acts chapter two, verse 38, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, you’d have a conflict.

formula do you use? Rather, in the name of Jesus Christ in Acts chapter two verse 38, and be baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit in Matthew 28 verses 19 to 20, is talking about the fact that we have the authority of God. That is, in the name of means by the authority of. Look at Acts chapter four verses eight to 12, and Ephesians chapter one, 20 to 23.

And that expression, in the name of, means by the authority of, and that is what Matthew 28 in the Great Commission in Acts 2 is saying, that is, do this by God’s authority, do this by ⁓ Jesus’ authority. These are not intended to be ⁓ formulas that must be uttered. And furthermore, if you’re gonna take that position, you’re adding another step in the plan of salvation, then, aren’t you? Hear, repent, confess, be baptized by saying this formula, and so forth.

So you have to be careful of that. And now I’m have to wing it as I end here. And that is because I can’t see the next slides. And that is the question, what about going forward? Is going forward ⁓ a requirement? Some people are scared to death getting in front of a group. And ⁓ someone says, I’m shy or I’m petrified about going in front. Do I have to go forward in order to be saved?

in order for God to wash away my sins. And the answer to that is no, this is a biblical option, not a biblical requirement. Repentance, for example, is a biblical requirement. And if you feel guilty in that case, that’s a good thing. This is God prodding you to do the right thing. But repentance, for example, is something that you do in your mind. ⁓ Going forward is an optional way of expressing yourself if you want to convey

to others certain thoughts for certain purposes, then you have the option of doing that, but that is just one option among others. And so then let’s be careful when we, and sometimes I cringe and sometimes when I hear people ⁓ insisting that someone come forward, the rhetoric sometimes makes it sound as if you should feel guilty if you don’t, that you have to do this. This is an option, it is not a requirement.

And then as a last passage and we’ll close with this, and this I believe is quite appropriate, 2 Timothy chapter two verse 15 with respect to all of the above. Give diligence to present yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

All right,