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Searching for a More Secure Faith ? A s human beings, there is no greater honor than to be invited to become a child of God. There can be nogreater gift offered to you personally than that of salvation through Jesus. There is a divine dignity offered toyou through Jesus that surpasses anything this world has to offer. Perhaps the most commonly quoted versein the Bible is John 3:16. (The N e w I n t e r n a t i o n a l V e r s i o n or NIV will be used in scripture quotations throughout this study guide.)

F o r G o d s o l o v e d t h e w o r l d t h a t h e g a v e h i s o n e a n d o n l y S o n t h a t w h o e v e r b e l i e v e s i n h i ms h a l l n o t p e r i s h b u t h a v e e t e r n a l l if e . The following verse is sadly, often overlooked . Verse 17 completes the idea.

F o r G o d d i d n o t s e n d h i s S o n i n t o t h e w o r ld t o c o n d e m n t h e w o r l d ,b u t t o s a v e t h e w o r l d t h r o u g h h i m . Christianity was never supposed to be centered on condemnation but on salvation. The very name of

Jesus means the Lord saves. It is impossible, therefore to fully pursue a relationship with Jesus withoutconsidering the subject of salvation, for these are intertwined.

To be saved is to be certain and secure in ones relationship with God. This certainty, however is basedupon our acceptance of this truth: The security of our salvation is not based upon our own efforts but on theGrace of God.

F o r i t i s b y g r a c e y o u a r e s a v e d , t h r o u g h f a i t h a n d t h i s n o t f r o m y o u r s e l v e s i t i s t h e g i f t o fG o d n o t b y w o r k s s o t h a t n o o n e c a n b o a s t . E p h e s i a n s 2 :8 - 9It is difficult in our day and age to explore the subject of salvation without conjuring up images of

evangelists preaching hellfire and damnation sermons to provoke people to give their lives to God. This studyguide is not designed to frighten, manipulate or scold anyone into accepting Christ. It is about the matter ofassisting those who desire to think for themselves and who want to draw their own conclusions about thisimportant topic. It is also to bring clarity to those who are already following Jesus as they seek a secure andsure walk of faith. The term, gospel has long been used to describe the message of hope found in JesusThe very word gospel means good news. In this age, when uncertainty, doubt and despair seem soprevalent, its good to know there is still some good news to lend a little optimism and hope to an otherwise


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troubled world. Be certain however, the gospel doesnt promise to make all your troubles go away. It doeshowever, put our troubles into context and diminishes the negative power of uncertainty and struggle.

It is my prayer that you will read this material with your heart and mind open to reaching a deeper, moresecure faith in God. As you read, you will make some new observations and these will help you THINK withmore focus and clarity. Other things may be discovered upon which you should ACT . Some discoveries maysuggest a change or adjustment in the way you relate to God. Where these actions are concerned, I pray for

your courage and motivation to take those steps which would lead you closer to God. Spiritual growth is anever-expanding and on-going process. I encourage you to embrace the possibilities of a faith which yearns foradded depth and meaning.

One of the long-standing traditions of churches and denominations has been to connect salvation withones particular church affiliation. While I believe in the benefits of being affiliated with a church family, I alsosee a down side to simply thinking, I know Im saved because Im a member of this or that church. This study guide is based upon the idea that churches dont save. Only Jesus brings salvation. The security of ousalvation, in my opinion, is based upon our relationship with Jesus as opposed to our affiliation with an

institution. This purpose of this guide is not, therefore, to point you in a specific direction regarding adenomination or church affiliation.

T h i s s t u d y g u i d e w i l l b e f o c u s e d u p o n a n s w e r i n g t h e q u e s t i o n s :What does it mean to be saved?How can I be assured that I am saved?Is there a continuing process to being saved?

To begin answering these questions, lets begin with a consideration of one of the central ways God haschosen to draw us closer to Him. It is one of the principal ways God has allowed mankind to enter into arelationship with Him which allows for confidence, security and peace of mind. This way of relating to God iscalled C o v e n a n t .

OUR COVENANTRELATIONSHIP WITH GOD T he relationship of God to man has frequently been defined in terms of a c o v e n a n t . A covenant is simply

a contract or agreement between two parties. In more practical terms, a covenant takes out the guessworkWhere our spiritual lives are concerned, we should strive for something that is concrete and understandableMost of us want to know where we stand with the Creator. He wants us to know too. By giving us the Bible touse as a guide, we can know what his will is and how we fit into it. Take a look atI I Timothy 3: 16-17 & 2Peter 1 :3-4 to see what I mean.


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I n the agreement (covenant), there are expectations outlined which each of the parties agrees to keep. Ifthose expectations are not carried out then the covenant is made void. Covenants between man and God are

nearly as ancient as the world itself. In G e n e s i s 9 : 8 - 1 7 God promised to Noah that he would not destroy theworld again thorough a flood. That promise and covenant was to Noah and his descendants. We are altherefore, benefactors of that covenant to this day. No need for guesswork or uncertainty, you have God'sword on it.

God continued to establish covenants at crucial times in human history. In Genesis 15: 18 ff Godpromises Abraham that his descendants will eventually settle the land of Canaan. This is what eventually leadsto the grand city of Jerusalem and the placement of Gods temple in that city. As long as His people werefaithful to the covenant He had made with them, their relationship with Him would be secure.

C ovenants are God's way of giving people a more secure faith. The Bible is itself described in terms of acovenant. The Old Testament may be referred to as the Old CovenantorOld Law. The New Testament iscorrespondingly called the New Covenantor the New Law. The written word of God is designed to be a guidefor our relationship with him.

The Bible serves as our guideline for faith andpractice as Christians.

T he remainder of this material deals with the covenant you have with God concerning your personasalvation. This is an extremely important concern, so take your time as you read and study. Dont let yourselffeel rushed as you go through this material. Take several days to read over the many Bible passagesreferenced herein. This is T H E most important theme you will ever explore. Write down your questions. Ponder the implications. Seek your own relationship with God based upon your personal conclusions. Allow the Bible (God's Word) to be the final authority on what you believe.


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SAVED OR LOST?A s suggested earlier, there is a great deal of talk in religion about being "saved" or being "lost". These terms

are frequently thrown around without being clearly defined. Let's look into this question for a moment.

This vital question was once posed to the apostle Paul in A c t s 1 6 : 3 0 . In this narrative, the questioner was a jailer who was holding Paul and Silas in a jail in the city of Philippi. He asked,....."What must I do to be saved?The reply in verse 3 1 was, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

But this still doesnt address the question ofw h a t it means to be lost or saved.The first question raised has to do with the word "saved" or "salvation". Saved from what? You might askSaved to do what? Saved to be what? Because of this confusion, a large number of people living today neve

get around to considering what they need to do to be saved.

For the most part folks simply don't realize they could be lost. Unfortunately, it is widely assumed thasomeone, (their parents for instance), have already taken care of this for them through a dedication servicechristening or infant baptism. While such actions are indicative of the devotion of the parents, it is important toremember that one's relationship with God is a p e r s o n a l o n e . Our relationship with God must be basedupon our own understanding and subsequent actions based upon the reading and study of God's word.

Salvation is not a matter of simply joining a church or denomination and finding security of salvation as a resultof that affiliation. S a l v a t i o n i s p e r s o n a l .Although the words saved and lost are somewhat common in modern religious dialogue, the words are really

rather obscure in New Testament usage. Jesus used the terms in L u k e 1 9 : 1 0 describing his reason for beingon earth. "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost." The word "lost" literally means " t h a tw h i c h i s p e r i s h i n g w h i l e a l ie n a t e d f r o m G o d . " On the other hand, the word "saved" carries with itthe idea of being delivered from certain doom.

The word "lost" l iterally means "that which isperishing while alienated from God."I t is this very word which is used in A c t s 1 6 : 3 0 - 3 1 . There are in fact, many words in the Bible which are

closely tied to salvation. These related words give further insights to the meaning of being saved. The

following is a partial listing of those words.


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Ephesians 2: 8-9 "For it is by Grace you have been saved, through f a i t h ..."Romans 8: 2 "For in this h o p e we were saved..."I Timothy 2: 4 "(God) wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of thet r u t h ..."I I Timothy 1: 9 "...who has saved us and called us to a h o l y l i f e - not because of anything we have

done, but because of his own p u r p o s e and g r a c e ."Titus 3: 5-6 "He saved us through the w a s h i n g o f r e b i r t h and r e n e w a l b y t h e H o l y S p i r i t whomhe poured out generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace we mightbecome heirs having the hope of eternal life."

I Corinthians 15: 2 "By this g o s p e l you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to youOtherwise you have believed in vain."

CONCLUSIONS?S o then, what shall we conclude about this lost/saved discussion? Frankly, I don't think we are ready tofinalize our conclusions yet. A few more insights from God's word are in order and will lead to a fulle

understanding of the topic at hand. Herein lies a valuable lesson for us as we seek to be serious students ofthe Bible.

Avoid drawing conclusions on spiritual matters until you have

had time to think over the various dimensions of a question.O ne cannot fully understand what it means to be lost or saved without considering passages on faith,

grace, repentance, baptism, redemption, discipleship, commitment, etc.

Before looking at any further scriptures however, I want to make a couple of observations about salvation. would like to point out once again that one of the reasons people are not concerned about being saved is thatthey do not know they are lost.


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..one of the reasonspeople are not concerned about being saved

is that they do not know they are lost.Another word for lost is the word perishing. According to I I Corinthians 4: 3 , the idea of being lost is one

of a continued state. Paul says," A n d e v e n i f o u r g o s p e l i s v e i l e d , it i s v e i l e d t o t h o s e w h o a r e p e r i s h i n g . T h e g o d o f t h i s a g eh a s b l i n d e d t h e m i n d s o f u n b e l i e v e r s , s o t h a t th e y c a n n o t s e e t h e l i g h t o f th e g o s p e l o f th eg l o r y o f C h r i s t , w h o i s t h e im a g e o f G o d . "

Being a victim of sin means that a person is convinced that the way to fulfillment and joy in life is to beself centered, self-serving and to "call one's own shots". This perspective on living contributes to failedrelationships, addictions and an overall feeling that life is shallow and devoid of any real purpose or meaning. Ifyou have had these feelings lately, then you are perhaps beginning to come to grips with the reality of lost-ness. Hope lies ahead for those who are willing to embrace the saving message of Jesus.

S atan's platform is the same now as it was in the Garden with Adam and Eve. You will recall that heapproached them with the lie that they could become like God if they would just do things their own way by

eating of the forbidden fruit. ( G e n . 3 : 1 - 5 ) Satan appealed to their selfish nature and brought a curse uponthem and every human who has lived since. The entire Bible is devoted to presenting to man a revelation ofwhat selfish desires will do when left unchecked. Jesus came to the earth in fleshly form ( J o h n 1 : 1 4 ) for theexpress purpose of showing man that true joy is found only when we serve others and "do unto others as wewould have them do unto ourselves". This runs counter to the entire campaign that Satan has perpetratedupon humanity since the beginning.

It is only through following Jesus that we can be liberated from such bondage. Concerning this, Peter, theapostle, once testified before a group of antagonists, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other

name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." ( A c t s 4 : 1 2 )


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THE DECEPTIVE NATURE OF SINPicture in your mind two people traveling along a swift river in a canoe. Without realizing it, they are

moving swiftly toward a huge waterfall which will mean certain death if they continue down the stream.

The sun may be shining above, the water blue and the climate perfect. The more perfect the conditions ofthe journey, the more oblivious these people are to the dangers ahead. There might be people along side theriver screaming warnings but the people in the canoe ignore these sounds because to them there is nothing tobe concerned about. Or perhaps they assume the people must be talking to someone else. After all, they arehappy, contented, experienced canoeists. What's all the big fuss?

Truth is, ignorance can kill you. It is eternally important that we realize being saved or lost is all about seeing

the big picture. It is about thinking about the ultimate questions of life. Why am I here? What is life reallyabout? Where is all this leading?

The second major problem with salvation is that some people think they are saved when they really aren'tSalvation is not something inherited or passed down to us by our parents. While we can certainly appreciateour religious heritage and learn from it, we must pursue our salvation on a personal basis and we must let Godspeak to us on how and when we are saved. In my estimation, there is no greater respect we can pay ouancestors than to continue to pursue our faith in Jesus as Gods son.

Joining a church will not save, just like getting into a different canoe wouldn't help the people in ourillustration. They could even make their way over to a larger canoe filled with all kinds of good swimmers andcanoeists, but unless they get out of the swift river, they will all be lost. We must never assume that we canapproach salvation or religion on what the majority of religious folks are doing. We must remember that it was amajority of religious people who called for the crucifixion of Jesus. Although they thought they knew the truthof the matter, they did not.

We must never assume that we can approach salvation orreligion on what the majority of religious folks are doing.

L et God set the standards and give the guidelines for your personal salvation.


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Let's look at some of the passages on salvation. Let's not exclude some kinds of passages and includeothers, but let's look at the whole picture. Here is a sampling of twelve themes identified in scripture which aredirectly connected to the salvation process:

1 FAITH: Hebrews 1 1 :6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him."John 3:16, I Corinthians 1:21, John 1:12, Acts 16:31.

2 JESUS: John 12:47 "I did not come to judge the world but to save it." Matt. 18:11.3 BLOOD: I Peter 1 : 18- 19 "It was not with perishable things..that you were redeemed...but with

the precious blood of Christ..." Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:12.

4 GOSPEL: Romans 1: 16 "...The power of God unto salvation.." I Timothy 4: 16, I Corinthians 15:2.5 WORD: James 1 :21 "...the word planted in you, which can save you"6 OBEDIENCE: Heb. 5:9 "He became the source of salvation to all who obey him." Matthew 7:21-237 GRACE: Ephesians 2: 8-9 "...by grace are you saved through faith.."

Titus 2:11.

8 HOPE: Romans 8:24 "...in this hope we were saved...."9 BAPTISM: I Peter 3 :21 "...Baptism now saves you.." Titus 3:5 Mark 16:15-16, Romans 6: 3-4.10 MERCY: Titus 3:5 "He saved us...because of his mercy."1 1 HEARING THE GOSPEL: Romans 10: 14-17 "Faith comes from hearing the message.12 BELIEVING THE MESSAGE: John 8:24 "...if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to beyou will indeed die in your sins.

A FINAL WORD

I t is important to underscore the significance of the G R A C E o f G o d where our salvation is concernedIt should be pointed out that the underpinning for all the passages mentioned previously is Grace. Grace isdefined as being a free gift which could never be earned on one's own power. There is no way to be justified inGod's sight by any work or effort we might exert.


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A good number of Bible passages relative to salvation also mention baptism. It must be pointed out thaBAPTISM as mentioned in scripture, is not a work but a surrender. Baptism is not something you do. It issomething done to you.

B a p t i s m i s n o t s o m e t h in g y o u d o .I t is s o m e t h i n g d o n e t o y o u . Discussion of salvation sometimes dismisses baptism as mere symbolism and diminishes its part in thediscussion of the salvation process. A closer view of the connection of baptism to the salvation process showsbaptism to be integrated into the response a believer makes as they accept Jesus as their Savior and come tobe saved. The following chart of conversions from the book of Acts gives us a view of how baptism fits into thescheme of redemption. Please understand that the organization of these elements into categories is not tointended to reduce the scheme of salvation into a formula. This is just one of many ways to view the topic ofsalvation. The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John should not be ignored as the backdrop of theseobservations from the book of Acts. The focus always needs to remain on God and His full redemptive history

which culminates in the coming of Jesus. Salvation is made possible, not by what we do, butw h a t H E h a sb e e n d o i n g t h r o u g h o u t h i s t o r y .

Examples of Conversion in Acts

Occasion Belief Repentance Confession Baptism Results & Response

Pentecost

Acts 2: 14-41

Repent

v. 37-38

Baptized

v. 38-41

Remission of Sins

v. 38-47

Samaria

Acts 8: 5-13

Believed v.

12

Baptized

v. 12-13

Ethiopian

Acts 8: 35-39

Believed v.

36-37

Confessed v.

37

Baptized

v. 38

Went on his way rejoicing

Saul

Acts 9: 17-18

Baptized

v. 18

Sins washed away 22:16

Cornelius

Acts 19: 34-48

Believed v.

43

Baptized

v. 48

Remission of Sins v. 43

The Philippian Jailer

Acts 16:32

Believed v.

31

Baptized

v. 33

Lydia

Acts 16:13

v. 15 Baptized

v. 15


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The only righteousness available comes by the Grace of God. (Rom. 1:17) There is no way anyone can qualifyor deserve this gift. Frequently, those contemplating baptism state their unworthiness or state a desire to gettheir life completely straightened out before being baptized. While this sounds admirable, it shortchanges the

idea that we are saved by the G R A C E o f G o d as opposed to our own good works.Come to Jesus realizing you are powerless to fight off sinful desires alone.

Come to Jesus knowing full well of your unworthiness. (Rom. 3:23) "For all have sinned and fall short of theglory of God".

Acts 2:38 says that not only will your sins be forgiven but you will be given the "gift of the Holy Spirit". Withthe Holy Spirit working for you there will be added power to conquer sins in your life. This doesnt mean you'lnever sin again, it just gives you a reference point to which you can go for stability and security.

Baptism is a new Birth, and therefore a beginning point. You might say it is an opportunity to start over at"square one". From this beginning your life will gain new stability. Your faith will be made more secure andsure.

Baptism is a new Birth, and therefore a beginning point. Youmight say it is an opportunity to start over at "square one".

T hough it might seem a mere formality or ritual, remember that b a p t i s m i s a w a y o f s e a l i n g t h ec o v e n a n t r e l a t i o n s h i p i n t o w h i c h G o d i n v i t e s y o u . It serves as a definite point in time in which youmay forever reflect upon as the time in which full trust was given to God. Just as a husband and wife remembertheir wedding day as the day they became husband and wife, Christians look back to their baptism as the day

they consciously decided to make Jesus the Lord (master) of their life.

I would remind you of what we said earlier concerning the need to make your relationship with God a personaone. One's commitment to God must come from within and therefore be a personal response to God. That iswhy, in my estimation, an adult would consider a baptism administered to them as an infant as being less theiro w n p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s e as being that of someone else.


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While it is admirable that parents pledge to bring their children up in the Lord, even a parent cannot acceptJesus as Lord for their children. One should further note that in the scriptures there is not one example of aninfant ever being sprinkled. The pattern is always baptism by immersion (ex. Romans 6 "...buried withChrist..."). The person being baptized is always capable of comprehending who Jesus is and what his lifemeans to the individual who accepts him.

In the midst of this discussion an important idea can be obscured. S a l v a t i o n i s i n J e s u s . His very namemeans salvation. It is troubling that salvation all too frequently becomes tied into rituals, doctrines andreligious practices. While consideration regarding church, worship and doctrinal views form an importantbackdrop for living a life of faith, the centrality must always be Christ Jesus. I embarrassedly recall my earlyattempts at sharing the gospel with people. I hurriedly rushed to a point in my teaching where I would askpeople to give their life to Jesus by accepting Christ and being baptized. Far too often I would leave theimpression that if a person gets all the doctrine lined up right, gets baptized right and starts going to church,their salvation is certain and secure.

What I failed to realize then was the need for a persons faith to be centered on Jesus and his claims. I now

realize that people need to spend time in the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke or John getting to know Jesus inorder to make an informed decision to follow him. Salvation is not found in a WHAT. Salvation is found in aWHO.

S a l v a t i o n is n o t f o u n d i n a W H A T .S a l v a t i o n is f o u n d i n a W H O .The question to you is this. Haveyou accepted Jesus as the Son of God? Haveyou noted in your life

the things (sins) that separateyou from being Christ-like? Areyou willing to put out of your life those sins?

Are you willing now to become one with Jesus through the re-enactment of his death, burial and resurrectionby being baptized? Because of my high view of the importance of baptism, I have occasionally been asked if think a person has to be baptized in order to be saved. I can only respond that I think this question misses themore important point. If indeed, as scripture indicates, baptism is a uniting together with Jesus and a hence ainvitation for a profound intimacy with Jesus, why would a person NOT want to be baptized?

I would say that baptism is not something a person HAS to do as much as it is something a person GETS to doIt is an honor, a privilege and a most unforgettable way of being drawn into a covenant relationship with Jesus.

The scripture says, " I f w e h a v e b e e n u n i t e d w i t h h i m i n h i s d e a t h , w e w i l l c e r t a i n l y a l s o b eu n i t e d w i t h h i m i n h i s r e s u r r e c t i o n . " Romans 6: 5


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I t is my prayer that you will not delay in making your covenant with God complete and secure. There is not anhour that God's call is not open. Please contact me if I can answer further questions or assist you in taking thisimportant step.

Gary ClevelandP.O. Box 3506Oshkosh, WI 54903-3506920/ [email protected]

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