QUESTION 61:
If I confess Christ and get baptized, will I not be saved?

ANSWER:
The nature of this question implies that baptism is necessary for salvation. This would not be true. Baptism is the sign and not the substance of salvation. James said: If a man says he has faith, and has not works, can faith save him? The important word here is "say," there must be more than a profession. There must be reality in the soul.

A person that fully trusts Christ has the blessed assurance of salvation, Hebrews 11:1. Confessing Christ is the ongoing results, not the means of salvation. The devil is a master deceiver, Revelation 20:2-3. He appears as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14. His word is to destroy the work of God, 1 John 3:8 "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10. Note the order here: Man believes with all his heart. The evidence is confession made about salvation. Confessing Christ is not signing a card, saying a prayer or walking a Church aisle.  None of these things are verbal.

It is the heart first, and then the tongue. This verse states, "unto righteousness." This is an imputed righteousness given by God in response to our faith. "Now to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly; his faith is counted for righteousness" Romans 4:5. Salvation rests upon your resting on the finished work of Christ.  Confessing that and baptism are fruit and not the root of that salvation.

Do you have this salvation? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved?"

All comments and questions to:Harold Smith

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Updated January 2008, by Shelly Allen