Don Smith
Introduction
This writer’s assignment for this month’s theme lines up perfectly with the continued chronicling of the correspondence with Mrs. Julie Jackson. The exchange began at the request of Micah Jackson, the son of Mrs. Jackson. Due to the error of Pentecostalism that permeated their family, the subject was the fact that the miraculous age had ceased in the first century, and so a manuscript was prepared titled, “Have Miracles Ceased?” Out of that grew a correspondence on several subjects, all of which, thus far, have been recorded on the pages of The Gospel Preceptor. This 11th installment tells exactly what the alien sinner must do to be saved—be baptized for the remission of sins.
Concerning God’s Way of Salvation
(41)
1In this final portion of my reply, I’m going to thoroughly explain what we must do to be saved. 2There are a few issues I want to address first, and at the end there are a couple of concerns that I will answer as well. 3I just want to remind you that as I put this reply together, I do so with concern and care for your soul. 4You and your family are precious creations of God, and this is what I keep in consideration as I correspond with you. 5So please know that the things I write are not to put you down, but they are things that are imperative for correction in order to make it to our goal of heaven. 6We’re all human and we make mistakes, and an honest mistake can be made okay if we’re willing to correct our way. 7With this being said, let us now begin.
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1In 2 correspondences, you expressed to me how you believe you were saved. 2In your response at [TGP, Aug. 2023, pg. 18] paragraph 8, sentence 1, you stated that when you got saved the Spirit of God moved on you. 3In another letter you stated that He literally grabbed you by the back of the neck. 4Unless you mean that you literally saw the Holy Spirit appear in that congregation, walk over to you, and grab you by the back of the neck, then you are only speaking of what you felt. 5Feelings are triggered by emotions. 6Feelings pertaining to the back of the neck are especially affiliated with extreme emotion. 7Before I became a Christian, there were many times in my past life where extreme emotion triggered feelings in the back of my neck, such as hitting a home run, making the winning touchdown, or making the basket “at the buzzer.” 8Also standing at the edge of a cliff or “the first kiss” trigger this as well. 9In my old past life, I had played gambling tickets and the lottery quite often (I do not advocate at all to do so now, for it is sin) and won $5o-$100 a few times. 10Just scratching those tickets, and seeing that money, caused feelings in the back of my neck. 11Had I ever won a million, the hair would’ve stood straight up on the back of my neck, as the common saying goes. 12Since this is a common saying, it’s so apparently obvious it’s not just me. 13After something extreme happening, sometimes people describe their emotions and include the back of the neck. 14It is sometimes described as a chill, goosebumps, hair standing straight up, shivers, etc. 15I have felt my neck shrug up tightly when under extreme emotion and even had trouble speaking or saying anything at all. 16When these emotions are experienced in the religious world of Christendom, people are constantly attributing it to the Holy Spirit. 17The problem with this is there is no scriptural backing for such claims. 18Nowhere do we find in the scriptures the Holy Spirit operating directly on someone in such a way described and certainly not pertaining to salvation.
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1Feelings are subjective. 2Whereas one person may have extreme emotion over something heard in a religious context, yet another person in the same audience may not have that extreme emotion. 3The word of God, however, is objective. 4If those same two people, one highly emotional and the other not, obey the truth from the heart, they both will be saved. 5The extreme emotion is not the Holy Spirit directly operating on one and not the other; God would be a respecter of persons in this case (Acts 10:34). 6However, the word of God works on both, with no partiality.
(44)
1In relation to the preceding, you stated that Christ provided the Holy Spirit to shed abroad in your heart revelation to live by, and you cited Romans 5:5 ([TGP, Aug. 2023, pg. 19] paragraph 8, sentence 3). 2In an indirect way, and with a correct understanding of the subject, this could be an accurate statement. 3However, you’ve made clear that your position is that the Holy Spirit directly operates on people today, so your statement is just as clear—that you believe the Holy Spirit directly gives you revelation.
(45)
1What I meant in stating that your statement could be accurate in an indirect way is that Romans 5:5 does not state that revelation is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. 2However, it does say that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.” 3What is the love of God? 4John says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). 5This love of God (the keeping of His commandments) was to be known and believed by the world through the apostles’ word (John 17:20). 6The way the apostles would be given that word was through the Holy Spirit whom Christ promised to send them (John 15:26), and they would be guided into all truth (John 16:13). 7We now have the apostles’ word captured in written form that we may be complete, “thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). 8Being that it is clear that it is the apostles’ word we are guided by, did they send the Holy Ghost to operate directly on us? 9Certainly not. 10Do they possess us and operate directly on us themselves? 11Certainly not. 12It is as has been explained. 13The Holy Spirit sheds abroad in our hearts revelation, but in an indirect manner through the apostles as His agents, and again indirectly through their written word which is His agency. 14This will be good to keep in mind in a deep study with the manuscript.
(46)
1In our walk in this life, we’re all, in essence, on a number line. 2We all begin at zero, and we stay at zero so long as we have been taught nothing of the scriptures. 3If we have been taught false doctrine, we go into the negative. 4The deeper we are indoctrinated with false teaching, the deeper into the negatives we go – and the harder it will be to get back to zero. 5However, get back to zero we must, so that we can begin our walk in truth, into the positives. 6Once we are there and begin that walk, striving for truth always, and rejecting all that truth does not authorize (John 17:17), we will reach so high into the positives that nothing can stop us (Rom. 8:38-39). 7We must take heed, though, that we are not descending deeper into the negatives, thinking that we are reaching into the positives. 8Only the word of God can bring us out of such blindness (Rom. 3:4), and only the written word as it stands for us today (1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
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1In all that I have written to you thus far, I am trying to help you see, by the word of God, what your position is, and guide you out of the negatives. 2Putting all teachings on the shelf will bring you to zero. 3At this point, I will begin the explanation of the initial steps shining forth the light into the positive (Ps. 119:105), namely, God’s way of salvation.
(48)
1Because you expressed unbelief in the need to be baptized in order to be saved ([TGP, Aug. 2023, pg. 19] paragraph 8, sentence 5), please consider carefully the following: 2The blood of Christ is the only cleansing agent for our souls—it is what saves us. 3That blood washes away our sins that we might have remission (pardon) of them. 4The question comes, “How do we come into contact with that blood?” 5God’s word makes it absolutely crystal clear that it is at the point of baptism. 6Please observe: (Emphases are mine throughout.)
7Christ’s blood was shed for the remission of sins:
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28).
8Baptism is for the remission of sins:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).
9Again it is shown that baptism is the point at which we come into contact with Christ’s blood:
10Christ’s blood washes away our sins:
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood (Rev. 1:5).
11Baptism is the point at which our sins are washed away:
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).
12God’s word clearly shows us that baptism is the point at which our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ.
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1The word also shows us that we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without being baptized. 2John 3:5 states this with the mention that we must be born of water. 3Further, 2 other passages state the same thing so that we don’t miss the point, stating water first, then the Spirit:
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5).
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized (water) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) (Acts 2:38).
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (water), and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) (Titus 3:5).
4Water and the Spirit are mentioned in each of these passages as baptism that comes first and then the receiving of the non-miraculous measure of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. 5The verses hold perfect harmony with one another, and show that baptism is imperative to our salvation, stating that it is the way we enter the kingdom (John 3:5), the way our sins are remitted (Acts 2:38), and the way He saves us (Titus 3:5). 6So, again, the Bible shows us that baptism is an essential component to our salvation—without it we cannot be saved.
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1A study of Ephesians 1:3 reveals that all spiritual blessings are “in Christ.”
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
2Since all spiritual blessings are in Christ, this means no spiritual blessings are outside of Christ. 3In the same context of our passage, in verse 7, we are told that one of those spiritual blessings that are in Him is the forgiveness of sins.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7).
4So how do we get into Christ? 5How do we get into Him where all spiritual blessings are? 6How do we get into Jesus to have the forgiveness of sins? 7There are only 2 passages in the Bible that tell us explicitly how this is done. 8Paul tells us:
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized INTO Jesus Christ were baptized into his death (Rom. 6:3)?
9Again:
For as many of you as have been baptized INTO Christ have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27).
10The only way into Christ is to be baptized into Him. 11This, according to God, is the only way we can have all spiritual blessings, including the forgiveness of sins.
(51)
1Christ commanded baptism to be performed by people.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19).
2Obedience to His commands is imperative to our goal of heaven.
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say (Luke 6:46)?
3We cannot make it to heaven in disobedience to His command to be baptized, neither can we make it to heaven if we are baptized for any other purpose than that which God has given us, namely, to be saved. 4This was the purpose according to all the previous scriptures quoted. 5Peter explicitly tells us it saves us.
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 3:21).
6Christ Himself explicitly tells us as well.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16).
(52)
1We are told by Paul that God will punish those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
2Since it is clear that we must obey the gospel to make it to heaven, the next question then is, “what is the gospel?” 3Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand (v. 1).
4Here it is; Paul is declaring the gospel. 5Next, he states that it is what saves.
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain (v. 2).
6By keeping it in memory, they can ensure that they will not fall away from the truth that they had obeyed (obviously they had obeyed it, cf. 2 Thess. 1:8), unless they believed in vain – vain belief makes all of their actions void.
For I delivered unto you first of all… (v. 3).
7Paul, here, is about to define the gospel. 8It is what he delivered (preached) unto them.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received… (v. 3).
9Paul had received the gospel (and obeyed it) just as he had stated the Corinthians did in verse 1.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (v. 3).
10Paul relates that the gospel includes, #1, the death of Christ,
And that he was buried… (v. 4).
#2, the burial of Christ,
…and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (v. 4).
and #3, the resurrection of Christ. 11So what we see here is that the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. 12Now Paul told us in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 that if we do not obey the gospel, we are going to hell – it’s just that serious. 13So how do we obey the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? 14Are we expected to literally die, be buried, and literally rise from the dead in order to be obedient to God? 15When something comes to an absurd conclusion when taken literally in the scriptures, many times it is merely in reference to a figure, or form. 16The form of this death, burial, and resurrection that the Corinthians obeyed is the same form of doctrine that Paul delivered to the Romans as well, and they obeyed it.
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you (Rom. 6:17).
17In the context of our passage, we have the form of the gospel spelled out for us.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein (Rom. 6:1-2)?
18Here we see the form of death set forth as being “dead to sin.” 19This is repentance – separating ourselves from sin. 20“Death” is separation. 21When our soul is separated from our body, we are dead physically; when our soul is separated from God, we are dead spiritually. 22Faith without works (separated from works) is a dead faith (James 2:26). 23When we separate from sin, we die to it – we repent. 24So the Romans had died to sin. 25Verse 3 starts,
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (v. 3-4).
26Here we see the second part of that form of the gospel as burial in baptism. 27Christ died a bloody death, and when we are buried in that watery grave of baptism, we contact that saving blood of God.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection (v. 5).
28When we come out of that watery grave, we have resurrected with Christ. 29At that point, we are in Christ.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17).
(53)
1Now, this is quite a bit of evidence to show the essential position of baptism in our salvation. 2However, all of this is not to say that “baptism only” is the way of salvation, for there are other steps of the process. 3Nor is it to say that baptism is the most important of those steps, for they all are equally important. 4So at this point, let us put the way of salvation together…
Conclusion
Through this section of the reply to Mrs. Jackson’s response to the manuscript, it is made abundantly clear that baptism is the point at which we are saved. If understood and done correctly, the Bible teaches that baptism is for the remission of sins—for the pardon of sins. This is because the Bible teaches baptism is the point at which we contact the saving blood of Jesus Christ. The reason He died was so that we could spiritually contact that blood, and God made the way through baptism—any other way is a false, man-made plan of salvation which saves no one. Of course, there are other prerequisites to salvation—it’s not by baptism only.
