Jess Whitlock
Paul wrote: “For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory” (Eph. 2:8-9). If the Gospel of Christ does not have Good News for all, then it is not Good News at all. You can read Ephesians 2:8-9 in any translation of the Bible and rest assured you will not see the word only or alone in this writing of Paul, not one time! The reason is that the doctrine of salvation by faith only cannot be found in God’s Word! Mr. Webster defines alone as: “…exclusive of anyone or anything else: only” and the word “only” as: “…alone in its class…a single fact or instance and nothing more…” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, p. 73, 825).
Those religions that teach salvation can be obtained by “faith alone” do not believe their own theology. Most of those religious groups teach that one must repent of sin (Luke 13:3-5; Acts 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9). If one needs to have faith and repent of sin, then it is not “faith only.” The majority of those who advocate that “faith alone” obtains salvation, insist that one must confess Christ as Lord (Matt. 10:32-33; John 8:24; Acts 8:36-ff; Rom. 10:9-10). If one needs to make the good confession (1 Tim. 6:12-13) and repent of their sins, then obviously, salvation cannot be by “faith alone” or “faith only.”
How were the Christians in Ephesus saved by grace through faith? Notice please, we did not say by faith alone or only!
They heard the Word and believed; “in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13). “What the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of His might” (Eph 1:19).
They repented of their evil deeds: “Many also of them that had believed, came confessing, and declaring their deeds. And not a few of them that practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed” (Acts 19:18-20).
They were baptized in the name of the Lord: “When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).
Paul writes to the brethren in Ephesus saying, “But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). The apostle mentioned the importance of being “in Christ” 83 times in his writings. He does so ten times in the book of Ephesians (1:1, 3, 10, 12, 20; 2:6,10,13; 3:6,11). The question now becomes “how does one get into Christ?” Since Paul used the expression “in Christ” so frequently then surely he can tell us how one can get into Christ: “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3). “For ye are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). Paul did make mention of “faith in Christ” but made no mention of “faith only.”
Ananias, a devout man had said to Saul of Tarsus: “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). There is only “one baptism” today (Eph. 4:5). Now, the question becomes “Why do you tarry?”
“Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10).
