The following articles are related to the topic of SALVATION

Was Cornelius Saved Without Baptism?

"Was Cornelius, the Roman centurion of Acts chapter ten, saved before and without baptism?" Some so claim. They reason in this fashion: Cornelius received the Holy Spirit prior to being baptized (Acts 10:44-48). But only a child of God receives the Holy Spirit. Thus, Cornelius was a child of God before his baptism. The argument is invalid for several reasons: ... read more »

The Church Is the Saved

Dispensationalists allege that it was wholly unknown in Old Testament times, i.e., the prophets never spoke of it, and that it was merely introduced as a sort of "interim measure" after the Jews rejected Christ, and God's plan to establish the "kingdom" had to be postponed. A more erroneous view could not be imagined. This concept of the church is ... read more »

But Were They Really Saved?

The issue of whether a child of God can ever lose his salvation is one of the truly controversial topics within the community of "Christendom." Frequently when the subject is broached, tempers flare and emotional reactions abound. But the issue is serious, and it calls for calm, serious study. The idea that the believer in Christ is "eternally secure," is ... read more »

1 Corinthians 3:15 – Saved through Fire

Augustine - and after him John Calvin - taught the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, i.e., the notion that a child of God can never so sin as to be finally lost. One of the passages that is supposed to support this notion is 1 Corinthians 3:15. There Paul says: "If any man's work shall be burned, he ... read more »

Will Only “Your Bunch” Be Saved?

The question that constitutes the title of this article was submitted recently to this writer. It is an inquiry that is not infrequently posed by those who deny the exclusive nature of the Christian system.Perhaps any person who ponders this question could discern the answer for himself - with just a friendly nudge. Questions for Personal Reflection Do you believe ... read more »

What Must I Know To Be Saved?

Three times in the book of Acts the question is posed concerning what one must "do" to be saved. The Jews, on the day of Pentecost, framed the question (Acts 2:37), as did Saul of Tarsus en route to Damascus (22:10; cf. 9:6). The jailor in Philippi likewise inquired about this crucial issue (16:30). This is a tremendously important question ... read more »

The Word-tenses of Salvation

When many people hear the term "salvation," they immediately think of something that occurred in their past. Many Protestants believe that salvation was received the instant they expressed a genuine faith in Christ as their personal Savior, and that it never can be forfeited. As we shall notice, these ideas are not accurate. Let us consider several passages that speak ... read more »

Salvation Is from the Jews

No Christian can be anti-Semitic toward the Jews. Christ was a Jew, and that by divine intent. In a conversation with a Samaritan woman, Jesus declared: "[S]alvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22). The focus, of course, was upon his personal identity as the Messiah (vv. 25-26). All people are indebted to the Hebrew nation for the Savior. Christians are ... read more »

The Hope of Our Salvation

In describing the metaphorical armor with which the Christian is to fortify himself, one of the items listed by Paul is the "helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:17). The term "helmet" is derived from a compound Greek term conveying the idea of "around the head." The imagery appears to be borrowed from Isaiah 59:17, where it is applied to Jehovah, a ... read more »

Acts 10 & 11 – Was Cornelius Saved before Being Baptized?

Was Cornelius, the Roman centurion, saved before and without baptism? Some so claim. They reason in this fashion: Cornelius received the Holy Spirit prior to being baptized (Acts 10:44-48). But only a child of God receives the Holy Spirit. Thus, Cornelius was a child of God before his baptism. The argument is invalid for several reasons. First, Cornelius' reception of ... read more »