Faith Essential Pt 3

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Part Three

Adding Something to ‘Faith Alone’

On the other hand, if the UPCI teachers claim that the type of faith they use in obeying Acts 2:38 is the only true, saving faith, then they have a more disturbing problem. That is, they add doing certain things to trusting what Christ alone has done in order to be saved. They add repentance [as split away from saving faith],¹ water baptism by only one formula, seeking Spirit-baptism (with all the Pentecostal conditions), and speaking in tongues as proof of Spirit-baptism, to trusting in Christ.² These certain things, as the UPCI defines them, must be done in order for one to receive salvation. In this way the elements of Acts 2:38 function as works. This, the Apostle Paul, and the New Testament writers, unyieldingly maintain as unacceptable and against the Gospel of Christ:

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:2-8 KJV)

It does not matter what one adds to faith. It could be something as necessary as baptism. It could be the conditions for seeking Spirit filling. It may be spiritual gifts. It could be the ethical practices which all Christians are called to follow. Whatever it may be, anything beyond believing God is a working for a reward out of debt, rather than out of grace. Paul contrasts this with the nature of the Gospel, which is the blessing of forgiveness and the imputation of righteousness solely on the basis of faith.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:16-20 KJV)

The emphasis by Paul in this passage on faith as trust is overwhelming. As sinners we cannot add anything to the finished work of Christ. That would make us greater transgressors. We are dead to law keeping in any form. Our relationship with God is solely on the basis of faith in the Son of God. Salvation by any form of obedience or law keeping is made void by Paul on this basis.

The rest of this chapter can be purchased in the book Faith is the Essential Response to Acts 2:38