Grace Be Forfeited

Technicality?

In a recent issue of Charisma magazine, writer J. Lee Grady stated: "Oneness groups insist people who are not baptized ‘in Jesus’ name’ are not saved — thus implying that the gift of God’s grace can be forfeited on a technicality." This article was primarily about the United Pentecostal Church International. While I have mixed reactions to Grady’s article, I believe this comment is the most pertinent to the faith of the UPCI. It questions not only the UPCI definition of grace, but even more it questions its definition of the Gospel.

HOW DO WE RECEIVE SALVATION

The theological impulse behind the essentiality of baptism in Jesus’ name derives from the belief that, Jesus, being the One God, has the only saving name and that one must apply that saving name to themselves through baptism. Without the name applied through baptism one is not saved. Jesus is, in truth, the One God incarnate. But it is not the issue of the nature of the Godhead that is the real central question. The crucial question is: "How does the UPCI receive salvation?" The answer to this question reveals the UPCI re-interpretation of the biblical Gospel.

Using the right formula in baptism can be essential only if obedience is an essential part of one’s salvation. The UPCI holds that one’s salvation is determined by one’s obedience to a plan God has given. If one follows this particular plan one is saved. If not, one is not saved. First, we must ask what is God’s plan for salvation. Then we must compare the plan identified by the UPCI to see if it is the same as the Gospel of the Bible.

It seems hard for me to believe that anyone can miss the Scriptural teaching that God’s plan is Jesus Christ himself. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). This means that the plan of God is to redeem by Jesus Christ and Him alone. Thus, any other plan, even one presumed from Scripture, to qualify us for what Jesus has done, is dissident with the Gospel. This is true no matter how close the plan simulates or parallels God’s plan in Christ, nor how biblical language and texts are configured to support it.

The teaching of the Apostles is that one is saved by grace through faith in Christ. (Eph 2:8; Gal. 3:6-11; Rom 3:22-28; 4:3-5; 16). Salvation is accomplished by Christ. He gives it to us as a gift — by grace. We receive it by faith. This means we trust that God gives it as a gift. We do not trust to any degree, that we obtain this salvation any other way, but by the sheer mercy of God. We add nothing to it (We couldn’t because we were dead in sin - Eph. 2:1).

GRACE AND FAITH REDEFINED

While the UPCI would agree with this statement on the surface, they redefine both grace and faith. For the essentiality of the name in baptism to make sense, faith has to be redefined in terms of obedience. One is thus saved by his or her obedience to the plan of God (which includes faith or consists of "trust + obedience = faith"). Of course this is distinctly different from the biblical idea of being saved through trusting in and accepting the gift of what God has done to accomplish our salvation. Obedience to the plan focuses on what we do as humans rather than on what God has done as a gift and we receive by faith in Christ alone.

This leads to the next important question: "What defines faith?" What theological, doctrinal, or biblical idea should we look to in order to understand best what the writers of the NT meant by saving faith? I believe that the central idea or truth which defines faith most clearly and unequivocally is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we understand faith in the light of the Gospel we will not be able to redefine faith into obedience in any form or measure. Why? Because the Gospel is that Christ has obtained our salvation through Himself alone and gives it as a gift — by grace — to those who simply trust in Him. This Gospel is an act of grace. Grace must define the nature of our faith. Paul states in Romans 4:16: "Therefore, the promise comes by faith so that it may be by grace,"

Here is a very important truth: GRACE DEFINES FAITH. The nature of the grace of God determines what form of faith we need to receive grace. If it is a gift we cannot get it by obedience. It can only be received. That is what faith does. It is a trust that receives the promise of God’s Word and accepts the work God has done in Jesus Christ for our salvation.

In other words, the reason that God designed salvation to come through faith is so that the emphasis would be on God’s giving and not on human receiving or effort in getting. It is Christ who obtained and not us. It is by faith so that we would know with total certainty that it was something that God gave us — by grace — and not something we obtained by keeping the contractual agreement of salvation. There is tremendous assurance knowing that it is God who keeps us, because He alone saved us while we were yet sinners.

DOES FAITH EQUAL OBEDIENCE?

If faith is redefined to include obedience (even if we call it a plan from God), then the Gospel itself is subverted. It intrudes our effort, accomplishment, and willingness onto the stage of redemption. The biblical Gospel does not place anyone but Christ on this stage. The Bible clearly states that God’s Spirit is to be given the credit for our willingness to believe the Gospel: "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Paul is writing to those who already believe in Christ and are "saints. (1:1)" He is not exhorting them to be saved, but to work out in their daily lives —bring out by personal application — the salvation which God has already by grace given them (cp. 1:6,7, 29).

But, the Bible tells even NT Christians they must obey. How does this fit in? It fits in perfectly. Our obedience is not a requirement to get salvation. It is the result of our salvation. We obey the commands and guidance of Christ because we are grateful for what has and is doing in us. We obey because the Spirit of God is at work in us encouraging us and empowering us to follow the truth of Scripture and the call of Christ. True grace will lead to obedience.

But Grace does not yield or give way to obedience (Gal. 3:25). Grace will never be supplanted by obedience (Gal. 3:1-3). If salvation is a gift, then one cannot obtain it by obedience (Rom. 4:4, 5). Therefore, one cannot obtain salvation by obeying or adhering to any specific formula in baptism Gal 2:16). It is true that the Apostles baptized new believers in Jesus’ name. This is plain in Scripture. But to make the failure to use the name of Christ in baptism, a failure to be saved, is to deny biblical salvation, which is: by grace through faith in Christ. The name used in baptism does reflect the faith one has in Christ. But, one who has believed in Christ has salvation and does not lose this because the one who administers baptism fails to speak the right words. Yes, Christian baptism is worthy of the most sober attention to details because of what it conveys, but this is not because baptism itself saves. It is because of what baptism represents — the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why I as a pastor call the name of Jesus Christ as I baptize believers. Baptism in itself is a visible, tangible "sermon" or declaration of the Gospel.

FORMULA OR FAITH?

The very meaning of the Gospel explains why no baptismal formula can be essential to salvation. It is because we are saved by faith in Christ, and not by obedience to a plan. Making obedience to the right formula of baptism is salvation by adhering to a law. But, we are not saved by a legality or observing all the fine points of a plan. If that were so, we would all be lost. God’s justice demands that we keep more than the precise formula of baptism. We are to fulfill ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. But we cannot. As Paul states in Romans, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

The specific teaching of Galatians is that we cannot be right with God by the keeping of legalities, whether of Old Testament or New Testament origin, whether of Mosaic commandments or Christian ordinances. That is the very reason for Jesus. He was to perfectly obedient one who obeyed, adhered and observed all righteousness for us. As the righteous servant of God He died to take our sins. Even more, He is our righteousness. By faith we possess His righteousness and are by that right with God. How could we then lose all of this by failing to observe the precise baptismal a formula?

Yes, true faith will lead one to be baptized. Baptism must be Christian baptism. It must be observed in a manner that proclaims Jesus Christ as Savior. But if the key to salvation is the technicalities we must follow to obtain it, then the Gospel is no longer a gospel — good news. Instead of the good news of the greatness of God’s grace, we trust in a plan which you and I must follow with legal precision, with perfect observation, in order to "get" the salvation for which Christ alone paid.

IDENTIFICATION OR INCANTATION?

Members of the UPCI would ask at this point, "But, Jesus is the saving name of God. How can we be saved without having the saving name applied in baptism?" It is applied — by faith. By being "in Christ" by faith, we have all the spiritual blessing in heavenly places. The biblical phrase, "In the name of Jesus" is not a magical incantation or mysterious formula. It is a phrase "used to introduce the type, reason or purpose of [a] rite as well as its intention. It means to identify someone of something as belonging to or dedicated to Jesus Christ. One who trusts in Jesus for their salvation thereby belongs to Christ. That is why one is and should be baptized in the name of Jesus.

GIVE NO OFFENSE

The tragic result of teaching that salvation and God’s grace can be defaulted by failure to baptize correctly, is the damage it does to someone’s faith in Christ. If one trusts that they are right with God on the basis of grace through faith in Christ, but then they are told that is not true; rather, it is based on how effectively they have kept baptism, that one is caused to turn from faith in Christ. They are turned to an inward examination of their obedience and thus their self-righteousness. They are encouraged to not just trust Christ alone, but also make sure that they have obeyed all the particulars of a sacrament. How we get salvation now becomes more important than that Christ did it and the trusting of Him for it. This is a teaching that is more closely compatible with Roman Catholicism rather than the Apostle Paul or the New Testament.

When I was an ordained minister of the UPCI (for 20 years) the question often came up about those who died but: 1) were not baptized in Jesus name, or 2) had repented but had not been baptized correctly, or 3) who had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but had not been baptized in Jesus name. I have heard a confusion of answers to these questions. None of them had a clear, solid biblical answer. Some tritely said they were lost. Others said they would make it to heaven as friends or servants of the "Bride" (the true Church made up of those who were baptized in Jesus/ name). Others said that there would be a "righteous earth" for those who were good Christian that had not obeyed Acts 2:38 (which include being baptized correctly in Jesus’ name). I honestly tried to give a good answer, but found myself a left with saying, "God is judge. He will do what is merciful and right. All we can do is obey what we know and let God be the judge." This was not much of a gospel. It was not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nothing can be more serious or dangerous than to use baptism as a means for denying or disregarding one’s salvation. If Christ does indeed justify - make right with God - those who simply trust in Him alone, then those who deny this are in the fearsome danger of denying God’s Word, frustrating God’s grace, and preaching another gospel, which is not another.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:6-8 NIV)

Jesus gave one his strongest rebukes to those who would "offend" (skandalidzo = cause to stumble or trip up) those who believe in him with the faith of a child:

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:2-6 NIV)

Jesus called all to come to him as a little child. Those who come in humility and believe in him are to be received as Christ himself. But those who do not receive these are in danger of an offense which will incur the judgment of God.

The Gospel of Christ is not a gospel of salvation by scrupulosity, precision in the keeping of sacraments, or flawless correctness (Rom 3:20). Jesus Christ has redeem us from that and all other law-keeping (Gal 3:13, 14; Col. 2:13, 14). It is a Gospel free from "legalese" and fine print (Gal 5:1; Col 2:20-23). It is a Gospel purposely overflowing with grace — a Gospel FULL of Grace and Truth.

LINKS TO ADDITIONAL PERTINENT ARTICLES

Hearts Purified By Faith

How Did Paul 'Wash Away' His Sins?

Does Christ or Baptism Save You?