Soteriology is
the theological study pertaining to the
doctrine of human salvation through Jesus Christ. A pertinent and
timely
question that should be of universal interest is presented in the title
of this
writing. It is one that has been researched and studied, discussed and
debated
over the past several hundred years. Conclusions drawn will help direct
the
precious soul, desperately in need of the Savior, down the broad way
unto
destruction or in the straight and narrow way unto life eternal
(Matthew
7:13-14).
There are
those, having been influenced by the
theological persuasions of men like Augustine, Martin Luther and John
Calvin
who have advocated the position that man contributes absolutely nothing
whatsoever to his salvation. With this line of reasoning it naturally
follows,
then, that baptism (which involves action on the part of the sinner) is
not a
contributing factor.
Salvation is
spoken of in Holy Scripture as being a
gift from God to man, and obviously one that is undeserved. We come to
learn,
then, that God has acted with gracious benevolence and overwhelming
love in
providing the very means for our redemption and reconciliation, a
Savior which
is Jesus Christ, the Lord (cf. Luke 2:10). It logically follows, too,
since
salvation is a “gift” it is unearned, and it is supposed the recipient
doesn’t
need to do anything to qualify to receive it.
In the past,
there have been those who have tried to
bolster their position by using the analogy of a man climbing a ladder.
It has
been asked: “Can a dead man climb a ladder?” The logical answer is
“no,” and so
therefore it is presumed that neither can a spiritually dead man climb
a ladder
(to heaven).
First, God has
not asked any of us to “climb a ladder”
to heaven as there is no physical, or “spiritual ladder,” for that
matter, to
that grand destination for those who walk with God by faith. Secondly,
God
doesn’t take spiritually dead men to heaven via a ladder or otherwise.
All need
regeneration and renewal that is made possible through the Holy
Spirit’s
message. Can a dead man see the glory of God or hear the praises of him
that
ring through the universe (Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 6:3)? Can dead men know
that
God exists (Hebrews 11:6)? Can dead men know something about the
goodness of
God that leads men unto repentance? Can dead men hear the evidence and
testimony that God has given to prove Jesus of Nazareth, born of the
virgin,
Mary, is truly his “only begotten Son”? If it is possible for a dead
man (spiritually
speaking) to know God exists, that God is good and full of grace and
truth, and
that he sent Jesus to redeem him and bless him in turning him from his
sins and
iniquities, why could not that same dead man respond by faith to
heaven’s call
of the Gospel just like the lost sinners did whose actions are recorded
by Luke
in Acts 2? They were commanded by our Lord’s apostle to “repent and be
baptized” so that they could have their sins washed away by the blood
of Jesus
Christ. If Noah had failed to get in the ark, he would have been
destroyed by
the deluge. If these had failed to get into the water and submit to
heaven’s
ordinance of baptism, they too, would have been destroyed, but by fire
(1 Peter
3:21).
Is it possible
for an unregenerate, non-Christian man
to seek after God? There is a segment of the population who would
answer with a
resounding, “No” response. But, what does God’s Word say? (Should God’s
Word be
pushed aside so one may not get confused with his own system of
theology and
human reasoning? Sometimes those who preach the Word of God are charged
with
“confusing” people because of the contradictions of their system of
faith with
the faith revealed from heaven.)
God reveals the
following through Solomon: “I love them
that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs
8:17). Here
God indicates that the timing of one’s pursuit has something to do with
its
successful outcome.
Next, Jesus
addressed a great multitude in his Sermon
on the Mount, and exhorted his audience who were not as yet in the
kingdom of
heaven to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”
(Matthew
6:33). Those, who were outside, were taught to make it their preeminent
priority to find God’s way of making men righteous and enter the
heavenly kingdom.
Then, Paul, the
Lord’s messenger, preached that all
nations of men “should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after
him, and
find him, though he be not far from every one of us” (Acts 17:27). This
was
spoken (remember, by the Lord’s messenger) to the idolatrous and
profligate
Athenians who were as dead as they could possibly be in their sins and
iniquities. Paul further taught them that God, the Father in heaven,
calls upon
all men everywhere to repent (not just those perceived by John Calvin
to be of
the “elect”) (Acts 17:30-31).
Finally, the
Lord’s apostle, Peter, proclaimed the
Gospel to thousands present on the feast day of Pentecost (Acts 2). To
men and
women who were dead in their trespasses and sins, having been guilty of
crucifying the sinless Son of God, Peter exhorted them to “Save
yourselves from
this untoward generation (Acts 2:40).
In no instance
spoken by God’s divine messenger were
lost sinners told to be patient, pray and wait for the coming of the
Holy
Spirit to give one an inexplicable experience (mysterious good
feeling), or
through a direct operation convict and convert the wayward sinner.
God’s Word teaches man to “call upon
the name of the
Lord” (Romans 10:13). This idea has been confused by religious
teachers;
however, it is used here to show man contributing or doing something in
response to God’s offer of gracious pardon. Ephesians 2:8 teaches we
are saved
by grace through faith. We are not saved by grace only, nor by faith
only;
salvation takes both: God’s part and ours. Salvation is not forced upon
any of
us.
