Some Denominational Concepts on Salvation
Denominationalism is man’s way and thus it is wrong, Mark 7:7. Jesus condemned Denominationalism, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 7:15. There are so many different aspects of Denominationalism. However, in this short study we want to look at the concept of “accepting Christ” as it relates to salvation. The book of Acts gives us the examples of conversion in the New Testament. When one reads the book of Acts not one time in the book was any lost person ever told to “accept Christ” and as a result of that action they would be saved. Read for yourself these examples, Acts 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 22, and 26.
Recently I was listening to a man on the radio talking about the salvation of his daughter. He was so proud that his six year old daughter had “accepted Jesus” into her heart.
Consider this statement. Was this six year old girl lost and on her way to the fires of hell before her “accepting Jesus”? If so what caused her to be lost? Romans 7:9 teaches that before one sins there is no need for forgiveness. Which of the sins listed in Galatians 5:19-21, I Corinthians 6:9-11 and Colossians 3:5-17was this six year old girl guilty of? Many in the Denominational world teach the doctrine of original sin. The Bible clearly teaches sin is something one commits and that it is not inherited, I John 3:4, Ezekiel 18:20.
One must be dead spiritually before they can be born again, Romans 7:7-9,Romans 6:1-6, John 3:3-5. The Bible teaches that sin is the reason for one seeking salvation. Where there is no sin there is no need of salvation. To many in the Denominational world no act of forgiveness is required for salvation just “accept Jesus” and you will find salvation. The Bible teaches there must be an awareness of sin and that one must seek salvation. Romans 6 teaches man’s awareness of sin and his desire not to life in it any longer. He then obeys from the heart that form of doctrine, Romans 6:17 and thus in Romans 6:18 he is “made free from sin.” This is done by obeying the gospel of Christ, Romans 1:16, II Thessalonians 1:7-9, Romans 10:14-16.
In Romans 6:1-23 Paul teaches that one recognizes he is a sinner and desires not to live in sin any longer and he must die to the practice of sin. Then he must be burried “with him by baptism into death”. Christ shed his blood in His death and we reach His blood in our obedience to the gospel which is faith, repentance, confessing His name and baptism for the remission of sins. The Denominational concept of salvation by “accepting Jesus” teaches salvation without forgiveness of sins . Through our obedience to the Gospel of Christ we find forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus. No one has ever, or will ever, reach the forgiveness found in the blood of Jesus through “accepting Jesus”.