Salvation Issues?
Joe R. Price

Like Peter sinking in the sea, sinners cry out, “Lord, save me!” (Matt. 14:30) And, because Jesus came to “seek and save the lost,” we are confident He saves all who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 22:16). Salvation is obtained “through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9).

While Jesus saves those who call on His name, we are not without responsibility to save ourselves (Acts 2:40). We call on Him for salvation from our past sins by believing and obeying the gospel (which includes confession of faith, repentance, and baptism, Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:37-38, 40-41).

We know the remission of sins is a salvation issue (Lk. 1:77). But, what about all the other teachings in “the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col. 1:5)? Does all the teaching of the gospel of the kingdom impact our salvation? Are we on our own to figure out what issue affects our salvation and which does not? Do the Scriptures guide us on this matter?

Yes, the Scriptures give clear guidance on this subject. We discover that all of the gospel’s truth impacts our salvation in Christ (Jno. 17:17; 8:31-32). To accept variations of the apostolic gospel corrupts the nature of the gospel and the souls captured by the error (Gal. 1:6-10). If you do not believe this is true, then please inform us what New Testament teaching(s) we may change (pervert, v. 7) without producing a different gospel leading to being cursed by God (v. 8-9). The Scriptures teach us matters that God reveals as indifferent to Him are not salvation issues. Romans 14 explains this while charging us not to bind things God has not bound (Rom. 14:1-5, 13).

Circumcision serves as a perfect illustration of turning something into a salvation issue when the gospel does not say it is. Paul applied the warning of condemnation to those who were binding circumcision for salvation on Gentiles (Gal. 1:6-9; 5:1-4). Paul would not yield to that error; therefore, Titus was not circumcised (Gal. 2:1-5). Yet, on a different occasion, to avoid becoming a stumbling block to the gospel’s progress, Paul had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:1-3). Allowed, but not required.

The Scriptures show circumcision to be a matter of indifference to God that was not (is not) forced on others.

Where God has revealed a “pattern of sound words,” we are to submit to it in faith, not take from it, add to it, or otherwise alter it (2 Tim. 1:13).

We cannot let others distort following the pattern of God for our lives and the local church. Consider these examples of issues that impact salvation.

1) Faithful endurance is a salvation issue (Matt. 10:21-22). Our eternal salvation is affected by whether we endure to the end. The impossibility of apostasy is patently false (1 Tim. 4:1; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 3:12-13; 4:11; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). We keep having fellowship with God when we “walk in the light,” which means we “practice the truth” (1 Jno. 1:6-7). Faithfully living is a salvation issue.

2) Faithful marriage, ending marriage, and remarriages are salvation issues (Matt. 5:32; 19:9; Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-11). Jesus said to put away one’s wife for “any reason except sexual immorality (fornication) causes her to commit adultery.” Why one puts away a spouse is a salvation issue. And “whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” Whom you marry (or remarry) is a salvation issue. Thus, Christ commands, “what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:6). Marriage, divorce, and remarriage are salvation issues.

3) The organization and work of a local church are salvation issues (Acts 14:22; Tit. 1:5; Heb. 13:17; Heb. 4:11-12). We are not free to arrange God’s house as we please, but as He pleases. Even the physical tabernacle (and later, the temple) was built and arranged according to a divine pattern (Exo. 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8). Even so, a divine pattern exists for the organization of churches of Christ. His arrangement of leaders in the local church sufficiently oversees the saints and directs the church’s God-given work. Elders watch for our souls as they oversee the local church’s work (1 Pet. 5:2-4). We benefit from obeying them (Heb. 13:17). The local church’s organization and work are salvation issues. 

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