Baptism for Remission of Sins
Baptism for the remission of sins was preached and practiced by John, the forerunners of Jesus. “John did baptize in the wilderness ad preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (Mark i:4.)
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Blood of Christ Cleanses from All Sin
The remission of sins is given in baptism to those who believe and repent, but comes through the atonement wrought out by Jesus Christ. “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. Ix:22.) The blood of Christ answers for the blood of the sinner who complies with the conditions required in Christ’s Gospel. The benefits of that atonement are offered to all to whom the Gospel is preached, but are obtained only by those who render obedience to it. (Charles W. Penrose, Rays of Living Life: Repentance and Baptism, pp. 5, 6)
Faith Leads to Knowledge
The true religion contains the true faith. It is the one thing needful. It is the one way of salvation. To know the only living and true God and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent, is to gain eternal life. (John xvii:3.) Living faith is the starting point in the path to that knowledge. While it has existed in a small degree, and has been exercised occasionally and in a limited manner during the centuries that have passed since the Apostolic age, the faith “once delivered to the Saints” has faded almost out of active life, even among professing Christians, whose minds have been blinded by the traditions of men and the dogmas and theories of human invention. While good men and women have served God, and sought after him to the best of their ability, through the long night of darkness which has intervened from the days of divine revelation down to the present century, they have not been able to find that “closer walk with God” and exercise that mighty faith enjoyed in ancient times and which is essential to the true religion. Thank God! that faith has been restored to earth, and through its divine communication is once more opened up, man may commune again with his Maker, and all the blessings obtained at any time thereby may now be received by the obedient sons and daughters of God. (Charles W. Penrose, Rays of Living Light: Faith, pp. 6-7)
St. Paul’s Testimony
The Apostle Paul is generally cited as the great preacher of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. But that he is misunderstood on that subject is evident form his epistle to the Romans, in which, while he proclaims the doctrine of justification by faith, he also affirms emphatically the necessity of good works as the fruit of faith; as for instance: “Who will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every sou of men that doeth evil, of the Jews first, and also of the Gentile. But glory, honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. For there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans ii:6-11.)
Justification by Faith
It is to this very epistle that the advocates of salvation by faith alone chiefly refer when seeking support for their irrational theory, and they quote: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans v:1.) Also, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith.” (Chap. Iii:27.) But they neglect to add what follows, “Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (verse 28). The tenor of the whole epistle is to the effect that the law of Moses is insufficient; that “Therefore y the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (verse 20). Thus justification and redemption comes through the atonement made by Christ, and that faith in him which includes belief in his teachings and obedience to his commands, is the one way of salvation.
Another quotation common with the disciples of the faith alone doctrine is this: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans x:9.) But here again they omit the following verse: “For with the heart man believed unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Verse 10.)
The Faith That Saves
This is the key of the whole matter. The faith that saves is the faith that leads to obedience, which is “better than sacrifice;” that obedience must be given to “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Belief, prayer, devotional exercises of themselves, will not prepare man for the presence and society of his Maker. To dwell with him, man must be assimilated to his likeness. This can be effected only by compliance with his commands. Man’s future will be determined by his present course. In the glorious vision given to John the Beloved, we find this: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev. xx:12.) (Charles W. Penrose, Rays of Living Light: Faith and Works, pp. 6-7)