The Gospel of the Grace of God vs the church of christ

Here is a critique of the 'church of christ' baptismal regeneration heresy. My critique is in bold.

Answering Arguments Against Baptism by Dan Gatlin 

Brethren have long pointed out that “preaching Jesus” means preaching baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 8:35-36). Paul warned the Corinthians that when “we preach Christ crucified” some would stumble and others would consider it foolishness (I Corinthians 1:22-23). While many in the denominational world agree that belief (John 8:24), repentance (Acts 17:30-31), and confession (Romans10:9) are necessary for the forgiveness of sins, they still stumble and consider it foolishness when baptism is preached. 

[Repentance is simply a change of mind and is not a separate act from trusting (faith) Christ and His finished work (death/burial/resurrection) to take away your sins. When someone believes that Christ died for his/her sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, that person has 'repented'. Repentance and faith are not separate actions. 

Public, audible, verbal confession before men is not a requirement for salvation  under Grace. The context of Romans 10:9 is the mouth of your heart, not your head. (see verses 1 and 6). 

The Bible teaches that in the Dispensation of Grace a sinner is saved and sealed the moment he/she trusts Christ believing the gospel, which is His sacrificial death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:13). ]  

Much time, energy, and imagination has gone into making the Bible not say what it clearly does. Men have twisted scripture and sound reasoning to defend human tradition. We will consider some common arguments made against baptism, and how we might respond to them. These are in no particular order.

“Baptism is a work, and we’re not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).”

There are many ways to respond to this. First, consider the context Ephesians 2. Most will stop reading at verse 9, but consider what verse 10 says: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” To the sectarian mind this poses a contradiction. Verse 9 says that salvation is “not of works,” while verse 10 says that we were “created . . . for good works.” Obviously, there are two different kinds of works under discussion. Verse 9 is referring to meritorious works while verse 10 has in mind the works of God. All “works” are not the same.

Second, most believe that salvation is by faith only. But the only place where the phrase “faith only” is found is James 2:24: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” Does James contradict Paul? No, each is dealing with an opposite extreme. The fact is that both teach the same thing from different views. 

[First of all, Mr. Gatlin is not using a Bible, he is using a modern perversion of the word of God. The King James Bible is the only complete, inerrant, inspired, preserved, and infallible copy of the Holy Scriptures in the English language. 

Second, Ephesians 2:8-10 plainly states that salvation is by grace through and that not of ourselves it is the gift of God not of WORKS lest any man should boast. It says "works", any kind of works! No works of any kind are required to receive a GIFT ("free gift"--Rom. 5:15-18). Verse 10 says that we are saved UNTO good works, not that we are saved by or with good works. Salvation comes without works, man cannot even please God with his works if he is not saved (Rom. 8:8). The good works are something we are saved unto, to serve God after we are saved...not in order to get saved.

No works of any kind are required for salvation under Grace.

"Not of works" (Eph. 2:9)

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith" (Rom. 3:27)

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth" (Rom. 4:5)

"they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8:8)

"a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law" (Gal. 2:16)

"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:2-3)

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works" (2 Tim. 1:9)

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5)

The quotation from James is written to the 12 tribes of Israel in the last days (James 1:1, 5:3), it has nothing to do with the Dispensation of Grace (Eph. 3:1-9, Rom. 11:25). Paul and James DO CONTRADICT if you make them refer to the same people under the same dispensation.]

Third, the view that we’re saved by faith and not by works is contradicted by Jesus in John 6:28-29: “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” Logically, if we are not saved by works, then we cannot be saved by faith, for Jesus says that faith (belief) is a work. 

[Faith is a work? Ha! We just read "through faith...not of works", "but to him that worketh not, but believeth", "or works? Nay...of faith", etc. So obviously faith is not a work. All 'church of christ' infidels take John 6:29 out of context, the context is the Lord answering the Pharisees with their own terminology ("works of God"), not Christ declaring faith to be a work.]

“If what you are saying about baptism is true, then my dear, departed grandmother is lost.”

This is actually not an argument since it does not deal with any points of Scripture. A good response might be to ask a series of questions.
(1) “Was your grandmother an honest, sincere person?” (Hint: everybody answers “yes.”)
(2) “If she understood what you now understand, would she have obeyed?”
(3) “What do you think she would want you to do (Lk. 16:28)?”
(4) “Will your rejection of the Scriptures change what is true and save her?” 

[That is crazy, nobody uses their grandma as an argument.]

“The Bible says that we’re saved by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 9:13-14; I Peter 1:18-19), not by water”

This is a false dichotomy. The assumptions is that we are saved by one or the other, but not by both. Calvinism teaches that salvation is solely a work of God, and that man has no part. That presupposition is reflected in this argument. In fact, the blood of Christ is what God has provided, but God expects us to choose salvation and meet His righteous conditions. “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21). We are saved by the blood of Christ, but access to His blood is through obedience to the gospel. 

[What does 1 Peter 3:21 have to do with water baptism washing away sins? "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" means what it says, water baptism does not wash away sins. Water baptism was the answer of a good conscience toward God, and besides, lost people do not have a good conscience toward God to answer Him with (Titus 1:15-16). By the way, the figure of Noah's ark means that you do not have to get in water to be saved! Noah did not get wet, he was out of the water!

By the way, when the Bible says to "obey the gospel" it is not referring to WORKS....obeying the gospel is defined as believing the gospel! 

Acts 16:31...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...(Acts 16:31)

Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? ] 

“Mark 16:16 doesn’t say, ‘but he who does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned.’ Therefore, belief is the only thing necessary for salvation.”

First, there is a logical progression to the order given by Jesus. One will not (and cannot) be baptized if is there is no belief. “Baptism” without belief is simply dipping in water, and is of no religious significance (Romans 10:10; I Peter 3:21). 

[What do you mean people will not get baptized if they don't believe? I know plenty of people that got dunked in water when they didn't really believe the gospel and so they later got re-baptized after they believed.]

Second, the fallacy of this argument can be easily shown with an illustration like this: “He who boards the plane and takes the flight will be in Phoenix, but he who does not board the plane will be left behind.” Does it need to be said, “and does not take the flight” for the message to be clear? If one does not board the plane, then one cannot take the flight. Likewise, if one does not believe, then one cannot be scripturally baptized. Further, if we follow our objector’s reasoning to its logical conclusion, then the moment we have boarded the plane we are in Phoenix (whether we’ve taken the flight or not). 

[Second, the fallacy of this argument can be easily shown with an illustration like this: "He who puts on his shoes and socks shall get to the park, but he that does not put on his shoes will stay home." You can get to the park without wearing socks, shoes are all that is needful. Do you see how anyone can set up an illustration and anti-illustration in order to "prove" something? Which is why illustrations are not real points, only the scriptures.

The truth is, he that believes and does anything will be saved. He who believes and jumps on a pogo stick will be saved...why? Because he BELIEVED. Christ already said how to be saved by the gospel (the gospel of the Kingdom that is) in Mark chapter 1:15, "repent ye, and believe the gospel". Baptism is not included. ] 

Third, we must focus on what Jesus is saying. Is He saying, “He who believes and is saved will be baptized,” or “He who is baptized and saved will believe,” or “He who believes and is baptized will be saved”? Let’s let the text speak for itself. 

[Agreed. It says what it says, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...but he that believeth not shall be damned,]

“Paul said that Christ didn’t send him to baptize (I Corinthians 1:17), therefore, baptism is not essential to salvation.”

The key to properly understanding I Corinthians 1:17 is to recognize that this is a “not . . . but” passage. In this kind of passage, the “not” part of the verse is de-emphasized in order to emphasize the “but” portion. However, we shouldn’t necessarily come to the conclusion that the “not” statement is a prohibition. Consider John 6:27, which has the same “not . . . but” construction: “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life. . .” Jesus is not telling His disciples not to work, as this would contradict passages such as Ephesians 4:28; I Thessalonians 4:11; II Thessalonians 3:10; etc. He is emphasizing “the food which endures to everlasting life” as being far more important than “the food which perishes.” The same thing is found in Matthew 10:20 when Jesus gave instructions to His disciples as they preached to Israel: “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” The disciples did do the physical speaking, but they were simply the instrument of the Spirit who was speaking through them. The Spirit is emphasized as the source of their words. When Paul says that “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,” he is neither prohibiting nor undervaluing the importance of baptism. He is simply pointing out that his primary duty was to preach. Those who were converted and baptized were part of the “increase” given by God (I Corinthians 3:7). 

[Wow, most of that has nothing to do with anything.

1 Corinthians 1:

[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
[16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
[19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
[20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
[21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 

Christ sent Paul NOT to baptize, but to preach the gospel which saves those that believe. The text plainly says that Paul was not sent by Christ to baptize, however he was sent to preach the gospel.]  

“The thief on the cross wasn’t baptized, and he was saved.”

Baptism for the remission of sins did not begin until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37-38), so the thief (and Jesus) lived under the law of Moses. Paul is very clear on when the law of Moses came to an end, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). Since baptism was not a requirement for salvation under Moses, it was not necessary for the thief. 

[Dan Gatlin is a liar like his father (John 8:44). Water baptism for the remission of sins began in the Old Testament (Num. 19, Ps. 51:7) and was part of the ministry of John the Baptist (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3). 

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  

Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

The thief was saved after the blood of the New Testament was shed and he died under the New Testament (John 19:32-33, Heb. 9:16, Luke 23:42-43). 

But what is Gatlin saying? That salvation in the OT was by grace through faith without works but now it is by water baptism? There was only one way of salvation in the Gospel records (John 10:1-10, 14:6).]

“Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace.”

This is another way of saying we should be baptized because our sins are already forgiven. But the Bible nowhere teaches salvation before baptism. 

[Gatlin doesn't know the Bible very well at all, Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (inward grace), and our bodies washed with pure water (outward sign).]

"The 'for' in Acts 2:38 means 'because of'"

Many have attempted to twist Acts 2:38 (“Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. . .”) by saying that “for” (eis, in Greek) means “because of” rather than “in order to.” While a study of original language is very profitable in this instance, most Christians are not prepared to argue from the Greek. A better response might be to note that Matthew 26:28 has the same grammatical construction as Acts 2:38. Jesus said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). If eis means “because of” in Acts, then it also means “because of” in Matthew. And, if that’s the case, Jesus is saying that His blood would be shed because man’s sins have already been forgiven (i.e. the blood of Christ is not necessary for forgiveness). Of course, those who make this argument are not willing to follow it to it’s logical conclusion.

That baptism is the point at which salvation comes is made clear in many passages.

[Who said anything about "for" and "eis" in Greek? The word FOR means "because of" in the ENGLISH KING JAMES BIBLE!

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Mark 1:

[40] And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
[41] And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
[42] And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
[43] And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
[44] And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.  (BECAUSE OF his cleansing, not in order to obtain a cleansing!)

The "sins" in Acts 2:38 is a reference to the crucifying of Christ (see context) of which they were already forgiven (Luke 23:34). 

By the way, when Jesus said "which is shed for many for the remission of sins" that "for" does mean "because of". In the context Jesus said "IS shed" in the present tense, if He had of said "which will be shed" then yes,  the "for" would mean "in order to obtain". 

I would like to know, when Mr. Gatlin goes to the doctor for a headache, is he going to the doctor in order to obtain a headache or because of a headache?  

He needs to look up the word "for" in a dictionary, Webster's 1828 says "because".  

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

“There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism . . . ” (I Peter 3:21).
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved . . . ” (Mark 16:16).

“New Testament baptism (Acts 2:38) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) are the same.”

(That is obviously not true, if words mean anything.)

While there are many different baptisms mentioned in the New Testament, there is only one (Ephesians 4:5) that is required today, and it is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. First, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a promise not a command. Notice the words of Jesus: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The parallel to this is found in Acts 1:4-5, “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” One obeys a command, not a promise. 

[What a mess.

The baptism with the Holy Ghost was for power (Acts 1-2) to perform signs and a way that God took complete control over the one who was baptized.

However, the "one baptism" of Ephesians 4:5 is baptism into Christ. The context of Ephesians 4:5 is our "calling" which has nothing to do with out works (2 Tim. 1:9) and the "one baptism" is part of the "UNITY OF THE SPIRIT"--therefore all of the 7 components of it are SPIRITUAL. 

Baptism into Christ by the Holy Spirit (which is neither a 'promise' nor a 'command' but rather an action of God that puts the believer into Christ)

1 Corinthians 6:

[15] Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
[16] What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
[17] But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.  

1 Corinthians 12:

[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[14] For the body is not one member, but many.
[15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
[18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 

Colossians 2:

[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Romans 6:3-5, Galatians 3:26-28, Colosians 2:10-12, 1 Corinthians 12:12-18, and Ephesians 4:5 are clearly referring to the baptism into Christ (performed by the Spirit of God), not a baptism with water.] 

Second, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is recorded only twice, in Acts 2 and 10. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he recounted the conversion of Cornelius to the rest of the church. In Acts 11:15, he said, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.” Many would like to change the phrase “at the beginning” to “from the beginning.” That small change would indicate that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred continually throughout the entire period. But, alas, the text says what it says. 

[What does Acts 11:15 have to do with how many times people were baptized with the Holy Ghost? Read Acts 8:14-17 and 19:6 and you will see people being baptized with the Holy Ghost.] 

In the end, when all of man’s arguments are put forth the New Testament still teaches that we must be baptized to be saved. And, many still stumble at the preaching of Jesus.

[Really?

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:

[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 12:35-36 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Ephesians 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Luke 5:20  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Acts 15:
[7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
[8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
[9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Romans 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 3:20 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Romans 4:
[11] And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
[12] And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
[13] For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
[14] For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
[15] Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
[16] Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Galatians 2:
[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
[18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
[19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:
[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

--Eli Caldwell