Having Done All, Stand. Eph 6:13

This will be a multi-part post. I don't know if it will be one after the other as I have to finish the end. I started writing this about a year ago after a discussion with a friend. It was about spiritual gifts. The discussion broke down when we got to the part where you will have the gift of tongues if you are saved...as proof that you are saved. What follows is from a short paper I started writing as a result.

First, let me say that this is not an attempt to “convert” anyone to my way of thinking. It is an attempt to understand differing views on salvation and the signs of salvation as they bear on eternity.
Second, I began writing this as a way to educate myself. I am not one given to apologetics in general, but it is important that one be able to defend one’s beliefs. If you can’t defend what you believe, why believe it?
Mostly, I do not want to divide the body of Christ.

Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

I do think it's important enough to research and answer because the body of Christ is divided by this topic. Some folks are being told they aren't saved because they don't speak in tongues. So, here we go.

What is required for salvation? What can we do?
Belief in Jesus Christ alone. There is nothing we can do to earn the free gift of salvation.
I find no scripture requiring anything but believing on Jesus for salvation.

Jesus says it Himself…believe on Me.
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.

and

John 6:45-48  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.  I am that bread of life.

It is belief in Jesus that saves us. Nothing more.
When the Philippian jailer was sure he was dead for having let Paul and Silas escape, he saw the example of Christianity in Paul and Silas. They knew he’d be killed for letting them escape, so they stayed and spared his life. And not only that, they showed him the way to eternal life in Heaven.

Acts 16:25-32  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 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. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.(emphasis mine)


Romans 10:9 is the whole Gospel.
Rom 10:8-11  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

It is Christ’s atoning blood that redeems.
Heb 9:14-15  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.


If having the gift of tongues is required, what am I to do? I believe in Jesus. He is my Savior, yet I don’t have the gift of tongues.  If the gift of tongues is a requirement for salvation, God has to give me this gift. Should God choose not to give me tongues, and I can’t be saved without it, then salvation isn’t a choice I can make.

I'll get into gifts more in the next post. One last thought for now...what about the thief of the cross next to Christ? Jesus promised him he'd be in Heaven that day. This guy was neither baptized (different topic) nor did he speak in tongues. As far as I know, there isn't anywhere in scripture where Jesus speaks in tongues either...still working on that one.

I also realize that the verses I have referenced talk about what it takes to be saved and I supposed you could make the argument that having Tongues is proof that you are saved. Not a requirement, but evidence. I'll address that as well.

To be continued...

Thanks for visiting.