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I know the Bible says that, but…
Most of the time, when someone says to you, “I know the Bible says that, but,” it isn’t good. However, I want us to all be aware of the fact that such a statement needs to be uttered at times. Here are some situations where this is exactly what needs to be said, when responding to the subject of salvation.
I know the Bible says works cannot save, but….
When discussing salvation, many religious people like to quote Ephesians 2:9, where Paul said, concerning salvation, “not of works lest anyone should boast.” Yes, I know the Bible says that, but when you look at the text, there is more to it. In verse 8, the apostle had just finished stating, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.”
The Ephesian brethren were being reminded that when you remove faith from works, you will fall short. Reason being, salvation is not of ourselves. If it were, then grace and faith would not be required. Works alone profit nothing. Even faith alone won’t profit (Jas. 2:24). Knowing that man must walk by faith (II Cor. 5:7) and the fact that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), one must have an active obedient faith to be saved (Rom. 6:17).
I know the Bible says if you confess Jesus, you will be saved, but…
Again, when it comes to salvation, a great many religious people like to quote Romans 10:10 where Paul said concerning salvation, “For
with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” Yes, I know the Bible says that, but there is more to it than that. Jesus stated in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
There have been times when individuals confessed Christ, but were not right with the Lord (Matt. 15:7-9; Lk. 4:33-35). This doesn’t mean that confession is not important, because it is. As a matter of fact, one cannot be baptized for the remission of sins unless they confess their faith in Christ (Acts 8:36-38). Thus, one must confess to be saved, but confessing alone doesn’t save.
I know the Bible says if you believe in Jesus, you will be saved, but…
There are very few religious people who don’t know John 3:16. Jesus, speaking about salvation, stated, “For God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Yes, I know the Bible says that, but let’s see that Jesus meant much more than just believing. After all, we are told that even the demons believe and tremble, yet they won’t be saved (Jas. 2:19).
What is really interesting is that the only time we read, “faith only” in the Bible, is when it has the word “not” in front of it. James stated, “You see then that man is justified by works and not by faith only.” There are times when people can believe in Jesus, yet be unwilling to confess that faith (Jn. 12:42). Obviously, without faith one will die in their sins (Jn. 4:24) and the same thing can be said for just believing.
I know the Bible says baptism saves you, but…
When it comes to baptism, one of the most common verses known is I Peter 3:21 where it says, “There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Christ.” Yes, I know the Bible says baptism saves, but baptism alone can’t save anyone.
Many religious people are quick to say that they have been baptized thinking there can’t be a wrong baptism. Whether one is sprinkled, had water poured on them, baptized as a baby or baptized to show everyone they were already saved, to them, it just doesn’t matter. However, such thinking couldn’t be further from the truth.
Jesus taught that a person must believe and be baptized (Mk. 16:16). Peter taught you need to repent and then be baptized (Acts 2:38). Peter also taught that baptism isn’t for Christians. It is for someone wanting to become a Christian (I Pet. 3:21). Paul taught the meaning of baptism, that being immersion, by showing that you bury a dead body (Rom. 6:3-7). And finally, Paul taught that without full understanding when one is immersed in water, they only get wet; it isn’t proper baptism (Acts 19:1-5).
It is true that when people say, “I know it says that in the Bible, but…”, that most of the time they are trying to justify some false doctrine. Yet, as we have demonstrated, it’s very easy to take a passage and create a doctrine that doesn’t harmonize with the rest of the scriptures. Let us always keep our guard up.
