p. 148 | SAVING ORDINANCE

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 30, 1858

SAVING ORDINANCE.

Much has been said about this or that being a "saving ordinance." The question is asked, Do you believe baptism is a saving ordinance? Is the Sabbath a saving ordinance? Now what do you mean by this unscriptural phrase? Do you mean that there is some certain act, which if a man do, he will certainly enter into the kingdom of heaven? If so, a wicked man may perform that act, and his life of sin will not prevent his salvation. I know of no saving ordinance, but to begin to serve the Lord, and persevere in his service to the end of our probation.

But, my friend, I think I discover the design of your enquiries. You wish to know if you cannot be saved without obeying these institutions of the Lord. You say, Supposing a person is on his death bed, and cannot be baptized, can he not obtain pardon and salvation? I reply, "Supposing" he can? what is that to you? God commands you to repent and be baptized. The best course you can take is to obey this command, before you are laid upon a death bed; and not argue, from the long-suffering and tender mercy of the Lord, that his commands are non-essential. The judgment will reveal how many death-bed repentances were effectual, and how many were not. Those that have known the will of God and did it not, while in life and health, may repent, so far as sorrow and regret are repentance, when it is too late to find pardon.

But men have seemed to discover that these outward acts of obedience are "non-essentials." Those who think so, to act consistently with their faith would lay them aside as useless. Then what would be left to distinguish their religion from any and every false religion? Pagans have faith and inward religion; yes, and they have prayers also. What outward acts distinguish the faith in Christ from all others, but the very ones that the professed followers of Christ have called non-essentials? What else speaks a faith in a crucified, buried and risen Saviour?

Again, what outward act places an unmistakable mark upon the worshiper of the true God—the Maker of the heavens and earth—but the keeping of that institution which commemorates his creative work, and his rest upon the seventh day?

Thus the world have called the only distinguishing institutions of the true religion, non-essentials. And when we exhort to obedience to any of these, they enquire, Do you believe it is a saving ordinance?

The word of the Lord requires, 1. faith. 2. obedience. Without faith there can be no acceptable obedience. Without faith it is impossible to please God. And this faith is simply a full and unwavering belief.

"For he that cometh to God must believe." Faith then is the first requirement; it is the main spring of all our actions. Hence, the gospel is called "the faith." But salvation is not promised to faith alone. Such faith is dead. We must be "obedient to the faith." He that said believe, said also repent; and he that said repent said also be baptized. Moreover, this same Jesus requires us to walk in newness of life, by keeping all the commandments of his Father.

No man has a right to say that any one of these requirements is non-essential; that it is not a "saving ordinance;" or that it has no place in the plan of salvation. Faith and obedience are equally required; and not only so, but a perseverance in the same to the end of our probation. I know of no other "saving ordinance."

R. F. C.