Episode Details

In this episode of the Christ for Us Bible Study Podcast, we learn how Salvation is gained, given, and gotten (received).  Listen wherever you are on any podcast app. You can also follow along on Christforus.org. 

#Gainedgivengotten #Salvation #Gospel #Faithalone #Biblestudy #Theology #Christforus #Lutheran 

Intro and closing music: Wachet Auf, Ruf Uns Die Stimme BWV 645, setting by J. S. Bach, Noncommercial Use

“Baptism doesn’t save, because faith alone saves.” I’ve heard this many times. It is an axiom, almost a mantra of many evangelical Christians, whose theology has descended from Reformed theologian Ulrich Zwingli as well as the Anabaptists of the sixteenth century. And it sounds so convincing to many, because Scripture clearly says that a sinner is saved by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28). So, if faith alone saves, how can you add anything to it? Yet, Scripture also says that Baptism saves (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:5-8). So, how can Scripture say that Baptism saves if it also says that faith alone saves?

All this can be easily clarified if we understand the distinction between gained, given, and gotten. Our salvation is gained by Christ Jesus alone, who suffered and died for our sins and rose for our justification. Our salvation is given to us by the Holy Spirit through the Word, specifically, the Gospel. This Gospel is proclaimed through preaching, spoken in Baptism, Absolution, and in the administration of the Lord’s Supper. And finally, this salvation is gotten, that is, received through faith alone. So, when we talk about faith saving and Baptism saving, we are not talking about two competing things, but one, which gives and the other which receives. Baptism gives what Christ gained on the cross. Faith receives it. We wouldn’t say, “The preaching of the Gospel doesn’t save, because faith alone saves.” That would be ridiculous. Of course, the preaching of the Gospel saves. And that doesn’t take anything away from faith alone saving, because faith saves by receiving what the preaching of the Gospel gives. This is why Jesus says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16) Faith receives what Baptism gives. But if you do not believe, then Baptism doesn’t save you. Similarly, the preaching of the Gospel does not save the person who does not believe it. Not even the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ saves the person who does not believe it!

So, when we preach, when we read the Bible, and when we listen to preaching, we need to pay attention to how salvation is gained, given, and received. When we mix these up or exclude them, then we lose the Gospel and the salvation it offers.

• Forgiveness of sins: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
• Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption: And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30
• Peace with God: Luke 2:14; John 20:19
• Eternal life: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
• Inheritance in the Kingdom of God: In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14;
• Adoption as children of God: Galatians 4:5

Salvation is gained in no other way than through the innocent sufferings and death of Christ Jes