The Bible is clear on salvation doctrine. There are simple rules of interpretation, which, if properly applied, will convince any reasonable person of the truth. Perhaps, the simplest of all these rules regards the Day of Pentecost, which, logically, must reveal the plan of salvation because it is the beginning point of Christian salvation. That simple fact alone should convince any sincere person in five minutes that Acts 2:38 has to be the plan of salvation. The numerous other examples of salvation in Acts corroborate this fact (Acts 8,10,19).
The biblical verses that are often substituted for Acts 2:38 are summary expressions of the Gospel. They include John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9. The list can go on. They are summary expressions because they summarily describe salvation as resulting from faith in Christ but are not tenet-specific. It’s as though salvation is viewed from a zoomed-out perspective, which is often a convenient theological way to refer to it. Tenet reference is not usually necessary when generally referring to the faith and, in many instances, would be verbally cumbersome. That’s why, in every category of communication between persons, people tend to abbreviate expression to the simplest form that others can understand. The Bible is no exception.
But the abundant summary expressions of the New Testament can easily be misapplied by someone considering salvation, especially if the person witnessing to him is doctrinally misguided, even though his intentions may be good. The summary expressions are often appealing because they sound simple and easy. I remember how attractive those Scriptures were in my pre-repentant state. I wanted desperately to believe all that was necessary for salvation was faith in Christ because I certainly had that— in fact, all of my life. But the other Scriptures that delineated salvation tenets would not go away and I knew that, if I was not honest with myself, I would be the one to suffer in the end.
So that brings us to an important question: Do summary expressions of the Gospel actually hinder people from being saved? I think not because, even if a person is not informed of Acts 2:38 and believes he’s saved on the basis of a summary expression, there is still a safeguard in Scripture that ensures he will encounter actual salvation doctrine. There are two highly noticeable principles in Scripture, to which if he takes heed, will guarantee his eventual salvation. Jesus stated both of them.
1/ The Law Of Greater Demand.
It is stated in Matthew 23:23. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
Jesus essentially said that giving heed to lesser requirements of the Word of God does not relieve a person from doing the greater. And the lesser cannot be left undone either.
The application of this law to our topic at hand is this: If certain Scriptures seem to suggest that simple faith in Jesus is sufficient for salvation, there are also others that make it clear more is required. Jesus expressly stated repentance as a requirement for salvation (Luke 13:3,5). Likewise, baptism is essential (Mark 16:15-16; 1Peter 3:21). And, plainly, receiving the Holy Ghost is also necessary (John 3:5; Romans 8:9). These tenet-specific Scriptures cannot be ignored because a simpler form of conversion is preferred.
2/ The Law Of Covenantal Wholeness.
Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
This principle means that no Scripture can be dismissed. So, even if a person believes he’s saved, he still has to fulfill Acts 2:38. Usually, the people who deny Acts 2:38 as the plan of salvation leave it unfulfilled. Doing this is wrong and dangerous because it is expressed as an imperative for each person in order to have remission of sins and the presence of the sanctifying Spirit of God. According to Jesus, every person is responsible for Acts 2:38.
It must be understood that everything contained in a covenant is binding. This principle is underscored by Paul (Galatians 3:15). Nothing can be added or dismissed. A covenant is to be accepted as a whole. God has always been thorough in requiring the full extent of His covenants. This point was stressed in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 27:26; quoted by Paul in Galatians 3:10). Each person is responsible for the fulness of revelation, especially within the covenantal period in which he lives. James made use of this concept in his practical epistle when instructing Christians (James 2:10). In addition, he said no Scripture speaks in vain (James 4:5), meaning that all are to be regarded and obeyed. Paul declared that all Scriptures are inspired and are, therefore, vital for instruction (2Timothy 3:16). Proper biblical teaching is derived from study and shame results if that study is not thorough and accurate (2Timothy 2:15). Paul personally assured the Ephesian elders that he had given them all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Any preacher who can legitimately make that claim is safe.
Conclusion
When these two laws of discipleship are embraced, a sincere person is certain to experience salvation because he will leave no mandate of Scripture unfulfilled. No matter how he initially came to believe he was saved, he will not refuse the tenets of salvation that Jesus authored and stressed were necessary.