10) Perspicuity (clarity) Of Scripture

Here is a fascinating point about modern and historical Christianity: It would seem that the Bible is not clear on the subject of Christian salvation doctrine because there are endless ideas about how to be saved.  As mentioned in the previous post, this is what accounts for the many denominations.  They disagree on the third point of faith— the required tenets of salvation.  And, in a strict theological sense, each one contradicts the other if it claims to be legitimate because, if it is legitimate, the others cannot be.  All beliefs about salvation cannot be legitimate if they don’t all say the same thing because there is only one means of initiation into Christ (John 3:5; Acts 2:37-39; Galatians 1:8-9; Ephesians 4:5; Jude 3). 

Consider Paul’s summation of Christianity in Ephesians 4:5, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”.  It was meant to indicate an unshakeable, inseparable doctrinal triad of singularity involving Jesus, Christianity, and initiation into Christianity.  And, indeed, it does. 

One Lord refers, of course, to Christ, our only Savior (John 14:6).

One faith refers to Christianity, the only true covenant religion (Matthew 16:18).

One baptism refers to the singular means of initiation into Christ (John 3:5; Acts 2:37-39; Galatians 1:8-9; Jude 3).  *See footnote.

The aforementioned Scripture references from John, Galatians, Ephesians, and Jude all must refer to the Christian salvation experience that began the Day of Pentecost. 

Conclusion: There is only one Savior, one true religion, and one way to be saved. 

The Paradox Of Apparent Christianity

According to the New Testament, there is only one Savior, one true religion, and one way to be saved.  But, to the world, it must appear that two-thirds of Paul’s concise characterization of Christianity in Ephesians 4:5 is stable but the final third regarding initiation is not.  They may come to that conclusion because Christianity is pretty much in agreement on the first two points of Paul’s triad, but not on the third.  Most Christians believe that only Christianity saves but there are countless beliefs as to how to become a Christian.  What is the explanation for the seeming paradox of there being only one plan of salvation yet many ideas as to what that plan is?  This question is especially relevant in light of what theologians teach about the clarity of Scripture.  Let me explain.

Theologians generally agree that there are four main characteristics of Scripture: Inspiration, Inerrancy, Sufficiency, and Perspicuity (Clarity).

1/ Inspiration   

In other words, the Scriptures are inspired by God.  Men may have penned the words but God is their Author.  The remaining three aspects flow out from this main fact.

2/ Inerrancy

Inerrancy means that the Word of God, in its original documents (called, autographs) contained no errors.  God doesn’t make mistakes.

3/ Sufficiency

The Bible’s teaching in the area of redemption, which is its main purpose, is sufficient in its content.  It contains all we need to know for true faith and morals.  In other words, nothing is lacking regarding salvation doctrine.    

4/ Clarity (theologically called, Perspicuity)

This biblical characteristic means that the Bible is abundantly clear in its teaching of redemption.  Its clarity would include showing man’s need for redemption along with Christ’s provision for it by His vicarious atonement and offer of salvation through the Gospel, which contains His prescribed means for personal acceptance of it— what we commonly call the plan of salvation.  It is only logical that God would make His Word especially clear in the area of salvation doctrine since it is precisely how believing souls would respond in faith to His gracious offer of salvation.

If the Bible is clear in salvation matters, as theologians teach, why are there so many different ideas about how to be saved?  Why doesn’t everyone acknowledge the one singular plan of salvation? 

We know that, in the wisdom and love of God, we have a clear Word of salvation (2Corinthians 4:3-4).  I think the reason there are so many beliefs about salvation, even though the Bible is clear on the subject, is two-fold:

1/ It shows the devil’s activity to interfere with salvation by offering a false and deceptive means, as we pointed out in Post 6 (Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13). 

But not all the fault can be laid at the feet of the devil.

2/ The heart of man is corrupt (Jeremiah 17:9). 

Confusion in the area of salvation doctrine shows the superficiality or insincerity of man to know the plan of salvation.  Every person can know the truth, if he wants to (John 7:16-17; Matthew 13:12; 1Timothy 2:4; 2Timothy 2:15; Matthew 4:4).

Often in salvation matters, people don’t look beyond what is easy, close at hand, familiar, and preferred.  Fallen people tend to be gullible, careless, and superficial in spiritual things, often assuming that any faith is sufficient or is better than none.  The devil’s subtlety to deceive at the time of potential conversion is almost never considered.  Most people’s guard to our universal spiritual enemy is down. 

But in such cases of souls receiving a false or inadequate message of the Gospel, the persons witnessing to them are in the most precarious position (James 3:1).  A person who hears a presentation of the Gospel, whether it is true or false, is at the mercy of the speaker for he does not have spiritual understanding to discern truth from error.  The person who tells another how to be saved or that he is saved must be sure on sound biblical grounds that he is right.  There is no more serious matter in which to be involved.  It is, literally, a matter of heaven and hell.  Helping someone be religious, or being eager to make a “new convert”, is not the goal.  Salvation for that person is.

Is the plan of salvation sufficiently clear in the New Testament?

It is, if you look in the right place.  Christian salvation in the New Testament would be confusing without the book of Acts.  Many persons are misguided even with that valuable book in the Canon.  But, oftentimes, the reason they are not properly informed is because they have not given sufficient regard to it.  Acts is a highly relevant book, mainly because it reveals the plan of salvation on the Day of Pentecost and contains all the examples of Christian salvation in the Bible.  There is no better way to know how to be saved than to look at the only place in the Christian era where people were actually saved— the book of Acts.  There, you will find thousands of people being saved, all the same way.  For someone to avoid or overlook these obvious and pertinent examples of salvation would bring serious suspicion on his sincerity to know the truth and would amount to egregiously poor scholarship that would leave him prone to error. 

The good news is that we have a saving Gospel that is true, sufficient, and clear that we can know.  The strategic brilliance of Acts presses it upon our consciousness by dramatically showcasing Christian salvation from its inception on the Day of Pentecost and chronicles world evangelism with conversions that display the tenets of salvation carried out in real-time.  No other book of the New Testament provides this inspired narrative history.  It perfectly illustrates the perspicuity of Scripture.  I really don’t know how salvation tenets could possibly have been made more clear.  Rather, it seems impossible to miss them.   

*Footnote: The one baptism, here, referring to initiation into Christ, involves the new birth experience of water and Spirit, according to to John 3:5, by which souls are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians 12:13)— thus, the expression, one baptism.