Here is one of the big questions – not just a “church” question, but one that has a real impact on life and eternity. What is “essential” for salvation?

For instance, is baptism “essential” for salvation?  Seems like an easy question.  Just a “yes” or “no” and a couple of Scripture passages to prove it and we’re all done.  So why has this question been so persistent?  Why does it continue to engender arguments and sometimes divide Christians?  Why does such an apparently easy question consistently prove to be so hard to answer?  Why do both the simple “yes” and the simple “no” rely so heavily on proof texts and seem so pedantic?

Generally, the question is difficult because it presupposes that God is bound by some set of rules when it comes to salvation.  “Essential for salvation” comes to mean those thoughts, actions, beliefs, attitudes or behaviors that will force God to let us into heaven.  We want to arrive at heaven with a guarantee in hand.  “You have to let me in,” we want to demand of God, “because I was baptized when I was eleven.” or “because I repeated the sinner’s prayer at a crusade in college” or “I prophesied in your name and in your name drove out demons and in your name performed many miracles.”  An old evangelistic formula begins like this, “Suppose you were standing before God right now and He asked you, ‘Why should I let you into Heaven?’”  The question begs for an answer that begins, “Because….”  But, there is no “because”.  The Lord of the universe is not going to make his decision based on my justification of myself.

Salvation, an abundant and eternal life in and with God, instead of death and the second death without him, is and always has been a gift of God.   As sovereign of creation, He and He alone decides who will be in his presence.  There is but one “essential” for salvation – God chooses to save you.  No amount of religious fervor or activity, no great faith, no amount of repentance, sorrow, washing, or wishing can force God to save.  It is and always will be his sovereign choice.

If this troubles you, if it disturbs your assurance of salvation, you need to decide to trust God.  Our only assurance of salvation is in our confidence that God “exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)  We are people of contracts.  We want a quid pro quo, a “this for that” so that God is bound by something more than his word and character, but God is a God of covenants – unconditional promises – not contracts.  Contract is a word without meaning to God inasmuch as it relies on a higher power, a government, or king, or judge for its interpretation and enforcement.  There is no higher power or authority than God, no one to rule him in breach.  Only covenants can be meaningful with God and they depend exclusively on his consistent character.

If you accept the final sovereignty of God and recognize that salvation is a gift from him, then the question becomes, “What is needed to accept the gift?”  Do not get caught up or confused by the fact that acceptance of the gift may require some action on the part of the recipient.  If your rich uncle sends you a birthday check via registered mail, the fact that you must sign for the envelope does not keep it from being a gift, nor does the fact that you have to put your signature on the back of the check before you cash it turn it into wages for work done.  The giver of a gift can always set conditions on its receipt.  I might announce I’ll give a free cup of coffee to everyone who stops by my cafe on Thursday.  If you choose to stay home that day, or if you show up on Friday, you have no grounds to complain about not receiving the gift.  So also, God can condition his gift in whatever ways he chooses.

God chooses to give the gift of salvation to those who hear the good news about Jesus and believe in him and the one who sent him.  It is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition he attaches to the gift.  It is necessary because God says without it one cannot please God, but insufficient because even the demons believe in him.  Receipt of his gift also requires that the recipient repent of his or her sin and confess Jesus to be Lord.  Jesus, after noting his ultimate and absolute authority, commands the worldwide making of disciples and requires the process to include preaching the good news, baptizing and teaching his commands. (Matthew 28:18-20)  Likewise, Peter tells those assembled in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, who believed his message that Jesus was both Lord and Christ, to “Repent and be baptized”.  Paul tells the church in Rome that “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death… We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-5)

If God requires these responses for us to receive his gift, what should we think about Abraham or King David?  What about the thief on the cross?  Is salvation denied to them?  Of course not, remember where we began – God is the sovereign giver of the gift.  It is his choice.  If Jesus chooses to save a crucified sinner on the basis of the dying man’s last minute change of heart and heartfelt plea, who are we to challenge his judgment or generosity.  Did a loved one see the light and cry out to God in the waning moments of a life of sin?  Can she, without any time for obedience, yet be saved?  All things are possible for God – it is his gift and his choice.

But I am just a servant of the word and can only proclaim the message revealed in Scripture:  If you seek salvation, if you will accept the gift, then show up, sign for the letter, cash the check, obey the giver – believe and repent, be baptized, and let your life be a confession and testimony to his goodness and love.  And trust him to be true to his word.