Problem 2 - The Bible teaches that there is ONLY one way to be saved

PROBLEM NO. 2--THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO BE SAVED

This is a logical conclusion based on problem no. 1, that there is only one gospel. Acts 2 Dispensationalists are very strong on maintaining that salvation throughout the ages has ALWAYS been by grace through faith. In order to support this, they teach that the principle found in Eph. 2:8-9 is true of the whole Bible (Reformed theology teaches this too). Charles C. Ryrie, in his book 'Dispensationalism Today' (1965), on pages 113-115, quotes from L.S. Chafer, C.I. Scofield, and W.L. Pettingill in support of the Acts 2 position. In a more recent book 'Continuity and Discontinuity' (1988) edited by John S. Feinberg, the author who takes the discontinuity position on salvation (Allen P. Ross) also believes that Eph. 2:8-9 pertains to the old Testament, page 164.

THE TRUTH

The pages referred to in Ryrie's book are part of chapter 6 - Salvation in Dispensationalism. Nowhere in this chapter does he refer to the Mercy of God in the Old Testament (which is a very important old Testament doctrine involving salvation) nor does he say anything about mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38. Even in the Scripture index in this book there is no reference to Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38 This is a very slanted view of salvation from the Acts 2 position.

When talking about salvation in the Bible, one should pay very close attention to the words that are used of this doctrine. Regardless of whether it is the Hebrew or the Greek language, the vocabulary is different when describing salvation in the various dispensations.

Salvation under the Kingdom program of Israel was according to the MERCY OF GOD: "Help me, O LORD my God. O save me according to Thy mercy' (Psalm 109:26). This verse is very clear, and the saints in the Old Testament were familiar with this Divine principle. They knew that this was the way God worked under their economy in the old Testament. Please read Psalm 136. The word 'mercy' is used 26 times in 26 verses! This is the Biblical testimony as to how God worked in the Old Testament.

During our Lord's earthly ministry, this principle of salvation still prevailed, as clearly seen in Luke 1:67-79. Zachariah was filled with Holy Spirit Power (v. 67) when he stated that his son John would 'go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God..." (vs. 76-78). Remission (forgiveness) of sins was by water baptism (Mark 1:4-5; 16:16; Acts 2:38), a doctrine that was preached all through our Lord's earthly ministry and on into the book of Acts.

What has really confused Acts 2 believers (and Reformed believers also) is the fact that God has required FAITH in all dispensations in order to be saved. Because of this they think that God has said the same thing and that salvation has always been the same way.

'Faith' and 'believing' go together. When one exercises 'faith,' he believes. When one 'believes,' it shows that he has faith. When this is used in relation to God in the Old Testament, it means that the individual accepts what God says.

But has God said the same thing all through the Bible in reference to salvation? Are the contents of the message always the same? The answer is, definitely NO!

At the very beginning of the Bible, we have the story in Genesis 4 of Cain and Abel, the first two children of Adam and Eve. The two boys were faithfully instructed by their parents in how to approach a holy God. Along with faith God required a sacrifice, a truth that was well-known to Adam and Eve, by God providing two coats of skins with the slaying of two animals (Gen. 3:21). The God-given plan or formula of 'faith plus a sacrifice' was taught to our very first parents, Adam and Eve. This Divine principle prevailed all through the Old Testament, having been incorporated into the law of Moses.

But this is not so, today. All God requires today is 'faith' in His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord (Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9). This 'faith only' principle is unique to this Dispensation of grace; hence, it is by grace in contrast to what God's plan was in the Old Testament through His mercy. Grace and Mercy are not synonymous terms. Therefore, it is wrong to teach that the principle contained in Eph. 2:8-9 is taught all through the Bible.

The Acts 2 position has difficulty with the Gospel of the Kingdom, as Ryrie has shown us, as he conveniently avoided Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38 in his discussion of salvation. Pauline Dispensationalism is the only system of theology that-knows how to understand Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38. There is Divine truth in those verses which is not related to this Dispensation of grace. There is no need to twist them in order to teach something else. There is no need to go to the Greek text of Westcott and Hort either, which leaves out Mark 16:16. They were a part of Israel's Kingdom Gospel, and will be preached again during the Tribulation Period (Matt. 24:13-14).

We should not think it to be strange if there is more than one way to be saved in the Bible. When Christ canes back one of His duties will be to single out the nations that will go into the Millennium. There are the 'sheep nations' and the 'goat nations' (Matt. 25:31-46). These Gentiles are the ones who make it all the way through the Tribulation Period, but not all of them are going to go into the Millennium. The Lord is going to judge them on the basis of how they treated those who belonged to the Nation of Israel. Those who pass this test will go into the Kingdom (v. 34). My friend, there is more than 'faith' involved with this reward. Please read verses 35-40 to find out what they had to do.

The risen Christ has told us in no uncertain words that we are to rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). But Reformed Theology hates this verse and Acts 2 teachers don't use it like they should. And this attitude toward God's Divine and primaryprinciple of interpretation causes these many problems.

THE NEUTRALIZING OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

The Apostle Paul is treated like a second class apostle by Acts 2 Dispensationalists. Peter comes first. Today Paul would be regarded as a second class citizen by the religious leaders in Christendom. Because of this attitude toward the risen Christ's spokesman for this Dispensation of grace, a number of mistakes have been propagated unconsciously by Acts 2 teachers.

By Robert C. Brock