What does it mean "to believe?"

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - Jn 3:16

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And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. - Acts 16:34a

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Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue - John 12:42

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You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! - James 2:19

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Much - and quite rightly so - is made of the topic of belief - in Jesus, in God, etc. Our salvation depends on believing. But what exactly does it mean "to believe" [in Jesus/God]? And how does one know that their "belief" is "saving belief?" Some, as in the authorities above, believed. The demons believe. And even more curiously, some believe -

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them - John 2:22f

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but apparently Jesus does not believe everyone's "belief."

Clearly, some who "believe" have salvation, yet others who "believe" do not.

So what, biblically, constitutes [saving or salvific] belief and what doesn't?

Ursie said:

Why does no one respond?

I'll bite. Belief is an active, ongoing thing. It is demonstrated by the action of following Christ. If you 'believe' on Him, you will turn your life over to Him. You will become more and more like Him through the process of sanctification. Belief is not simply intellectual, but must be accompanied by a demonstration of that belief.

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... in other words (if I follow your point), if someone "believes" it's safe to board an airplane somewhere, that doing so will see them safely there, but they are yet afraid (say) to do so and so don't board the plane (for whatever the cause for their fear), the former is "belief" but the latter is also "belief" - yet accompanied by a demonstration of it - the act of boarding the plane?

In this one example then, "fear" would be the thing that distinguishes one belief from another. I'm mindful of Peter's reaction when he found himself walking on the water with Jesus, saw the wind (digression: one wonders how one "sees" wind ) - and went weak in the knees (er, feet ) and began to sink. And Jesus' response: "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Mt 14:31).

Here we have an equating of "fear" with "doubt" and both to "lack of faith"

I've a question on this - and it's probably a minor one - is it a "demonstration" that we believe that is necessary for salvation - or is the word "demonstration" better replaced with another word?

ProfessorJ said:

James 2:19: "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."

I requoted the verse because I find it accurate for the situation. Faith, saving faith, requires true faith. A person can "believe" in God, but never act upon that belief. Just "going through the motions" can be a faith, but not the truth faith of the "saints."

Works without faith are useless, but faith without works is dead. Someone that truly believes in Christ and what He did for us, will be expressing that faith in a multitude of ways.

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I'd have to agree with this - and not just because of James' words (e.g. Jas 2:20, etc.) - but practically too. To use the example of the airplane in my post above: it's one thing to say "I believe the plane will get me [to its destination] safely." But (and assuming the person wants to get to that destination in the first place), if that same person refuses to board the plane anyway (fear? doubt?) - such refusal says something about that person's "true" (to use your term, which I think appropriate) level of faith/belief in the plane's real ability to actually do what they profess it can.

I guess this goes to the question - "What does it mean to 'truly' believe?"

And I guess I could throw another wrinkle into the discussion by asking, "Can a person's wants/desires (similar to fears/doubts) get in the way of 'true' faith?" While the airplane, for example, will get the person to their destination - so too could other modes of travel (e.g. bus, train, boat, etc.). Their profession of faith in the airplane's ability to reach the destination is 'true' faith in the sense that they would have no compunction for not boarding it (they genuinely believe it will) other than that they'd simply prefer to take another mode of transport.

Fears and doubts can mar 'true' faith. So too can wants and desires (or preferences). ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father but through Me." Jn 14:6)

ProfessorJ said:

And if I may comment on John 2:22, could it be that, as Christ said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."(John 20:29).

So, what do you think?

In Christ,
Joshua

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I'm a little unclear what you're getting at here with that verse as it pertains to John 2, but it is an interesting one, for sure so will take a stab at it.

[doubting] Thomas absolutely refused to believe that Jesus was alive (v25 - "I will not believe"). What was he refusing to believe? Well, I think two things - first, the word of those who'd claimed to have seen Him, and then second, Jesus' own words (and those of the prophets) - e.g. Jn 13:31ff & etc., Mk 14:28 - "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." Jesus had devoted some quality time to explaining to His closest friends what would transpire soon and sought to prepare them, knowing how it would distress them - and in various ways (Peter denied Him 3 times, Thomas here refused to believe, others were downcast, dejected...) - John 20:9 "For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead."

It was a full week (8 days) after Thomas made his refusal that Jesus appeared to them again, this time with Thomas present. One imagines if He didn't do it just for Thomas' sake (His compassion is great, amen!). What did it take for Thomas to believe? Jesus calls him on it - seeing. Then He proclaims our verse here "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

My translation (NASB) gives a different tense to that verse than the one you quoted (referring to those others present who believed), but I think the meaning is still applicable to any time (past, present, future). But I think the point of the story rests in the fact that Thomas was, until this point in time, the only one to whom Jesus had not yet appeared (v24) - everyone else had seen Him. In short, Jesus I believe used Thomas to teach us a practical lesson today-believe His word, the scriptures. The need to "see" before one will believe is a form of disbelief - whether from doubt, or fear, or want/desire...

--- Back to John 2 ---

I've long been intrigued by this passage, I'll confess. The primary reason is that John said these people believed [in His Name] - the natural question then is why wouldn't Jesus entrust Himself to them, why didn't He 'trust' their belief? We're told it was because He "knew all men" (vs. 24). We're also told that God knows what's in the heart of man (Acts 1:24, 15:8, etc.). I think that Jesus then obviously knows the difference between a "profession" of faith/belief and 'true' faith/belief. The question then is, what criteria is He using for distinguishing between the two?

I've already become too verbose with this post so will just throw this notion out: "If anyone is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself." (John 8:17)

mannysee said:

Believing (in the sense of trusting) is the simple answer.
i.e. trusting in Christ and his work which he was sent to do.

Can't think of the exact scripture reference at the moment:-
"In whom you also trusted after you heard the word of truth; the gospel of your salvation."
Another text somewhere speaks of, "(you) embraced that form of teaching which was delivered to you"

Clearly, the demons do not.

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Yes - the NASB puts it this way - "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Promise." Eph 1:13.

I think the other verse is, "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:17f (NASB)

So there is a link between trust and believing, committment and obedience...

I agree with you - while demons may know (believe) that Jesus is who He is - such belief doesn't constitute salvific belief because there clearly is no will, or willingness to obey Him. One might say the motive (with demons) for disobedience then is hatred for Christ, God.

I think there are other motives too. CF John 12:42 - "Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." These people were more concerned with (valued more) being members of the synagogue than they did being members with Him - and they valued more the approval of the Pharisees than they did God's approval.

I'm mindful of Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must (1) believe that He is, and (2) believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

Here the Hebrews writer gives two criteria for [saving] faith/belief:
(1) Belief God is (belief in God - assent) and,
(2) Value for what God has to offer by way of reward for such belief (action)

Motivation (to act, do) requires one first possess a value (want/desire/need) for whatever it is upon which they are going to act (all actions are a function of one's underlying values).

Question is - what is God rewarding? Given assent is common to all belief (by the demons, by the rulers, by the faithful...), what then is God rewarding by way of [our] actions?

nanz2688 said:

knowing
believing in
and believing on

are different things

knowing means you just know the facts...

"believing in"...is for example you believe in a medicine that it will cure your sickness

but "believing on" to the medicine you will take it..believing on takes action

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To be honest, I've never quite grasped the grammatical construct of "believing on" something - kwim? It's just never been something I've used in ordinary daily language.

Nevertheless, I agree with the point of your example.

I can believe in a plane's ability to fly me somewhere safely.
But I can't say I believe on it doing that unless I actually board (get on) the plane - thereby also proving/demonstrating my belief in it's abilities?

In = in (only - sans any motive or willingness to get on)
On = in and on.

LOL - revelation? - maybe I just metaphorically answered my own question about the grammatical construct of "believing on" something.

JacobSon55 said:

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There are words that are very confusing in Scripture. It is my opinion that some are made confusing intentionally to perpetuate a 'doctrine.'

The words believe [belief] and faith do not mean the same thing.
Those in attendence at Pentecost heard the gospel and were 'believers.' However they were not saved. They were not saved until Acts 2:41...AFTER they had heard and "obeyed" the gospel. Hearing the gospel AND obeying the gospel are required for salvation.

FAITH is ACTING on what you BELIEVE!

(Read: Matthew 7:21-23). They were 'believers" and Jesus did not deny that they had done all these things. But they were not saved. OBVIOUSLY it takes more than just 'believing" John 3:16!

Baptism (Bible baptism - full and complete immersion in water) in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins is acting on what you believe. This is obeying the Gospel. This is FAITH.

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I most heartily agree with this notion of faith - believing this is the message of the gospel and the scriptures.

The Hebrews writer defined faith in terms of "assurance" and "conviction" (11:1) - He went on to say this in Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Him must [1] believe that He is, and [2] that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

One must then value what God has to offer (want it, need it) - we are motivated by what we value - moved to ACT. The rest of Hebrews 11 are examples of people who valued God's rewards and were moved to act - obey Him.

Earlier in the letter, the Hebrews writer spoke of those who "provoked Him then they had heard?" (Heb 3:16). He concluded with this statement: "And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief." (Heb 3:18f) The writer equates belief with obedience [to His word].

These notions are brought out in the examples of those who believed in God, but who had no clear intention of obeying Him (cf demons, the religious rulers, etc. - see OP).

And I agree with your assertion that submitting to baptism is obeying the gospel - Christ commanded it (Mk 16:16, etc.); Peter commanded it (Acts 2:38); the Lord commanded it of Paul (Acts 9:6; 18); Paul thoroughly explained its purpose (Rom 6:1ff); it is part of the gospel message - which is what prompted the Eunuch to ask "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36), and of Lydia and her household - the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things being spoken by Paul (the gospel) - Acts 16:14, who, after being baptized posed this question: "If you have judged me to be faithful..." v15 - clearly faith and obedience are linked in her response. The Philippian jailer was baptized immediately and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God (Acts 16:26ff).

Even a cursory read of the scriptures points to obedience to God as indicative of true faith - particularly when the thing being commanded is simple and clear...

"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." Mt 7:21

Follow Christ said:

The evangel which Paul became the dispenser of is written in its clearest form below.

(1 Corinthians 15)
1 Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand,
2 through which also you are saved, if you are retaining what I said in bringing the evangel to you, outside and except you believe feignedly.
3 For I give over to you among the first what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,
4 and that He was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures,
5 and that He was seen by Cephas, thereupon by the twelve.
6 Thereupon He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the majority are remaining hitherto, yet some were put to repose also.
7 Thereupon He was seen by James, thereafter by all the apostles.
8 Yet, last of all, even as if a premature birth, He was seen by me also.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not competent to be called an apostle, because I persecute the ecclesia of God.
10 Yet, in the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace, which is in me, did not come to be for naught, but more exceedingly than all of them toil I -- yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me.
11 Then, whether I or they, thus we are heralding and thus you believe.

Salvation comes from Him dieing for our sins, being entombed, and roused the third day. Water baptism once had it's place, but no longer with present era. We are already spiritually baptized. As Christ was buried in the grave so we too.

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I would respectfully point you to Romans 6:1ff for Paul's explanation (and understanding) of water baptism. There is great confusion in modern Christianity concerning this key aspect of the gospel message. I would also respectfully question your source for claiming we [Christians] are "already spiritually baptized." I know of no such verses or passages in the bible to support this. I do however know the scriptures adequately and thoroughly cover the topic of water baptism - in command, in example, and in explanation of purpose.

Follow Christ said:

(1 Corinthians)

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Follow Christ said:

13 Christ is parted! Not Paul was crucified for your sakes! Or into the name of Paul are you baptized?
14 I am thanking God that I baptize not one of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 lest anyone may be saying that you are baptized into my name.
16 Yet I baptize the household of Stephanas also. Furthermore, I am not aware if I baptize any other.
17 For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel, not in wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ may be made void.

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I would respectfully submit here a very common mis-read of this passage and common error in concluding that what Paul is saying is that baptism is of no import because that isn't why he was commissioned.

Consider the context of the passage - divisions within the church (the key verse being the one you left out):
"Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." (v12)

Consider to what Paul appeals to quell such divisions - their Christian identity!
"'Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he?" (v13a) The answer is obviously 'no!' - Christ was.
"Or, were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (v13b) "or" being another way of asking the same question, to which the answer is another obvious 'no!' - they were baptized into Christ.

Consider what Paul uses to point out their common identity - Christ's death and their participation in His death in Christian baptism. Right?

"Were you baptized into Paul?" No! Obviously not!
"Did Paul die for your sins?" No! Obviously not!

"I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius - that no man should say you were baptized in my name." (v14f)

Please note that Paul DID baptize! All Paul is saying in this passage is that, given their divisions, given they were associating with different people (the cause for the divisions), he's thankful he only baptized a few of them, that none could lay this false claim of identity on his having been the one to actually immerse them in the water.

When Paul says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." (v17) - all he's saying is that his charge is that of preaching the gospel. His not being sent to baptize in no way negates the need for or importance of baptism - others can (and must) do that. Again, he clearly DID baptize, so negating the importance of baptism is definitely NOT what he's saying in this verse.

QFT:
(Romans 6:3-4) Or are you ignorant that whoever are baptized into Christ Jesus, are baptized into His death? We, then, were entombed together with Him through baptism into death, that, even as Christ was roused from among the dead through the glory of the Father, thus we also should be walking in newness of life.

Follow Christ said:

Believing the evangel is where our current salvation comes from. Not anything we may do.

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This is another misconception. How can we not "do" anything to be saved? Is not believing "doing" something? Is not confessing, repenting, submitting to baptism "doing" something?

Of course there is nothing we can "do" to save ourselves. Only Christ's dying for our sins can ever save. But Christ too - after dying for our sins, after being buried, after being resurrected from the dead was very clear He wanted us to "do" something - "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved [not obeyed] shall be condemned." Mk 16:16 (emphasis mine - see Hebrews 3:18f)

Follow Christ said:

(Romans 4:5) Yet to him who is not working, yet is believing on Him Who is justifying the irreverent, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

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Follow Christ said:

(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed;

We assume and are convicted that this evangel and all that it entails is true. This faith will save us, but it is not our own work, lest God's grace be brought to nothing.

(Ephesians 2:8-10) For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting. For His achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them.

(1 Corinthians 12:18) Yet now God placed the members, each one of them, in the body according as He wills.

(Philippians 1:29) for to you it is graciously granted, for Christ's sake, not only to be believing on Him, but to be suffering for His sake also,

My post is lengthy and I only pray that you have read it completely. My only aim in my attempt to try and correct you is that God may be more glorified in you and that you would love Him for all that he has done for you in His grace. Sparing not His own Son and then placing you in Him.

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It is totally true we are saved by faith, saved by grace. It is totally true we can do nothing on our own to save ourselves.

The notion of "works" arises from the works of the law - that in mere adherence to (obedience) to the law that we can / are saved. This is pointed out too many places in the bible as a false notion - first, that we are even able to keep the law perfectly is a false notion - no one can keep the law perfectly, no matter how hard they try.

But it's the person's attitude that makes "works" - based salvation so heinous - it's the notion that a person can do something over which they can boast w/r to salvation. There is no boasting - we can only boast in Christ.

"DOING" something to receive salvation is not that attitude. Obedience to the gospel is "doing" something, but that doesn't make it wrong. Indeed, it's required. "Works" (something of which we can boast) are "doing" things in denial of Christ's work for us. These "do's and don'ts" are what "works-based" salvation is all about and why such attitudes are so wrong.

We can't "do" anything to save ourselves. Neither can we "NOT do" something and somehow find ourselves "saved." kwim?

In Him....

Follow Christ said:

My source for claiming believers are already spiritually baptized is below.

(1 Corinthians 12:13) For in one spirit also we all are baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all are made to imbibe one spirit.

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Respectfully, I would point you to Paul's letter to the Christians in Colossae: "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1:13f) Our redemption, our forgiveness of sins is in Christ. This body into which we are baptized is the church: "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." (Col 1:18)

Consider what he says a little further: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Col 2:8-14). Paul is not inconsistent in his teaching either on who saves us, who we are as Christians (our Christian identity), or what happens to us when we submit to [water] baptism.

Follow Christ said:

So, I do not believe that Paul is referring to water baptism in Romans 6, but spiritual baptism. The spiritual baptism we receive when we recieve faith in Christ. Whoever are baptized into Christ, they are baptized in Christ's burial.

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I understand your belief - but unfortunately it has no specific or credible basis in scripture. Nowhere does scripture describe, let alone refer to "spiritual baptism" or in any way link this "spiritual baptism" with salvation. We have plenty of scriptural examples to the contrary, we have commands from the Lord Himself, we have the teachings of the apostles, including Paul, etc.

Follow Christ said:

I'm sorry if I didn't come through clear. I do believe that Paul once did baptize using water, but after 1 Corinthians 1 we do not read of him being related to water baptism any longer. The fact that Christ commissions Paul not to baptize, but to bring the evangel is signifigant because;

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Respectfully, it's not necessary we have examples "after I Corinthians" to validate the scriptures regarding water baptism. I would again point you to my discussion on I Corinthians because I think you are reading that passage in error. Paul's statement that Christ did not send him to baptize in NO WAY NEGATES the importance of baptism - and to read it thus is wholly improper - both to the text itself (which does not say that), and to the rest of scripture on the topic. Indeed, Paul himself ADMITS to baptizing and we're given no cause for believing, either from Paul himself or elsewhere in scripture that he QUIT baptizing after I Corinthians.

Follow Christ said:

(Galatians 2:9-10) and, knowing the grace which is being given to me, James and Cephas and John, who are supposed to be pillars, give to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we, indeed, are to be for the nations, yet they for the Circumcision-10 only that we may be remembering the poor, which same thing I endeavor also to do.Paul and Barnabas are for us, the nations. James, Cephas and John are for the Circumcision, which we are not. Christ, during his earthly ministry was also the Servant of the Circumcision, not for the nations (Romans 15:8-9). He says, "I was not commissioned except for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24)." God deals with the Circumcision and the nations through different men.

Seeing as how we are not of the circumcision, but the nations, it is wise to heed Paul's suggestion and become imitators of Him (1 Corinthians 11:1).

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I'm not at all certain how this pertains to the discussion - suffice it to say - yes, Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel to the gentiles while Peter and others were commissioned to preach the gospel to the Jews. I see nothing remarkable in this fact.

Follow Christ said:

Not that I am deeming all other Scripture to be insignifigant or meaningless.
　
(Romans 15:4) For whatever was written before, was written for this teaching of ours, that through the endurance and the consolation of the scriptures we may have expectation.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17) All scripture is inspired by God, and is beneficial for teaching, for exposure, for correction, for discipline in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be equipped, fitted out for every good act.

I am only claiming that Paul's writings and his commission are distinctly for us, the nations. This is why Paul tells us to correctly cut the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

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I dispute not the inspiration of scripture one whit - nor do I see your point in quoting these verses. As to 2 Timothy - Paul is charging Timothy to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." In other words - to know the word, study the word, and rightly interpret the word so as to correctly teach the word to others, that he (we) not be ashamed of as God's workmen for having handled it improperly. Now, having said that - this verse says nothing by way of justifying or giving warrant for claiming Paul's writing and his commission are distinctly for us. This would, imho, be an improper handling of that passage for neither the text itself, nor the context in which it resides says anything remotely close to this.

Follow Christ said:

(Acts 13:2) Now, at their ministering to the Lord and fasting, the holy spirit said, "Sever, by all means, to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Now why was it that God severed Paul from the rest of the apostles to be for the nations?

(Romans 1:1) Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, a called apostle, severed for the evangel of God

(Ephesians 3:8) To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: to bring the evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations,

(Galatians 2:7-9) But, on the contrary, preceiving that I have been entrusted with the evangel of the Uncircumcision, according as Peter of the Circumcision (for He Who operates in Peter for the apostleship of the Circumcision operates in me also for the nations),

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I need to interrupt here to say once again, that there is nothing remarkable in the fact that Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel to the gentiles. That's all his commission was - to preach to the gentiles (as opposed to going to the Jews).

Might we dispense with this use of the word "evangel" (Eng. - good message) in lieu of the more commonly accepted english words/phrases - "gospel" or "good news?" Euangelion being the noun form of the Greek for "gospel" - "euangelizo" the verb "to preach [good news]" - to announce good tidings, etc. Use of "evangel" is an archaic term, in my mind anyway, and sounds weird (just me, probably ). I think for the sake of others who might read these posts, such would be helpful as well...

Follow Christ said:

Here is the evangel that is for us, the nations, that Paul was commissioned by Christ to bring us.

(1 Corinthians15) 1 Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are saved, if you are retaining what I said in bringing the evangel to you, outside and except you believe feignedly. 3 For I give over to you among the first what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that He was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures . . . 11 . . . thus we are heralding and thus you believe.

We are saved through this evangel. That's what it says.
(Romans 1:16) For not ashamed am I of the evangel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who is believing -- to the Jew first, and to the Greek as well.

There's nothing else which can turn men to God but this evangel. Nothing else justifies those that believe but God's power for salvation, this evangel.

Doing anything would turn God's grace into empty words. It is his unmerited favor that saves us. He did not just offer us a chance to believe.

(Philippians 1:29) for to you it is graciously granted, for Christ's sake, not only to be believing on Him, but to be suffering for His sake also,

It was graciously granted to us by God that we should believe. He gives the saving faith, faith in His evangel.

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I don't disagree with this at all! It is indeed the gospel by which we are saved - no argument whatsoever! AMEN!

Consider this example from Acts 8 (verses 32-39):
32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

"HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Let me stop here and ask - what did Philip preach to this eunuch? I submit he preached to him the good news by which we are saved! What was the outcome of Philip's preaching? We read...

36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
37 [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]
38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

Why was the eunuch so eager to be baptized? Why did he look upon the water with such zeal and ask "What prevents me from being baptized?" And why did Philip oblige him? And, finally, why did the eunuch rejoice afterwards - or more properly - WHEN did the eunuch rejoice?

Friend, I submit that Philip preached the gospel to this man and part of that gospel involved the eunuch's ability or opportunity (by God's grace) to participate in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.

"3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
7 for he who has died is freed from sin." (Romans 6)

Is not this something over which to rejoice? Becoming united with Christ? Dead to sin? Absolutely it's something over which to rejoice!

Or what of this example:

28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"
29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Interruption - believe what? To what is he referring?

32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

Again I interrupt to ask what was this "word of the Lord" that Paul spoke to these people?

It was the gospel, of course! And it was the word of the Lord in which he/they was/were to believe.

33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. (Acts 16)

...immediately he was baptized - and he rejoiced greatly - "having believed in God"!

Follow Christ said:

(1 Timothy 1:14) Yet the grace of our Lord overwhelms, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

He overwhelms our previous doubt and unbelief with faith and love in Christ.

(Ephesians 2:8) For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting. For His achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them.

We are saved in God's grace, his gratuitous undeserved favor. This grace, is through faith in the evangel. This is how we have it. Faith in the evangel. It is not out of us. The faith did not come into us from out of nowhere or because we were wise enough to apprehend that it is true, but directly from God. If it were sourced in us, we would have something to boast in, but it is his approach present. He called us and placed us in his Son.

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Amen we are saved by His grace - by His unmerited, undeserved favor! And nothing else. And amen is such grace "overwhelming" - overpouring in rejoicing on the part of the one who hears His word, believes it, and obeys it. Amen!

Follow Christ said:

Now, in that grace we should do all we can for the Lord. Not because our salvation is at stake, but because the evangel and us believing it was all completely undeserved and from God for no reason in ourselves and so that will bring us to do good works for others when it seems that there is no reason to do so. When we stay nourishing ourselves with words of faith and the sound teaching we will act in way that will bring more glory to God through this evangel, but as we fail to do that our behavior and attitude may not be the ideal. Nevertheless, to him who is not working, yet is believing on Him Who is justifying the irreverent, his faith is reckoned for righteousness (Romans 4:5). He will not bring glory to God, but he is saved. Where sin increases, grace superexceeds (Romans 5:20). That is how wonderful and full of love and grace our God is. That he saves us and whether we sin or do his will, he still will save us.

Thank you for reading all the way through if you did. I hope I was more of a help than a hinderance.

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I did read everything, as I hope you will see. I did snip a number of verses for brevity's sake.

Friend, I suspect you believe that a gospel message that includes the command for the believer to submit to baptism is somehow a "work" and somehow "negates God's grace." Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, the gospel message, the "word of the Lord" begins with the admonition (from His own lips):

"15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." (Mark 16)

"Believed" what? The gospel!

This is what happened to the eunuch (read it again, if you doubt...);
it is what happened to the jailer (read it again, if you doubt);
it is what happened to the 3,000 after Peter's first sermon (read Acts 2:36ff again, if you doubt);
it is what happened to Paul (Acts 9, Acts 22, if you doubt),
to Lydia (Acts 16 if you doubt),
to Cornelius (Acts 10)...

Here indeed is the prerequisite for salvation - hearing the word of Christ - for "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17) The gospel is the word of Christ, the word about Christ and what Christ did for us and what we need to do (believe) to obtain this gracious opportunity to salvation.

There is no doubt Jesus, Peter, Paul, Philip, et. al. preached the gospel and that the gospel included the message about God's gracious opportunity to us to partake in His death, burial, and resurrection by submitting to (obeying) the gospel (the word of Christ) message and being baptized. It is not a work we do; it does not negate His grace - it is His grace. Baptism is the gospel, the essence of the gospel message (I Cor 15) IS baptism, and I pray He open your heart and everyone's heart to see the truth in His word.

"The sum of Thy Word is truth..." Psalm 119:160