The question of all questions is “What think ye of Christ?” What one thinks of Christ determines his thoughts and actions on every question. The correctness of faith depends on the correct answer to the superlative question—“What think ye of Christ?” The question of how and when one is saved by faith through Christ is answered when the first question is resolved. The value of faith in salvation is determined by the use that is made of faith. How faith is to be used must be decided by what the gospel of Christ says; for apart from the testimony of the divine records no one can settle any question as to salvation through Christ.
Before all men today there are two plans of salvation offered. One is of human origin, and contradicts the teaching of Christ and his apostles. The other is Jesus Christ’s own plan, and it was revealed through the apostles.
Since the time of Martin Luther the doctrine of justification by faith alone has been taught as a leading theological tenet. It is taught in opposition to the teaching of Christ through his apostles. We should and we do emphasize justification by faith, as the apostles of the Lord taught it, but we refuse to add the word “alone,” and because we refuse to do that we are charged with teaching justification by works and water salvation. Paul and all of the apostles taught justification by faith, but never did they say faith alone. Why? “There’s a reason,” as certain advertising reads, and quite a sufficient reason. First, they would have contradicted the commission of Mark 16:15-16 which gave them authority to preach. Second, they knew that faith is a continuing state of mind. Faith was to be ever present, hence a life of faith. Hence, Paul said “Christ liveth in me.” Do you ask how? “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20). Thus Paul teaches that faith is ever present, all through life, and is directed all of the way by “the faith” of Christ. All students of language know that we may employ transposition of clauses in a sentence without changing its meaning, but rather making its meaning clearer. Transposing Rom. 1:16 it reads: “To every one that believeth it (the gospel) is the power of God unto salvation.” So here is the order: (1) There is a believer; (2) the believer is in possession of “the power” that is “unto” salvation; (3) when that “power” is used, the believer becomes saved. Power is necessary to the accomplishment of anything, physical or spiritual. The power must be used before there can be results. The power unto salvation is the gospel. That power and the use of it stands between the believer and salvation. Is the believer saved before and without the use of the power which is “unto”—in order to—his salvation? Who can imagine results without the use of the power necessary to the results? Thus it is that this passage, and every other passage quoted as a faith alone text, condemns the doctrine of salvation at the moment one believes.
What one thinks of Christ is determined by what he thinks of the gospel of Christ.
The above post is an excerpt from the book, TORCH by Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!
Foy E. Wallace, Jr. (1896-1979) was one of the most influential preachers among churches of Christ in the twentieth century. In 1950 he started publishing Torch, a personal periodical consisting mainly of his own writings. He continued publication for twelve issues. Through this magazine he addressed such issues as premillennialism, modernism, sponsoring churches, institutionalism, and more. He also wrote about his labors as he traveled to various places across the country to preach the gospel. With the Biblical teaching and historical information contained in it, this volume is a valuable resource for brethren today in studying the Scriptures and understanding the issues which affected brethren of Wallace’s day.