If the reader will examine with me the circumstances attending Peter’s discourse on the day of Pentecost, I think I will prove to him that the three thousand, who were that day added to the Disciples, were not saved by faith alone.

We find, upon examination, that Peter, being moved by the spirit of God, preached to the assembled multitude concerning Jesus, whom they had recently put to death. He proved from the Holy Scriptures that the same Jesus whom they had so ignominiously crucified, was none other than the promised Messiah, of whom all the prophets bore witness. He made the matter so plain that they could not help being convinced. They were cut to their hearts, and in great agony cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved?” Now, mark Peter’s reply. He did not say to them, “Believe on Jesus,” for they believed on him already. Nor yet did he say to them, “Brethren, you are already truly justified, inasmuch as you have believed on Christ, that he is the son of God,” for Peter was commissioned to proclaim the truth, and not a lie. What, then, was his response to their interrogatory? See Acts, chap. 2, ver. 38.

“Then said Peter unto them, Repent, and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Then, in order to “remission of sins,” there is something else required besides faith. What, then, is the office of faith? I answer, faith purifies, or changes the heart. It destroys all our love of sin, and fills the heart with a longing to know the will of God, that we may do it. Of which the above recorded action of the believers on the day of Pentecost, is a very striking example. And how is faith to be obtained? I reply, by diligently reading God’s word, examining the testimony of the prophets and Apostles, until we are firmly persuaded in our own minds that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, that he died for the sins of the world, and having lain in the grave three days, arose on the third, and afterwards ascended up to heaven, where he now intercedes for man, at the right hand of the Majesty on High. A saving and rational faith is never received in any other way. In proof of which, read Romans, chap. 10, ver. 17.

“So, then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Plan of Salvation: Made Plain to the Sinner by John H. Hundley. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!