Does faith cause salvation?
Question:
Dear Mr. Hamilton,
Thank you for sharing the article “What Saves a Person.” I’ve read it carefully and wanted to follow up with a sincere question.
I noticed the article lists many things Scripture associates with salvation — God, Christ, grace, faith, repentance, baptism, obedience, etc. — and then concludes that all are equally required for salvation. But as I study the New Testament, I see that Scripture itself distinguishes between:
• The cause of salvation (God’s grace, Christ’s sacrifice, faith in Him)
• The response to salvation (repentance, confession, baptism)
• The fruit of salvation (obedience, perseverance)
• The result of salvation (hope, joy, eternal life)
When these categories are collapsed, it seems we risk turning the response and fruit into conditions for salvation itself — something Scripture consistently warns against. For example, Peter later explains the normal pattern clearly: “God gave them the Holy Spirit when they believed” (Acts 15:7–8). And in Acts 10, Cornelius receives the Spirit before water baptism, which confirms Peter’s statement.
I’m not trying to argue — I’m trying to understand how your congregation harmonizes these passages. Specifically:
- How do you reconcile Acts 10 and Acts 15 with the conclusion that baptism is required before salvation?
- Why does the article treat Acts 2 (Pentecost) as the universal pattern, when Peter himself later clarifies that the Spirit is given at belief?
I appreciate your time and your willingness to share resources. I’m seeking clarity, not conflict, and I’d be grateful for any insight you can offer.
Answer:
I know you were trying to summarize Acts 15:7-8, but by putting quote marks around your summary, you create a misleading statement.
"After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, 'Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are'" (Acts 15:7-9).
God testified to the Gentiles, proving that Gentiles would be accepted for salvation just as the Jews, by giving the Holy Spirit to Cornelius and his household. This event was unusual. It is recorded only in Acts 2 and Acts 10. As Peter stated shortly after the event:
"'And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?' When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, 'Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life'" (Acts 11:15-18).
Thus, did Cornelius and his household receive the Holy Spirit after believing? The answer is clearly, "yes." Did this mean they were saved and nothing else needed to be done? Here, the answer is "No." (See Acts 11:18, which mentions that the Gentiles were granted "the repentance that leads to life." Additionally, Peter at the event stated, "'Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?' And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:47-48). Why command baptism in water if they had already done what was necessary to be saved?
Faith is a critical element regarding men's salvation. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). However, does faith cause salvation as you claimed? When Peter said "cleansing their hearts by faith," did faith cause the cleansing of the heart, or was it the avenue taken that led to their hearts being cleansed?
James tells us that isolated faith is insufficient to save. "But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:20-24). While many denominations wish to separate faith from action, the Bible is clear that action is required because it proves that true faith exists. Still, the point is that faith in isolation does not cause salvation. It is one of several things required by God to arrive at salvation.
We can see this in Acts 2. The Jews assembled demonstrated faith. "Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?'" (Acts 2:37). Peter did not answer that they were already saved. Instead, he gave them further instructions: "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:38). They were not yet saved, because even after this they were told they needed to be saved. "And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation!'" (Acts 2:40). It was when they chose to be baptized that they were added to the rolls of the saved. "So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). This is why the same Peter told us: "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21).
In a similar way, you mixed terms regarding obedience. When we obey God, we produce fruit, but the work is not the fruit. "Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful" (Titus 3:14). "So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10).
The only source of salvation is God. "And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation" (Hebrews 5:9). However, notice that this salvation is received on the condition that you obey the Lord. After all, Jesus once asked, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16).
So tell me, how do you justify downplaying verses that connect repentance, love, confession, and baptism to salvation?
