Saved By Faith, But When?
We certainly agree the Bible teaches we are saved by faith (“Therefore being justified by faith” – Rom 5:1). But the question is → When are we saved by faith, before or after that faith leads us to obey God in baptism?Old Testament illustration – Heb 11:30: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." Heb 11:30 shows that just because something is done “by faith,” that doesn't mean that something happens “at the point of faith,” or “by faith alone.” And that is the issue!New Testament parallel – Gal 3:26-27: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." The word “For” beginning Gal 3:27 means “to introduce the reason.” That means the reason we are children of God by faith is because we were baptized into Christ. So Gal 3:26-27 is saying we are saved “by faith,” but it is not saying we are saved “at the point of faith.” Instead it is saying we are saved “by faith” when we are baptized.