Putting on Christ

Application vs. Appropriation

Whenever anyone points to the Epistles for guidance in matters of salvation, the CoC will often dismiss it all. Because the CoC claims that when it comes to conversion, Acts is the only source for “conversion language.” It claims that we can only go to the Epistles to learn how to live out the Christian life.

For instance, the CoC claims that Romans was only written to people who were already forgiven and saved in Acts, through water. Therefore, it conveniently claims that none of its passages can ever refer to conversion. It claims that Paul cannot be telling saved people how to be saved.

The CoC seems to think that since the book of Acts comes before the Epistles, then Acts is where we should get our soteriology. Yet, it ignores the fact that the canon of Scripture presents the four gospels BEFORE the book of Acts!! So, it once again refutes its own arguments.

Some CoC’s think Paul was only showing “the superiority of his apostleship over Judaism,” and that the book of Romans can only be telling us how to “maintain” a salvation that was supposedly gained in water and lost again until one utilizes the CoC’s “second laws of pardon.”

So, let’s test those CoC theories according to God’s Word:

The CoC claims that the only way to “put on” Christ is to be water baptized, while wrenching verses, such as Galatians 3:27, out of context. The CoC is notorious for isolating that verse from the one that preceded it, because the previous verse says:

“For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26).

Why does the CoC do this?

Well, because it doesn’t fit the CoC’s sacramental salvation narrative.

According to the CoC, Paul’s audience in Romans was made up of those who had already put on Christ “savingly” in water baptism. However, in Romans 13:14 we find the CoC’s very own “conversion language” of “putting on Christ.” Except this time, it is APART from water baptism.

For Paul states as follows:

“put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

So, we must ask… Is Paul telling them to get re-baptized? Or could it be that there is more than one way to “put on Christ,” rather than just through water baptism?

Moreover, could it be that water baptism has NEVER been a way to “savingly” put on Christ, but is rather another beautiful way to imitate Christ, once a person has been born again, from above, by the quickening, regenerating power of the Holy Spirit?

Exactly!!

This dilemma creates a double-bind for the CoC. Because it claims there cannot possibly be any other way to “put on Christ” except through water. And yet, Scripture reveals the exact opposite! For there are many ways to imitate Christ with good works. And none of those works save, for they are the fruits of one who has already been saved.

So, denial seems to be one reason the CoC is unable to answer the question…”Is Paul telling them to get re-baptized in Romans 13:14?”

For if the CoC actually acknowledged that Paul wasn’t encouraging re-baptism, and if the CoC actually admitted that there is more than one way to imitate or “put on Christ,” rather than just through water baptism, then it would completely destroy the CoC’s false support system.

However, it would be better for CoC’s to renounce that refuge of lies now, than to end up in hell for all eternity.

Again, remember the CoC claims that the only way to “put on Christ” is to be water baptized. Because it fabricates a superficial support for its doctrine by pulling Galatians 3:27 out of context, which states:

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Carefully observe how the CoC puts this verse in front of the one that preceded it, in an attempt to reverse the order. Because when it’s read chronologically it does not fit its baptismal regeneration narrative. In their true order, these passages reveal how one becomes a Christian BEFORE they are ever baptized in water.

Galatians 3:26 reveals that a true God-given faith must come BEFORE an acceptable baptism. Because Jesus Christ alone is the object of true saving faith. He alone saves. But the CoC tries to destroy that faith wherever it finds it, because it’s a threat to its legalistic system.

Sadly, if a person tells the CoC that they have repented and whole-heartedly trusted in Jesus Christ alone to save them, and that they’ve been baptized as a testimony of that faith, then those CoC’s will oftentimes do their very best to try to make that person think that they are going to hell if they don’t believe water baptism is what actually “puts one into salvation status.”

THAT…is spiritual abuse.

No wonder the CoC bends over backwards to try to discount the clear display of its very own “conversion language” in the Epistles. The CoC absolutely detests what the Epistles clearly convey SO MUCH that it will deceptively claim that only the book of Acts contains “conversion language.”

CoC’s falsely claim the Epistles cannot possibly contain anything that pertains to how one is to be saved. For they claim that the Epistles are only addressed to those who were already “saved through water baptism” in Acts.

This is the result of the CoC’s cultic obsession with Acts 2:38 and its attempts to turn it into a baptismal formula for salvation, thereby making the Epistles out to be non-salvific in their language.

The CoC falsely teaches that Romans is only about how one can “stay saved” by the grace of Christ, and that grace is only operative if we “do” something first.

It erroneously assumes that since the book of Acts precedes Romans then it must contain the Romans actual conversion through water baptism. Ironically, the CoC fails to recognize the fact that the gospels precede the book of Acts, which refutes the faulty premise of its own argument.

This is why the CoC will often say things like: “You’re reading someone else’s mail” if you ever quote from any of the Epistles concerning salvation.

Although the Epistles clearly convey what true salvation is all about (an in-depth explanation of the Person and work of Jesus Christ), the CoC falsely claims that only the book of Acts contains “conversion language.” So, its captives end up believing that every other book of the Bible can only be telling us how to “maintain salvation” through works.

When the revelation of God’s sovereignty in salvation is pointed out in the Epistles, CoC’s will falsely claim that no such thing can ever possibly be true, due to the audiences already “saving themselves” according to the CoC’s baptismal regeneration interpretation of Acts 2:38, 40.

This is one reason why it can be so difficult to break through such cultic conditioning. But still, CoC’s have MAJOR problems explaining away the full counsel of God in His Word.

For in Romans 13:14, Paul says to “put on” Christ, even though CoC’s claim that Paul’s audience in Romans is made up of already “baptismally saved” people from Acts.

The phrase “put on” is the word enduo in Greek, which, in this sense, means one is to identify with Christ by being clothed in Christ-likeness. Putting on Christ is a form of imitating Christ. And every time we imitate Christ we are worshipping Christ.

Initially, Christians are regenerated by a sovereign act of God’s free grace, through faith in Christ, whereby God then sees us as dressed in the righteousness of Christ, for we have been “washed” and justified by His blood (e.g. Rom. 5:9, Col. 3:10, Rev. 1:5).

Then, water baptism is a ritual re-enactment of that reality, whereby we demonstrate our identity in Christ. In fact, our entire discipleship and sanctification involves following, imitating and conforming to Christ.

But CoC’s insist that one can only “get into Christ through water baptism.” They even attempt to rip Galatians 3:27 from its context, in order to try to prove such a theory.

But Romans 5:18 says the “free gift came upon all men to justification of life.” For all men in Christ are justified by God’s free gift of grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). They are enabled to believe through grace (Acts 18:27).

Romans chapter 5 makes a clear distinction between those in Christ and those in Adam. Because, those who are left in spiritual solidarity with Adam are “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). They are clearly distinguished from those who become “the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). And that faith is the operation of God (Col. 2:12). It comes about only by the working of His mighty power (Jn. 1:12; 1 Cor. 2:5; Eph. 1:19; 2 Thess. 1:11), in virtue of Jesus’ merits.

All who have been adopted in Christ are children of God by the free gift of God’s grace, NOT by a “free gift of a believing immersion,” which would be a contradiction of terms. The free gift of salvation is only by God’s grace, NOT of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8).

Because God freely saves whomever He wants, whenever He wants and in the way that He has chosen (Jn.5:21). Which happens to be the ONLY way that perfectly harmonizes with His holy character and nature, and the ONLY way that perfectly suits the desperate spiritual needs of fallen humanity.

This is why Scripture NEVER even implies that one can be “justified by water baptism,” or any other work. However, it DOES convey the fact that God’s people are “justified by faith” (e.g., Rom. 3:28; 5:1, Gal. 2:16; 3:11, 24). For it is only by the gift of faith that one can apprehend and receive Christ.

Just because CoC’s cannot understand what true saving faith is all about, that does NOT mean that it’s non-existent. For those who are true ambassadors of Christ are living proof that it DOES exist!!

But it seems that CoC’s don’t have a true understanding of their opposition, which often causes them to end up attacking a straw man argument of their own invention. That is such an irrational approach. For such faulty assumptions have no logical or biblical bearing on what is actually true.

Even Acts 2:38 reveals that a true God-given faith must come before an acceptable baptism. Because repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. When one has truly believed, they have also repented. Likewise, when one has truly repented they have also savingly believed.

Since no one is good or righteous among fallen humanity (e.g. Rom. 3), then it only goes to reason that since repentance and faith are good and righteous, then these aspects of salvation cannot possibly be the result of the natural abilities of fallen man. They are free gifts of God’s distinguishing grace and love!

“I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3).

The heavenly Father draws His people, with cords of love, to Jesus (e.g. Song 1:4, Jer. 31:3, Hos. 11:4, Jn. 6:44). Who spiritually reveals Himself to their heart and mind, while the Holy Spirit applies to them all of the blessed benefits of the Covenant of grace (including faith and repentance). Which Jesus procured for them on the cross.

God provides the conditions so that His elect are enabled to spiritually apprehend Jesus by faith (1 Pet. 1:2). This way, all the glory of salvation goes to God alone!!

Since God calls for 100% obedience, 100% of the time, to a 100% degree of satisfaction, then it’s obvious that our only hope of salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. For only Jesus was 100% obedient, 100% of the time, to a 100% degree of satisfaction, on behalf of guilty sinners. Which is what the true gospel is all about.

Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Heb. 5:9).

So, to truly obey Him is to believe the gospel. Likewise, true repentance is obedience to the command to believe (Acts 20:21). For when we have been enabled, by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, to wholeheartedly agree with God’s Word against ourselves, and have been drawn by the Father to Jesus Christ as our only hope of salvation, then we have truly repented, believed and obeyed the gospel.

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