Altar Calls are not biblical (Part 2)

A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece titled, ‘Altar calls are not biblical’, in which I basically said that there’s nowhere in the Bible where a person is saved by a prayer.

Certainly, there are many instances in the Bible where folks pray for salvation, but no instance where the prayer itself saves them. My basic premise was that the Bible gives us only one path to salvation, and it includes two things: REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM. In that order, too, meaning repentance first and then baptism.

I got a response from a reader, who made a very insightful observation, and a very popular one too, about the famous thief on the cross.

She pointed out very spot-on facts about the thief. He NEVER got baptised, yet Jesus told him in Luke 23:43 that he would be with him “in paradise”. All the thief had to do was ask in Luke 23:42, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”

Salvation for the thief on the cross was as easy as a simple prayer.

That’s is 100% true.

But just for the thief on the cross, not for you and I.

And I’ll explain.

When thinking about salvation, it’s important to keep three very important periods in mind:

• 1st Period: Before Christ — the period before Jesus physically walked the earth
• 2nd Period: During Christ — the period when Jesus physically lived on earth
• 3rd Period: After Christ — After Jesus died, resurrected and returned to Heaven.

Salvation looked different depending on the period, and so if we’re thinking of the thief on the Cross, it’s important to ask what period he fell under?

Hold that question in mind for now, we’d come back to it.

Instead, let’s explore what Salvation looked like within these three periods.

Before Christ

How was sin forgiven before Jesus Christ came into the picture?

That’s easy: the shedding of blood through animal sacrifice.

The book of Leviticus is littered with instructions on how the priests were to prepare the sin offering. The idea is that the slain animal bore the consequence of the sinner’s sin.

Take a look at Leviticus 17:11, which confirms this, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Alright, that’s before Christ, let’s turn to the period during Christ when Jesus physically walked on earth.

During Christ

How did sinners receive forgiveness when Jesus came into the picture, living in human flesh among ordinary men?

This one is also simple: Jesus is Jesus, he simply forgave their sin on the spot. Gbam!

A good example is the paralysed man in Mark 2:1–12.

“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Pay attention to Verse 10. Jesus tells the teachers of the law that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”

Can you guess why the teachers of the law were so mad? Because the only way they’d known that sins were atoned for was through animal sacrifice? Like, who does Jesus think he is?

Um, the Son of Man.

This paralysed man wasn’t the only one who Jesus verbally told, “Your sins are forgiven”. He did the same with the sinful woman with the alabaster flask (Luke 7:36–50), Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1–10) and our favourite guy, the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39–43).

Alright, that’s during Christ’s time on earth, what about after Christ no longer physically walked the earth?

After Christ

Did Jesus leave a way for sinners to receive forgiveness for their sins after his departure?

Well, turn with me to Luke 24: 46–48.

He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Let me throw in a bit of context here.

Jesus had this conversation with his disciples after he had resurrected. Shortly after this chat, he would lead them on to Bethany, where he left them, never to be seen again.

Pay attention to Jesus’ instructions. He says a special message of “repentance and forgiveness of sins” will be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

This should trigger two thoughts in our minds. First, “What the heck was preached in Jerusalem?”

Second, whatever salvation message is preached in Jerusalem will be the standard for all salvation messages preached everywhere else.

So come along, off to Jerusalem we go.

In Acts 2:1–40 (that’s right, go read the WHOLE THING, don’t be lazy), Peter preaches a message to a massive crowd of Jews from around the world, gathered for the annual Pentecost festival. He tells the crowd that Jesus is both Lord and Saviour.

Some from the crowd were really moved by Peter’s message and ask him a very important question,

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Verse 37)

How does Peter respond to them? Does he tell them, “Common guys, you know the drill, go get your bull, ox, or pigeons?” Nope.

Does he pray for them to receive forgiveness for their sins? Nope.

Does he verbally tell them, like Jesus did, “Your sins are forgiven?” Nope.

So what does Peter say in response? Take a look at Verse 38.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Uh-oh, Peter dropped them some R&B: Repentance and Baptism.

Was this a special case peculiar to the crowd gathered at Pentecost?

Absolutely not! Check out what Peter says in verse 39.

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

So what’s the point here? After Jesus died, Repentance and Baptism became the single standard for how anyone could receive salvation. Not a desperate prayer.

Remember, the salvation message preached at Jerusalem became the standard for any salvation message anywhere in the world.

Now, let’s return to the question I asked earlier. Where did the thief on the Cross fall? Before Christ, During Christ or After Christ?

During Christ. That’s correct. Which makes sense why Jesus simply told the fella he would meet him in Paradise.

Last thing.

Many people tell me, “Nchy, God sees our hearts. Why bother with trivialities like whether one can gain salvation through a simple prayer or whether baptism is necessary? These matters only serve to divide Christendom.

God indeed sees our hearts. What’s also true is that God knows our hearts. If that’s the case, then I have a hard time understanding why anyone would be okay with having a chat with God on Judgement Day, explaining why they “knew” what the Bible instructed for salvation but were comfortable following along with modified Salvation messages taught by sincerely misled men and women.

Shouldn’t God knowing your heart, make you more earnest about doing the right thing if you’re privileged to know it?

Remember the words of James 4:17, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them”

If you wanna do more Bible studies on the topic of salvation to separate false religious hype from actual scriptural doctrine, then let’s make it a date, I’m happy to connect, please click here to schedule a meeting.