It Takes Both

John Isaac Edwards

Your attention is being directed to some areas of a spiritual nature in which It Takes Both.

Belief And Baptism. The Lord proclaimed, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). Faith without baptism is no better than baptism without faith. Upon whatever basis you eliminate baptism from being essential to salvation; upon that same basis you eliminate faith from being essential as well; for Jesus said it takes both!

Spirit And Truth. The conversation of Jesus with the woman of Samaria records, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). To worship with the right attitude but not according to the word of God (Jn. 17:17), or to worship in truth but not in spirit, is to worship in vain (Mt. 15:8,9). It takes both!

Zeal And Knowledge. The record of Paul concerning Israel was, “That they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Rom. 10:2). The same problem exists today. Some have zeal, but no knowledge. Others have knowledge, but no zeal. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). There’s knowledge. In Titus 2:4 we read, “Zealous of good works.” There’s zeal. It takes both!

Grace And Faith. Some would have us believe we are saved by grace alone or by faith alone. The Bible teaches it takes both. “For by grace are ye saved through faith…” (Eph. 2:8). When you learn that grace saves (Ti. 2:11) and faith saves (Jn. 8:24), you will learn it takes both. Otherwise, you have a man saved without something the Lord says saves. Imagine that!

Repentance And Baptism. As it takes both belief and baptism to save in Mark 16:16, it takes both repentance and baptism to save in Acts 2:38. Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” In Acts 3:19, a parallel passage, Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” One could not have the remission of sins without being baptized, no more than he could have his sins blotted out without being converted!

Faith And Works. Some may try to separate faith and works, but the Bible puts them together. “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas. 2:20). It takes both!