Transcript
Ben Fallon: In the last episode of “Ask Paul Tripp,” we answered theological questions about obedience and disobedience, and whether or not it impacts our relationship with God. Today, Paul, we have a similar one.
Brian asks, “Is it a must (In bold and underlined) to be baptized in order to go to heaven according to the words of Jesus?” For context, Brian is referring to verses 3 and 5 of John, chapter 3, when Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” And then after Nicodemus asks, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answers, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Again, Brian asks, “Is it a must to be baptized in order to go to heaven according to the words of Jesus?”
Paul Tripp: Again, these questions that we're talking about seem very practical and simple on the surface, but they tap into significant aspects of theology. The question really is, “Am I ever saved by my obedience?” That's the question. Just remove baptism; give me any other of God's commands and put it in there, and you have the same question. God's commands are always right and always true and should always be obeyed. This is the Lord Almighty, the Holy One; it's a big deal to turn my back on his commands.
Having said that, I am never accepted into relationship with God and to the eternal state of that relationship because of my obedience because Isaiah says something that is incredibly humbling. It's one of the most unpopular passages of Scripture. It is that “all our righteousness are as filthy rags.” My obedience will never, ever be enough. My righteousness is never, ever enough. I am saved by grace! And in an act of justifying mercy, God's righteousness, Jesus' righteousness worked out on earth, his life was very important. It was very important that he lived a completely righteous life under the pressure of sin because that righteousness was achieved for me.
So, what is my righteousness? It's Christ–Christ is my righteousness! And so, you have to take these individual passages in the context of what the Bible says about the fundamental nature of my position, my standing before God. And it's never based on my righteousness.
I was once at a seminar on suicide with a Muslim Imam and a Rabbi and a Hindu Priest, and the question asked was, “What happens when a person commits suicide?” And everybody answered that they're cursed eternally. And I said, “Suicide is a serious sin against God. Only God should ever take life. But I'm not saved and welcomed into eternity because of my righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Jesus.”
Let me add something to this question. One of the moments that I love in the suffering of Jesus that brings me such comfort is when he cries out on the cross, “It is finished!” He's not just saying, “I'm about to die.” What he's saying is “Everything I needed to do in order to secure your standing with God, it's done! I've completed the work!” There's nothing I'm ever going to add to the completed work of Jesus. His work is sufficient! And so, I don't have to ever think that anything I do will just add that little bit that will get me in.
BF: Thanks, Paul, and I would remind you again, as I did last episode, that if you want Paul's most extensive coverage of doctrinal issues, you can find them in his book, Do You Believe? That said, he's not going to cover the specifics of something like baptism, but the book covers 12 key doctrines of our Christian faith and how they transform our daily living. Do You Believe?: 12 Historic Doctrines to Change Your Everyday Life is available at paultripp.com/doctrine. Have a great weekend.
You have permission to print, repost, share, distribute, and translate this resource as long as you credit Paul Tripp as the teacher, do not charge for this resource, and do not alter the content in any way. If you require an exception or special permission, please email Teaching@PaulTripp.com.
