Legacy · Q&A
Salvation, Conversion, and Spirit Baptism

Question:
Hi, I came across your site today and had a question for you regarding your FAQ page. Following is my understanding of what I think is being said, can you tell me if I am wrong or right.
- Salvation is what comes to all those, even today, who are Christians.
- New Birth, only comes to those who receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- New Birth is evidenced only with the speaking in tongues.
So, if this is true, then people can be saved (Christians), but not born again? Is that correct?
Thanks,
Joe
Answer:
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your inquiry regarding our website. Concerning Salvation, you might refer to our FAQ's page question and answer titled When and How is a Person Saved, and also to our current Gospel E-Word titled The Devil's Oldest Trick. But in short order on Salvation, it is the reward for faithful endurance in a holy life, after someone is born again, until the time of their death. In other words, Salvation is actually the immortality received by the faithful, dead and living, at the Lord's second coming (Isa. 25:9, Isa. 40:31 ["mount up" means to ascend, or be caught up], I Cor. 15:50-54, I Jn. 3:2,3, etc.). See I Pet. 1:3-9, Mat. 24:12,13, Philip. 2:12, Rom. 13:11, and Acts 15:11 for confirmation of that point, which is to say that Salvation is at the end of one's faith, or faithfulness, as stated in I Pet. 3:9; and not at the beginning of one's faith, as taught
erroneously by Christianity.
That brings us to your other questions concerning the New Birth. CONVERSION, or new birth (same thing), is not the same thing as Salvation.
One is converted to Christ, or born again (made a new creature), by being IN CHRIST, as stated by II Cor. 5:17. The only BIBLICAL way to get into Christ, is through Baptism, which is stated clearly in Rom. 6:3, Gal. 3:27, and I Cor. 12:13. And I Cor. 12:13 clarifies that it is the Spirit Baptism (not water baptism) that puts us into Christ, or into the body of Christ. See our FAQ's article called When and How Is a Person Born Again? The baptism of the holy Ghost is received by faith, through God's Grace, whereas water baptism is a work, and is not of grace (Rom. 11:6). Refer to our Bible Study The Worship of God in Spirit and Truth . So yes, the holy Ghost Baptism is the new birth experience, and yes, it always is accompanied by the heavenly witness of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. Speaking in tongues is a by-product of the experience (Isa. 28:11,12; Mat. 11:28: Acts 3:19). The heart and soul of the new birth experience is full repentance and faith toward Jesus, with a willingness for Him to take over the reins of our life. God provided the heavenly witness for evidence that HE has accepted OUR faith and repentance, seeing that He alone can see the full details of what is going on in anyone's heart (Acts 15:7-9; Acts 10:44-46; Jer. 17:9; I Kin. 8:39; I Sam. 16:6,7; Mat. 23:27,28). You might also check out our page on The Witness of Speaking With Other Tongues.
So to address your last question, it is impossible for someone to be saved, without having experienced the new birth, seeing that Salvation comes at the end of a faithful life of holiness (pureness of heart), after someone has been born again. And yes, this does mean that Christianity is totally wrong about all of the doctrines that it teaches concerning the Gospel of Christ. Joe, the only place that God's truth can be found is IN CHRIST, through the anointing of the holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth! (II Cor. 3:17, Col. 2:2,3, I Jn. 2:27, Jn. 14:26, Jn. 16:13, etc., etc.) If you want to know the truth, empty your heart out to the Lord, and let Him guide you personally. He knows just how to let you know that He is the one leading the way into all truth. Refer to our article titled Continuing In The Word of God. Your inquiry is appreciated, and your correspondence is valued. Great to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Lary



