Before embarking on the beautiful and transformative journey to salvation, it’s crucial to lay a strong foundation—one deeply rooted in Scripture and guided by proper biblical context. However, many people mistakenly begin their study of salvation in the Epistles instead of the Book of Acts. Moreover, while both are vital parts of the New Testament, their roles are distinct, and understanding the differences between them is essential for grasping the full picture of salvation.
Why Context Matters
The Epistles—letters written by apostles such as Paul, Peter, and others—offer rich instruction, correction, and encouragement. However, these writings are intended for individuals and churches that were already part of the body of Christ. They assume that the recipients have already entered into a saving relationship with Jesus through repentance, baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
In contrast, the Book of Acts is a historical narrative recording the birth of the church, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the initial response to the gospel message. It documents the first conversions and provides direct accounts of how salvation was preached and experienced by early believers.
A Defining Moment: Acts 2
A pivotal moment comes in Acts 2:37 when, after witnessing the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, the crowd asks the apostles:
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
— Acts 2:37 (MEV)
This heartfelt question prompted Peter’s response—one that would become the cornerstone of the Apostolic message of salvation. It was neither theoretical nor symbolic; it was a clear, actionable answer that gave rise to the New Testament church.
The Audience of the Epistles
Let’s explore how the Epistles clearly identify their intended audience:
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Romans 1:7 (KJV): “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints…”
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1 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV): “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth… called to be saints…”
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Galatians 1:2 (KJV): “…unto the churches of Galatia…”
These letters weren’t written to unbelievers seeking salvation—they were penned to believers who had already experienced the new birth.
The Epistles Reflect a Salvation Already Received
Throughout the Epistles, the writers often reference the believers’ past experiences with salvation:
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Romans 6:3-4 (KJV): “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? … we are buried with him by baptism…”
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1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV): “But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified… by the Spirit of our God.”
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1 Corinthians 12:13 (NASB): “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…”
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Galatians 3:27 (AMP): “For all of you who were baptized into Christ… have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
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Titus 3:5 (KJV): “…according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost…”
These are not invitations to salvation—they are reminders of what has already taken place in the lives of believers.
The Proper Sequence of Understanding
Those who attempt to form a salvation doctrine strictly from the Epistles risk building on a secondary foundation. The Epistles were never intended to teach sinners how to be saved. They were written to teach the saved how to live. Peter preached the plan of salvation in Acts 2, and the book repeatedly demonstrates it as the clearest blueprint.
Ignoring the Book of Acts in favor of the Epistles is like trying to read the middle of a book without understanding how the story began.
A Unified Testimony
When viewed in proper order, the New Testament paints a cohesive picture of salvation:
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The Gospels foretell and prepare the way through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Then, the Book of Acts reveals the birth of the church and details how individuals first responded to the gospel.
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Finally, the Epistles offer wisdom, encouragement, and instruction to those who have already obeyed the gospel.
As Paul so beautifully explains in Ephesians and Romans, salvation is by grace through faith. Above all, the application of that grace through obedience is unmistakably modeled in the Book of Acts.
Conclusion
Many who reject the genuine Apostolic doctrine of salvation make the mistake of building their salvation theology only from the Epistles. They bypass the clear examples of salvation found in Acts. The Epistles assume the reader has already obeyed the gospel. Just as Paul repeatedly reminds believers of their baptism and Spirit infilling. The Book of Acts is where Peter preached the plan of salvation, and the repeated experiences of salvation outpouring are recorded. To ignore the Book of Acts when studying salvation is to overlook the very foundation upon which the church was built. Moreover, many passages in the Epistles further explain how salvation is made available to humanity, explicitly, by grace through faith based on the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, the journey to salvation begins with faith, is initiated by obedience, and is sustained by grace. The Book of Acts provides the clearest roadmap, showing us how the apostles preached, and how the early church responded. The Epistles then help us grow in that salvation, walking in newness of life and living out the calling we have received. To fully understand God’s plan of salvation, we must study it in the context in which it was revealed: beginning in Acts and continuing through the Epistles.
Finally, the Journey to Salvation is foretold by the Gospels, born in Acts, and supplemented by the Epistles.
Suggested Reading
- Is salvation required to go to heaven?
- Why do some think only part of the journey is required to get to heaven?
Credits
OpenAI helped create my article outlines and generate the imagery. Grammarly fixed my writing errors and Quillbot makes everything better.