Command With Promise

Faith only teachers tend to dismiss all commands as legalism or salvation by trusting works. We have to realize that not all commands are a matter of legalism. Some commands have promises attatched making them commands of faith.

Consider,

Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

There are many such commands, some are not connected with salvation but a few are.

Baptism is a command with promise attached.

Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Yes baptism is a command attached to promise, making it a matter of faith instead of legalism.

We must realize some commandments are part of law and can only condemn, but some commandments produce life.

Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Also, even if we know something such as love through grace, then what we were made aware becomes a commandment. We know love through grace, but it became a commandment after love was made known to us..

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Love is a condition of salvation.

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Those who claim to know Christ but hate his church are deceivers.