Shane asked me three related questions: 

I was on a trip and was flipping through radio stations when I came across the interview you did talking about the above-mentioned subject, and I had several questions. I hope it is ok to ask you for some clarification.  

1: Why should we use the book of John for our New Testament salvation guide? The temporary salvation of “believing” was only for the time before the “Church Age.” …  

So, after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we enter the New Testament period. This is why Hebrews 9:16-17 explained that the Will/Testament of Jesus was not in effect until his Death. The temporary salvation in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John is of no effect to us today in the New Testament Church.  

2: It was mentioned on the show that salvation is by “Faith Alone”. Nowhere in scripture is that found. It was completely fabricated by Martin Luther. We also know scripture completely goes against this belief, especially in the book of James…James 2:14 he poses the question can faith alone save him. Then proceeds to answer that over the next several verses, concluding in verse 24 that no, faith alone cannot save anyone. 

3: The “Church Age” begins in the book of Acts and goes into great detail on how the Holy Ghost/Spirit is received. So why do so many churches completely skip the book of Acts when it comes to explaining how the receiving of the Holy Ghost/Spirit takes place? 

Let’s consider his questions one at a time. 

First, John’s Gospel is the go-to book on how to have everlasting life because it is the only book in the Bible whose stated purpose is to evangelize (John 20:31).  

The salvation in John’s Gospel was not and is not temporary. Jesus emphatically said that the one who believes in Him will never thirst, hunger, be cast out, perish, or die spiritually. That was true when Jesus was preaching, not just after He died. And since He was preaching before the Church was born, He was explaining how anyone at any time receives everlasting life. Everlasting life is ever-lasting life.  

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are not evangelistic and do not contain any clear verses on how one is born again.  

Second, the only condition of everlasting life is faith in Christ (Gen 3:15; 15:6; John 3:16; 11:25-27; 20:31; Acts 16:31; Eph 2:8-9; 1 Tim 1:16; Rev 22:17). It is not misleading to say that justification or regeneration is by faith alone, since there is no other condition.  

James 2:14-26 does not address salvation from eternal condemnation. It is talking about salvation from judgment during this life. If we don’t apply Scripture, it won’t benefit us (Jas 2:14, “What does it profit…”) or the needy believers we should have helped (James 2:16, “…what does it profit?”).  

It is a mistake to misunderstand James 2 and then impose that false understanding on the plain meaning of the Gospel of John. Sadly, many in Evangelicalism do just that.  

Third, I agree that the Church began in Acts 2. That is when the Holy Spirit began to indwell believers permanently. Prior to that, the Holy Spirit was with believers: “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). The idea that eternal security did not become true until the indwelling ministry of the Spirit is a contradiction to what the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist, and Jesus’ apostles all taught.  

Shane, I suggest you read John’s Gospel carefully and prayerfully. Ask God to show you whether people have everlasting life simply by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for that life. I’m convinced you will find out that regeneration is indeed by faith alone. 

Keep grace in focus, and you will not lose sight of the promise that whoever believes in Jesus has everlasting life and will never perish.