Four Essentials Unto Salvation
By B. E. Echols

I present the contents of this book as a more thorough treatise concerning the things that are absolutely required of all those who are interested in the salvation of their souls; also, for those who want to better acquaint themselves with these essentials, in order that they may be able to thoroughly and positively present the plan of salvation, as preached and taught by our Lord and His disciples. It is for these purposes that I sincerely and prayerfully dedicate this book.

A Serious Situation

There are so many sectarian ideas and gospels devised by men (2 Peter 2:1-3, 17: Galatians 1:6-9) these days that many minds are confused about the requirements for those in search of salvation. Let me warn you that these plans devised by man may seem right to some, from the standpoint of human reasoning, but according to God’s Word “the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

An Exact And Scriptural Approach Intended

The text for this entire book will be the Philippian jailer’s demand of Paul and Silas, as recorded in Acts 16:30: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” I am going to adhere to the theme and text of this book and Scripturally answer this question, in he chapters to follow, so my hands will be free from the blood of all men who read this message.

This jailer was not concerned about any non-essentials. He wanted to know nothing but what was necessary for him to do in order to be saved and this should be the desire of all who are honestly seeking after salvation. Therefore every minister, gospel worker, and lay-member should take precaution and present everything that is essential to salvation, and nothing that is not essential. If we do not do this, we will confuse and corrupt the minds of those honest seekers (after salvation) and hinder some of them from ever going all the way with the Lord. Thus we shall become an instrument of damnation to them, instead of a gospel instructor,

Therefore, I am setting forth these four essentials of the gospel in four separate chapters; and dealing with each point or step in its proper sequence, as outlined in the Bible, for I sincerely desire that all who are seeking deliverance from a life of sin may know definitely what is required of them by the Lord, and just how to proceed in complying with the demands of the gospel.

A Qualified Presentation

I am sure of what I have written concerning the four essentials to salvation, as presented in this book. I have searched the Scriptures and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ by God’s grace, for the last thirty-nine years (reckoning backwards from 1962 A.D.), and have witnessed the work of God’s grace in the lives of many people. I have seen how the gospel has delivered people from all kinds of habits, sin, and worldliness. They would then become new creatures in Christ, to the extent that old things passed away; (and) behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17). I hope and pray that as you read further in this book your soul will be enlightened and made hungry for such a deliverance as this, so that you will meet the requirements of the gospel of Jesus Christ and be a participant of God’s grace and salvation.

Something I Personally Experienced

Then, I have obeyed the Scriptures and complied with these four requirements of the gospel myself, just as I am introducing them to you, and have experienced a glorious change in my life, and a deliverance from the bondage and guilt of sin. I had sought for a satisfying assurance among a certain established church several times, only to meet with failure and disappointment. I had about given up hope of ever finding the satisfaction and deliverance that my heart and soul were longing for and needed. But, as God kept dealing with my heart, I was finally brought into the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, as preached and taught by the apostles of our Lord. It is a strange fact, but the gospel is hid to all those who are lost (II Corinthians 4:3), until they find dome person or preacher who can show them God’s plan of salvation. See Acts 8:30-35 and Romans 10:14-15.

After complying with these essentials of the gospel, I found that deliverance and satisfying portion my soul had been seeking and longing for. Oh, Hallelujah, what a change it has wrought in my life and soul! It has given me a hope that has became an anchor to my soul, which nothing can shake or disturb. So I am presenting to you something that I know by experience (as well as from a study of God’s Word) will deliver your soul from fear, worry, sin, etc, and give you a right to the tree of life.

I am so sure of what I am presenting, in the four chapter of this book, as being the gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation that I have based all my hope for eternal life upon these very things. Read them prayerfully, with an open heart and unbiased mind, and the Lord will certainly help you see just what it is going to take to give you such a hope and deliverance.

My friend, the same experience that the one hundred and twenty, including the apostles and the mother of our Lord, received on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:12-15; 2:1-4) is for you and your children today (Acts 2:37-41). There have been an estimated eight to ten million people within the past sixty years (dating back from 1962) who have sought and experienced this glorious deliverance and salvation, which Jesus died to purchase for us.

Many people of most all our denominational churches today, including both laymen and ministers, are receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46; and 19:1-6). This experience is for all those who will obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:37-39, 41), as set forth or preached and taught by those whom Jesus chose (the twelve apostles) to be the foundation of the New Testament Church the Church of the First-born which are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23 with Psalms 87:5-6).

You, too, may experience this Climaxing Experience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced with speaking with tongues if you will only comply with the Essential Requirements for the receiving, as Scripturally set forth in this book.

You may think that you would not be interested in being saved and thereby receive power from God to be a personal witness (Acts 1:8) of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, which enables one to live a life free from sin and the entanglements of this evil and ungodly age. But once saved, you would never regret it and, when once established in the faith, you would feel as Paul did concerning it as described in Romans 1:15-16 and 8:38-39.

David the Sweet Psalmist of Israel” invites you along with us to “taste and see that the Lord (and all His ways and blessings) (are) good ” You will also find, that “In (God’s) presence is fullness of joy; (and) at (His) right hand there are pleasures evermore,” or continually (Psalms 16:11).

This article Four Essentials Unto Salvation written by B. E. Echols is excerpted from Four Essentials Unto Salvation written by B. E. Echols chapter 1.