Package Words

By Royce Frederick

In our natural conversations, we often use “package words.” Any word which normally describes only a part, becomes a “package word” when it is used to refer to the whole.

For example, two men are walking down the street. One says, “Let’s eat.” The word “eat” became a convenient “package word” which clearly included finding food, buying it, and consuming (eating) it. There was no need for him to mention every part of the process. “Eat” is a specific part of the process, yet it was used as a summary term for the entire process.

Linguists call this “synecdoche” (pronounced “si nek duh kee”), which means “a figure of speech in which a part is put for a whole or a whole for a part….”

In the Bible, we often find words being used as “package words.”

“FAITH” (BELIEF) is SOMETIMES used as a package word:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). Does this verse teach that a  sinner can be saved by faith only? Does it teach that a sinner does not need to repent? No. Other scriptures clearly show that repentance, confession, and baptism are necessary parts of the entire process of receiving salvation in Christ. In this verse, “believes” includes everything involved in coming to Christ and remaining faithful to Him.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Is a sinner saved by “grace” and “faith” alone, without the death of Jesus on the cross? Certainly not. The word “grace” refers to God’s attitude of “unmerited favor” toward us. But in verse 8, “grace” includes everything which has come from that attitude: His eternal plan, His longsuffering toward us, sending His Son to earth, Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, and sending the gospel message to us. “Grace” summarizes what God has done, and “faith” summarizes what we must do. Paul is emphasizing that obeying the gospel is an act of faith; we do not earn our salvation at all. We are not saved by faith alone, but by “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6; see Js. 2:17-26; Rom. 1:5; 6:17-18).

Some other verses in which “faith” (belief) is used as a package word are: Rom. 5:1-2; 1 Jn. 5:1, 5, 10-13.

Some verses in which “faith” (belief) is not used as a package word are: Jn. 12:42-43; Js. 2:17-26.

“REPENTANCE” (REPENT) is SOMETIMES used as a package word:

“and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Were “repentance and remission of sins” the entire message? Did the message not include the death and resurrection of Jesus? Did it not include faith, confession, or baptism? Certainly these were all part of the message. It is not possible to repent without hearing about Jesus and without believing in Him. Here, the entire gospel message is summarized in two words: “repentance,” what we must do, and “remission of sins,” what we receive.

Some other verses in which “repentance” (repent) is used as a package word are: Acts 5:31; 2 Pet. 3:9.

Some verses in which “repentance” (repent) is not used as a package word are: Acts 2:38; 26:20.

“CONFESSION” is SOMETIMES used as a package word:

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus” (Heb. 3:1). Confessing Christ is one step in the process of coming to Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37). But here, the word “confession” serves as a package word to summarize all that we believe, confess, and obey.

Some verses in which confession is not used as a package word are: Jn. 9:22; Phil. 2:11.

“BAPTISM” is SOMETIMES used as a package word:

“There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). Here, Peter only mentions baptism, with no mention of faith or repentance. Can a sinner be saved by baptism alone? Certainly not. That is one reason why infants should not be baptized. Infants are not able to believe, repent, or confess Christ, so they cannot obey “from the heart” (see Rom. 6:17-18). Also, infants have no sins in need of removal (Ezek. 18:20; Matt. 19:14). Baptism is the last step of the process of coming to Christ and salvation (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27). In 1 Pet. 3:21, baptism is used as a package word to summarize all of the process of coming to Christ, with emphasis on the last step.

In Mk. 16:16, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus did not mention repentance in this verse. Does that mean a sinner does not need to repent to be saved? No. Jesus used “believes and is baptized” to summarize the process of coming to Him.

Some other verses in which “faith” (belief) and “baptism” are used together to summarize the process of obeying the gospel are: Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:12.

Some verses in which “baptism” is not used as a package word are: Acts 2:38; 8:38.

“Package words” are very helpful tools of language. Communicating with each other would be extremely awkward if we always had to mention every part of every process.

The Bible clearly teaches that a sinner must hear the gospel, believe it, repent, confess faith in Christ, and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins. When we study a Bible topic, such as salvation, we must study all Bible verses on that topic. Then the package words will not confuse us, but will help us understand the will of God.