Does baptism or church membership or good works save a person?
No. The text does not say salvation is for those who were baptized, joined a church, or did good works. It says redemption is by His grace, received by those who heard the word of truth and trusted in Christ, to the praise of His glory.
Les teaches that baptism, church membership, and good works are not the means of salvation. He points out that the Word does not say "to you who were baptized and joined the church," nor "to you who have done good works," but rather to those who believed. Salvation is by God's grace, not something we deserve. The sequence is hearing the word of truth, then trusting in Christ. He adds that salvation is not merely a fire escape from hell or a ticket to heaven, but is for the praise of His glory in this life. No one is a Christian before hearing the word of truth.
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
More Questions
Does the Bible say we are saved after believing and being baptized and joining the church?
The Bible does not add baptism, church membership, or other such things to believing as a condition for salvation.
Can a person be saved as an infant or by someone else's faith?
The order in Ephesians 1:13 — that a person trusted in Christ after hearing the word of truth — proves no one could have been saved as an infant or saved by something someone else did for them, because a person must hear the word of truth for themselves.