Received out of the blue in email from an unknown individual :
From: **************@******.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 11:52:21 PM
To: Cathy Byrd <cathybyrd@titus2.life>
Subject: Question – Conversion to Christianity
Dear Pastor Cathy Bryd,
Hope you are having a blessed day in the Lord.
I’m ********. *********. I am reaching out for your insight on scripture. I have a question, mainly, from Methodist members witnessing to me.
I have been in a very strict group, called Oneness Pentecostal, at the least cultic, very controlling, and legalistic. I am questioning and questioned their beliefs. A few of them were the absolute necessity of evidential tongues, water baptism (rebaptism) in Jesus’ name, and holiness standards (strict legalism). We were also taught that we could not use Romans for conversion – due to Romans being written to an “established church” – any Romans text is invalid for conversion.
Even with keeping all this doctrine, dogma, and all the rules – I felt I lacked something, lacked certainty of salvation. So, it made me listen.
Methodists witnessed to me. Yes, Methodists loved to use Romans 10 for conversion. It was difficult at first – because of the Oneness Pentecostal view of Romans.
Along the way, I felt that I got to the point where I could see that evidential tongues and the strict holiness standards/code is not required.
I still struggled with the notion – I still felt I needed to be baptized in Jesus’ name, others rebaptized in Jesus’ name – or, I and others would not be saved.
However, the Methodists, used that Romans text. In Romans 10:10 of the New International Version (NIV), it read: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. And Romans 10:13, For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
The Methodist asked, “Does it say, ‘For whosoever will?'” They went on to say, and explain, “The only requirement for conversion, is to do it with the faith statement, calling on the name of the Lord. That you should just try it.”
After that, honestly, due to what my Oneness Pentecostal tradition taught, I pulled away from the Methodists and did not go around them for a while.
I tried some other churches. Anglican, Lutheran, even Catholic – all of them, still believed in a form of “Baptismal regeneration” where it was like water baptism was still required for conversion. I felt more comfortable in these other churches, but I came to realize it was because I was so used to “baptismal regeneration” – putting my faith in water baptism and not Christ Jesus.
My Oneness Pentecostal tradition, being somewhat cultic in nature, forbid me to go around Methodists again. Out of all of them, I was forbidden the most and discouraged the most from being around Methodists. But, out of all of them, I felt their message challenge me some more.
So, despite what would happen to me, I stepped out and went around the Methodists.
Again, that Romans text again, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:10, and Romans 10:13, and again they shared, that water baptism is not required, and that the only requirement for conversion is to do it with just the faith statement – calling on the name of the Lord.
So, is that correct? For Methodists, one just believes and calls on the name of the Lord?
That water baptism is not required, but just to call on the name of the Lord? Correct?
Thanks so Much,
***************
My reply Sent October 3:
“Thank you for reaching out to me…. Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, his cousin. His disciples were commissioned and commanded to baptize with water, which is an outward sign of our inward heart and mind posture of entrusting ourselves to Christ’s redemption and to fellowship with the Body of Christ by our profession of faith in Him as the reconciling savior. Christ restores us, and all the broken world to relationship with God through the sacrifice by His own suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension and ongoing advocacy with the Father.
The gift of baptism with His Holy Spirit is given at the same time, as represented by the dove’s descending upon Jesus and the Father’s words of love and affirmation to Him. He Himself bore the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God. By our baptism with water, we mark our saying “yes” and receiving the imputed, justifying grace of the Father that marks us His beloved child. By our sincere profession of faith we receive the Holy Spirit, too. The Holy Spirit delivers the promise of our being held in the Father’s imputed justification, belonging and beloved, even as the deeper work of imparted sanctifying grace through the Holy Spirit’s inner abiding is begun. We grow and learn to live within the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, following the example and teaching of Christ Jesus in community with other believers. If one has been baptized with water, receiving the imputed grace of believing and belonging, then there is no further need of that ever again, from Methodist view. In that act, once baptized one receives forgiveness from God for ALL sin for all time. So as the person is being sanctified, or refined, he grows, learns, receives guidance and understanding through the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work of conviction brings new experiences of brokenness for sin, then contrition, repentance, confession, and forgiveness restores our fellowship with God and one another that is compromised when we sin. If we fail to heed the refining work of the Holy Spirit and continue in works of the flesh without conviction, grieving and quieting the Holy Spirit within, then we will not enjoy the consoling assurance of the Holy Spirit and may question our own salvation. True Children of God are privileged to know their Father, feel His joy in them, and receive His correction as needed with humility and gratitude. It is the witness of the Holy Spirit within us that provides the assurance of our salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, not the act of receiving water itself, not evidence of tongues, nor any outward works we do.
Thank you for asking. I hope this helps. I’m happy to talk further with you if you like.
When I became a Methodist at age 21, having married a Methodist, I asked what of my Baptist upbringing I had to surrender to be Methodist. “Nothing,” I was told. Methodists are more like everyone than anyone, as far as Christianity goes. The biblical truth is the same for all. The “distinctive” practices of any group, as long as they don’t violate biblical teaching, do not affect salvation, though for some who place additional demands for participation in membership, one group or another may cause difficulty and doubt for a new believer or one from a rigidly dogmatic practicing tradition
Experiencing God’s BEST daily,
Cathy Byrd”
Additional notes:
Luke 23:39-43. Possession of salvation by faith even without baptism.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
2 Timothy 3:16 God will use any of His Word He chooses.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Romans 10:9-13 Condition of one’s heart, professed through our voice.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]
Ephesians 2:8-9. Saved by Faith.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith (in Jesus Christ!) and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
)God’s grace is a gift. Our capacity for faith itself is a gift. The knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, resurrected from the dead, is also a gift! There is NOTHING we do to be saved except believe and say “Yes!” to receive it as a gift. It is available to all who simply do that with a sincere heart..)