As a fairly frequent viewer of the 700 Club, I haven't noticed them pushing a works-based gospel. Fairly frequent doesn't mean extremely long-term, though so it's not impossible that I missed it, but please do be careful that you don't malign them unduly.
.
even at my baptism I had a discomfort from not really understanding consciously the depth of what these things meant. .
I haven't watched the 700 Club since the VA Hospital killed my Dad. Beware the VA hospital if you have friends and family who are veterans.
When I took him to an appointment, I remember Pat Robertson talking on the TV. When he or others presented the news, I listened. When he presented his version of the good news and leading the lost in prayer, I would warn Dad that salvation was by grace through faith in Jesus. If Pat Robertson were a brother in Christ, I would not warn you or him, but like the VA there's been plenty of just cause for more than concern.
I counted and remember that he gave
5 requirements for salvation. One of them was to promise to serve God all the days of your life. I don't find that in the Bible, do you?
Probably because it's not a command anywhere for a lost man, woman or child to lie to God and promise Him service in exchange for everlasting life. Jesus, the Son of God gave His life a Ransome for us all.
He is the only object of faith according to the Book of John that mentioned it exactly 100 times. It uses the term believe, which means the same as faith or trust.
I haven't been listening to the 700 Club lately, so I have no comment on the others.
As to what the Bible says about water baptism, it's not deep theologically, but we know it's deep water. The Evangelist Philip was asked by the Ethiopian if he would baptize him.
He responded simply by saying, "
4And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus. 36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
Even though my Dad never got baptized, he went on his way rejoicing in that he obeyed the right gospel 2 months before they took his life. I am very glad that Dad is in Heaven today. Now I have to lead my Mom to Christ before the same happens to her.