What Must I do to be Saved? 4

Word (Mt. 22:29). There are those who refuse to do God’s revealed Will (Jn. 7:17). Some mistakenly try to understand what is not written and revealed in God’s Word (Deut. 29:29). Some do not understand God’s Word because they allow the conflicting doctrines of men to confuse them (2 Pet. 3:16).
   The Answer Requires Obedience
Some teach salvation requires neither God’s Law or obedience. Many teach we do not have to obey to be saved and we certainly do not have to obey law to be saved. While we are not under the law of Moses today, we are under the law of Christ. But Christ’s answer to the lawyer refutes this error. Christ’s answer is from God’s law. Christ’s answer teaches God’s law must be obeyed for eternal life to be received. Obedience to God’s law through Christ is essential to salvation. We cannot have salvation without obedience. Christ “became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9). We cannot enter into heaven without obedience, doing the will of God. Christ said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” (Mt. 7:21-27).
   The Answer Can Be Obeyed
There are many who believe that we must obey God’s Word but we are not able to obey God’s Word. For the denominationalist this goes back to the belief that men, due to their sinful nature, are unable to do good or obey God’s Word. But Jesus’ answer clearly teaches us we can obey God’s command to be saved (Lk. 10:28). Jesus told the one who asked to do what God commanded. If he did what commanded, he would live. If he could not obey or do God’s command there would be no eternal life. Jesus did not believe or teach that men are unable to obey God’s commands, instead he simply taught, in the words of the Nike commercial, “Just do it.” Jesus said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Lk. 11:28).
The Answer
“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” is the question each of us must ask recognizing that we must do something to be saved and receive eternal life. The answer is found in God’s Word; the answer
is understandable, requires obedience to God’s Law and I can obey it. I must hear the Word of God. For “the gospel of Christ…is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” and “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 1:16; 10:17). “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). Paul and Silas spoke the Word of the Lord to the Philippian jailer so the he might believe on the Lord (Acts 16:32). I must believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). For “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). The Philippian jailer was told to “believe on the Lord

Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31). Some want to stop at belief, but God’s Word does not stop here and neither did Paul and Silas stop with belief only with the Philippian jailer. I must repent of my sins. This means I turn away from sin and turn to God (Acts 14:15). Peter preached, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). The Philippian jailer gave evidence of his repentance by taking Paul and Silas “the same hour of the night and washed their stripes” (Acts 16:32). I must confess Jesus Christ before men. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10). The Ethiopian eunuch confessed Jesus as the Christ (Acts 8:37). I must be baptized for the remission of my sins. Those who asked on Pentecost, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?“ were told by the apostle Peter, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:37-38). It was “the same hour of the night…(the jailer) and all his family were baptized. …and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (Acts 16:33-34). The Philippian jailer’s belief and salvation were not complete and his rejoicing begun until he had been baptized in obedience to the Lord for the remission of his sins. In the words of Jesus, “Do this and you shall live.” Won’t you do what God commands you to do and be saved 

today?.

<Previous |

What Must I Do to be Save? 3

someone or something will save me will not save me. I might believe that Allah, Buddah or Sun Young Moon will save me. I might believe that putting my hands on the radio or TV will save me; praying at the mourners’ bench or church “altar”; or “faith only” will save me or even baptism will save me. Believing anyone of these things does not make any of them true. What sayeth the Scripture.
This is how one finds out how to be saved under Christ, by what is written. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to
some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:35-39).
The Answer Can Be Understood
There are those who insist that men cannot understand God’s Word. Most denominationalists who take this position do so because they believe and teach that
man has a sinful nature by which he is rendered incapable, unable of understanding God’s Word. Jesus’ answer to the lawyer teaches us God’s Word can be understood. Jesus asked “What is written
in the law? What is your reading of it?” (Lk. 10:26). After the lawyer told Jesus what he understood the scriptures he commended for the right answer, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live…’ ”
(Lk. 10:28).
Jesus also teaches us there is a right answer! Since there is a “right answer” that can be understood, not just any answer or scripture will give the right answer. The answer to the question of salvation is not a matter of interpretation, for any answer but the right answer is wrong! Jesus says we can understand the Bible alike! I cannot simply answer one way and you another because we cannot understand it alike.
Understanding God’s Word is taught throughout the Scripture. Jesus taught doctrine and expected his hearers to, “Hear and understand’ ” (Mt. 15:10). Paul told us. “When you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). Why some people don’t understand is what is written? Some simply refuse to hear God’s Word (Jn. 8:43; Acts 28:26-27). Others refuse to believe God’s

<Previous | Next>

What Must I Do to Be Saved

This question was asked and answered on Pentecost. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and breth-
ren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ ” (Acts 2:37-38).
   This question was asked by Saul and answered by Jesus. “So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise
and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do’ ” (Acts 9:6). Jesus sent Ananias to tell Saul what he was to do. “ ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord’ ” (Acts 22:16). Many preachers today say “You don’t have to do anything to be saved.” They teach that God has done it all for you. If God saves you it will be at his good pleasure and not because you have done anything to be saved. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, denied this doctrine, when he said, “Do this and you will live!”
The Answer Is In God’s Word. The Lord’s answer to this lawyer was he must turn to what is written. “He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ ” (Lk. 10:26). The way of salvation, eternal life is found in what is written. What is written teaches us and gives us hope. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). Jesus said the written Word of God gives life. “ ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” ’ ” (Mt. 4:4). What is does the Scripture say should be our utmost concern to be right and pleasing to God. In the words of Paul, “For what does the Scripture say?” (Rom. 4:3). The answer is not, what I think. “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa. 8:20). “ ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). The answer is not, what I believe. Men believe in a lot of different things for salvation. Simply believing that...

<Previous | Next>

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

“He who believes
and is baptized
will be saved”
Mark 16:16

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

All sorts of questioned are asked and answered 

every day. Some of this most fascinating questions and 

answers are found in the Bible, particularly the ques-

tions that men asked Jesus. “And behold, a certain 

lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what 

shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What 

is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ So he 

answered and said, ‘ “You shall love the LORD your God 

with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your 

strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor 

as yourself.” ’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered 

rightly; do this and you will live’ “ (Lk. 10:25-28).

“What shall I do to inherit eternal life to be saved?” is a question of supreme importance and urgency. It is the most important question one can ever ask as it concerns not only our life here and now, but forever after. It is the question of our eternal salvation. And Jesus’ answer reveals some important facts concern-

ing salvation. Let us consider the eternal implications and consequences of this vital question.

I Must Do Something to be Saved

The question of salvation was asked and answered implying salvation requires us to do something! The lawyer asked the question implying and expecting there was something he had to do for salvation “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Lk. 10:25). Jesus’ answer confirmed there was something he had to do for salvation. “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live” (Lk. 10:28).

This same form of question and answer to do some-

thing is repeated throughout scripture. People asked 

John the Baptist what they had to do for salvation. “So 

the people asked him, saying, ‘What shall we do then?’” 

(Lk. 3:10). John proceeded to answer their question by 

telling them what they were to do (Lk. 3:11-14).

The Philippian jailer asked this question. “Sirs, 

what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). And Paul and 

Silas told him what to do, “ ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus 

Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ 

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all 

who were in his house. And he took them the same hour 

of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately 

he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had 

brought them into his house, he set food before them; 

and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his 

household” (Acts 16:31-34).

| Next