WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
Perhaps the most important
question a human being can ask is, “What must I do to be saved?” We can find
the question in the New Testament in Acts 16:30, asked by the Philippian Jailer.
Those who were convicted of crucifying the Messiah by the apostle Peter in Acts
chapter 2 asked, “…what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Jesus in Acts 9:5, 6 told
Saul to go into Damascus, and it would be told him what he must do. In Acts
22:10 Saul said, “What shall I do, Lord?” Have you asked that question? Are you
looking in the right place, the New Testament?
When
we turn to the Inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:3) to find
what is involved in becoming saved, we must allow God’s Word to be the final
answer, the only answer, that will guide us into that straight and narrow way
to Heaven, God’s eternal home, because that is what being saved is all about;
Matthew 7:13, 14.
When
you study your New Testament, you will find that there are five works from God
that we must do in order to be saved
from our past sins. (All that God tells us to do are ‘works’ from Him:
John 6:28, 29)
1. We must hear the
Gospel: Romans 10:17, but not be hearers only: James 1:22, 23.
2. We must believe
the Gospel: John 3:16, but not be believers only: James 2:24, 26.
3. We must repent of
our sins: Acts 17:30, 31, which means we turn away from them: I Cor. 6:9 – 11.
4. We must confess
Christ before men: Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9, 10, which is the ‘good confession’
we read about in I Timothy 6:13. See also Hebrews 4:14;
10:23.
5. We must be baptized
into Christ for the remission of our sins: Acts 2:38; 8:36 – 38; 10:47, 48;
16:30 –
34; 18:8; 22:16. This is the new birth: John 3:3-5. This is where we reach the
soul saving
blood of
Jesus Christ: Romans 6:3-6. This is how we get into Christ: Galatians 3:26, 27,
which puts
us into
His body, the church: I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4:4; of which He
is the
Savior:
Ephesians 5:23. This is the washing of regeneration: Titus 3:5. This is how our
Creator has
chosen
to save us through obedience to Him with a good conscience: I Peter 3:21;
Hebrews 5:8, 9.
When we accomplish these
works from God, He delivers us out of the power of darkness, and translates
us into
the kingdom of the Son of His love: Colossians 1:12-14. This is how we purify
our souls, by obeying the Truth: I Peter 1:22.
Question,
are we saved eternally at this point? Certainly not! Read Acts 14:22; II Peter 1:10,
11. We must give much diligence to walk worthily of the calling wherewith we
were called…keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: Ephesians
4:1-6; II Peter 1:5-11. We must work out our own salvation: Philippians 2:12.
The apostle Paul knew he could fall away from the Faith, and be rejected by
God: I Corinthians 9:24-27. Some christians did fall away from Grace: Galatians
5:4, 7.
We must seek to be ‘True Worshippers’ in God’s sight:
John 4:23, 24. This involves assembling with christians: Hebrews 10:25. Five
worship activities are found in the New Testament for us to do: Sing together:
Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. Pray together: Acts 2:42; 12:5. Study God’s
Word together: Acts 2:42; 17:11. On the Lord’s Day, Sunday, we are to take the Lord’s
Supper: Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:23-29; and give of our means: I Cor. 16:1, 2. Are
you doing these things dear reader? If not, why not? Won’t you seek to become a
true worshipper in God’s sight? Yes, there are many worshippers today, but God
will accept only ‘true’ worshippers. All other worshipper’s are either ‘vain’
worshippers; Matthew 15:8, 9; ‘ignorant’ worshippers; Acts 17:23; or
will-worshippers; Colossians 2:20-23. We pray that you will study these
Scriptures with your Bible, and obey His Will.
We encourage you to come and visit any of our worship
and Bible study gatherings. We would also be happy to schedule a home Bible
study with you at your convenience, or mail you a correspondence course.
