One of the greatest dilemmas in the life of every Christian and Christ follower is possessing the answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" It is a straight forward question, but the answer sometimes becomes muddy, unclear, or entangled. The main reason why Christian's struggle with having an affirmative, positive and Biblical answer to this all important question is because of the desire for human involvement. It's a simple question, but sometimes becomes more complicated that we suppose. The human psyche and personality desires to have a part to play in the process of salvation. It's part of humanities fallen and sinful nature to suppose that if one behaves, acts, and follows morality and goodness, then God owes us eternal life. It's what we would call a give and take approach. "If I behave right, then God owes me eternal life. However, if I behave bad, then I forfeit eternal life." As we will discover, this is what the Bible and Bible students refer to as "self-righteousness" or "righteousness by works." It's mankind endeavoring to earn heaven by their merits and works no matter how sincere their confession might be, or how transparent their aspirations might appear. Notice the following questions: "What must I do to be saved?" What is the humanity's part in the great plan of salvation? Are we saved by faith, by works, or by both? These are all important questions that will determine and affect our Christian life and experience. We dare not fail in obtaining the Biblical response to these all important question. To do so would be to imperil our joy, peace, and happiness on this earth as we seek to follow Christ, but also to forfeit eternal life with Our Lord, Savior, and Best Friend Jesus Christ. Let's begin our study!
Confession of Faith
We believe in inspiration, both from Biblical and non-biblical writers, both from Canonical and non-canonical prophets.We believe God still speaks today. We believe that one of God's revelations, beside nature and human relationships, is the Holy Bible. In it, we find the answers to life's most important questions. Let's read Acts 16:16-32 to discover God's answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?"
Bible Text (CEV):
16 One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. 17The girl followed Paul and the rest of us and kept yelling, "These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved."
18This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!" At once the evil spirit left her.
19When the girl's owners realized that they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. 20They told the officials, "These Jews are upsetting our city! 21They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do."
22The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. 23After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.
27When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped."
29The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. 30After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home."
32Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. 33While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. 34They were very glad that they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat.
Unpacking the Text
Here in Acts we find a unique situation that sheds light and understanding on our all important question. While there are other details to this story that we could focus on, for the purpose of this short study, let us focus on the response of the Apostle Paul to the interrogation made by the Phillipian jailer. "What must I do to be saved?" The jailer was asking a question that includes many other questions like, "How can my sins be forgiven? How can I have peace with God today? What do I have to do in order to be rescued from sin, separation, and destruction? Paul's answer is most intriguing. "Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home." Like Nicodemus, the hidden disciple of Jesus, you did not at first understand the words and teaching of Jesus during his night meeting with the Master, the human ego and heart is left unsatisfied at the simple yet straight answer that the Holy Spirit gives: "Have faith" or as other Bible versions render this verse, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. (NASB) Faith is the key to Heaven. In order to be saved from sin and death, a person must believe and have faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Belief (pistis in Greek) implies trust, confidence, and saving faith. We must believe in Jesus Christ as a complete and All-Sufficient Savior. One who is able to save from the Gutter-most to the Uttermost those who come to Him by faith (Hebrews 7:23). There is no one that Jesus can not save, and save freely and completely. His Grace is sufficient for every person living on planet earth. Sufficient for the likes of you and I. And that is great news for poor sinners like us.
What is Faith?
What is faith? What is saving faith in Jesus? What part does mankind play in the process of salvation? An active or passive role? Do my works and obedience help earn my way to Heaven? Or is Salvation completely of Grace? These are very important questions that deserve honest and biblical answers, no matter what popular churches or preachers may believe or what we may have been taught from childhood. If we are wrong on this subject, we are wrong on every subject. You see, Jesus is either Lord of All, or He is not Lord at All. Let me ask you a simple question: "Do you think there will be two groups in Heaven when Jesus comes back to take His earthly children home? One group that will be saved by faith in Jesus, and the other group by faith plus works?" No there will not. The bible is clear in stating that there will only be one group of people of Heaven, and it is those who have been saved by grace through faith. Notice what Ephesians 2:8-9 says: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."(NASB) We are saved by faith. Period. That is the great Bible teaching called "Righteousness by Faith" meaning that we are saved and made rigtheous in the sight of a Holy God by faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The opposite is Righteousness by Works, which means trying to earn salvation and eternal life by human works and merits instead of by faith. So what is faith? Let's ask the Apostle John.
In the Gospel of John for example, the word belief or faith (Pistis in Greek) plays a central role. It is found over 50 times, and it is impossible to understand the Gospel of John without understanding the important place and meaning that John, given to the word pistis, faith/belief in his Gospel. From a cursory reading of the Gospel of John, one discovers that faith is not mere intellectual assent, like believing the president of the United States is Barack Obama. No, faith according to John is saving faith. It is active in that it compels and moves the possessor of faith to love, serve, and act as a response to God's saving grace. According to John, faith is not passive but active. Faith is demonstrated through works of love, obedience, and kindess, yet never do these works merit nor earn salvation. They are the fruits of salvation, and never the root. Someone who has pistis is Barack Obama as president of the Unites States would seek to have a daily relationship with the president, and would have assurance of safety and protection as a result of that relationship and friendship with the president of the United States.
So, "What must I do to be saved?" Believe in Jesus. Have faith and trust in Him as my Savior. Believe that He is Lord of All, and that at Calvary He payed the complete price of my salvation. The price of my salvation has been paid in full. It was bought and purchased with the crimson blood of Prince Emmanuel. Now, He graciously offers me the gift of eternal life if I will have faith in Him as my All Sufficient Savior. Will you have faith in Jesus today? Will I? ... When we do accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, we are compelled to want to do for Him out of love, works of faith, love and obedience. Yet our works of faith, love, and obedience, never add one single iota (comma) to Jesus' complete work of salvation for us. We love him because He first loved us.
Challenge for today
If we are saved by faith alone, and not by works, then we must believe in the simplicity of the Gospel and not complicate and adulterate the Gospel by adding other things to it. We cannot add dress reform, health reform, or any other kind of reform as being on the same level as the Everlasting Gospel. These are not a part of the Gospel, but a result of the Gospel. The Gospel is heart and mind transformation, and other changes will also follow. However, let us keep the Gospel unadulterated and pure.
Secondly, since we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, let us have joy, peace, happiness, and assurance of salvation. Let us walk about our day today with a smile on our face, and a song of joy in our heart. Why not? Jesus has saved us completely and freely.
Thirdly, since Jesus gave His life in order to save us, let us live a life of obedience, faith, and love, practicing good works out of love for what Jesus has already done for us. Let us help those who are destitute, feed the hungry, and evangelize those who are without hope and without a knowledge and relationship with Our Savior.
~ Maranatha!
Pastor Sal Garcia
Challenge for today
