WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

(By Jay Yeager)

Beloved, I am aware that the religious world suggests a variety of ways that one can become a Christian, and that each religious body accepts without question the concept of the other. However, I do not subscribe to that theory, and here is the reason why. If the Bible teaches how one can be saved (and it does), then it teaches the only way one can be saved. Now that being true, we dare not allow any religious background to keep us from exploring this question openly and honestly.

Yet, I fear in light of the deceptive nature of the devil and those who serve him (II Corinthians 11:14-15), many believe they are Christians without having obeyed Him who is the author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9). Therefore, as is often the case, error must be first uprooted before “….the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified...” (II Thessalonians 3:1).

For example, Revelation 3:20 is often cited to justify the following prayer: “Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be”. And supposedly, at the end of that prayer one is a Christian.

Friends, is that true? Now none would deny that the words of Revelation 3:20 are the words of Christ, but who is Jesus addressing?  The answer is in Revelation 3:14. Jesus is speaking to the church at Laodicea – Christian who had become so lukewarm that Jesus threatened the spue them out of His mouth. Beloved, to apply those verses to those outside of the church is twisting the scriptures (II Peter 3:16).

Hear it please! After the great commission was given (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16), no man speaking by the inspiration of God ever told an alien sinner (one outside of Christ) to pray for salvation. And to suggest that one can become a Christian in such a manner is a false doctrine of the deepest dye.

Then again, there are those who suggest salvation is by faith only, and for proof they offer Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9. Now this question, do those verses teach what faith-only advocates claim? Absolutely not! Following the astonishing events recorded in Acts 16:23-29, the Philippian jailer raised the question, “…Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31).

“Well”, says one, “that just about settles it”. And it might if one is willing to stop before God does, but who among us would dare do that? Paul told the jailer to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but what to believe had to be preached to him, and to all that were in his house (Acts 16:32). “…So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Notice the results, they were baptized the same hour of the night, AND THEN THEY REJOICED (Acts 16:33:34). Here, as in every other case of conversion under the New Covenant, rejoicing on the account of sins forgiven always follows, never precedes baptism.

“Well”, says another, “Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches we are not saved by any works”. Those verses teach no such thing. Consider the following:

“For by grace ye are saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“For the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).

Is Paul contradicting James, and James contradicting Paul? Of course not! What works are excluded? Those of which men can boast. James, what works are included? Those of faith manifested in obeying the commandments of Almighty God.

The simple truth is that men are saved by faith when that faith leads them to obey the gospel and not before. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: We have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10).

What must I do to be saved? You must hear the word of God (Acts 15:7; Romans 10:17), believe the gospel (Mark 16:15-16), repent of you sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ before men (Romans 10:10), and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). That, beloved, is Biblical salvation. Have you obeyed the gospel?