STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

9/12/2006 ~ What Must I Do To Be Saved?

┌─> What must I do to be saved or obtain redemption? "... what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, ..." ~ Acts 16:16-31 A most personal question. In an age of "Feel Good" →  God’s objective laws or rules are being disregarded. ~ Some say it’s what God puts in a man’s heart that makes it okay. Some can be Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu, Christian, etc., whatever. →  It is true that what is in your he♥rt matters. Man does not author the truth of God or the atonement due Christ. ... to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered ... ~ Jude 1:3 Our knowledge of the truth to be saved must be through the delivered word as announced. So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, ... ~ Acts 16:31        ↘ Paul did not say "only" believe. "... whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." ~ John 3:16 ... but he who does not believe is condemned already, ... ~ John 3:18 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; ..." ~ John 3:36 ... we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, ... ~ Romans 5:1-2 The question of salvation comes up repeatedly in the Book of Acts. ~ Faith is essential but salvation is not only by faith.  FAITH = TRUST  Faith in God's word is more comprehensive and not so simplistic. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, ... ~ Hebrews 11:6 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled ... ~ Hebrews 11:30 God’s commands are given and executed. <─┐       ... sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout ... ~ Joshua 6:2-5 Many things were involved to bring the walls down, comprehensively, faith brought the walls down. Faith is Expressed in Actions ──────────────────────                                                                  ┌─> Baptism is part of faith. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized ... ~ Galatians 3:26-27  FAITH = EMBRACE OBEDIENCE  There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism ... ~ 1st Peter 3:21-22 Do you not also need repentance as part of your salvation? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. ~ Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. ~ Luke 13:5 ... "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." ~ Luke 13:23-24 If you only need faith →  then all of God’s laws of obedience come to nothing. ... obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, ... ~ 1st Peter 1:22 ... yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. ... ~ Romans 6:17-18 ... flaming fire ... on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ... ~ 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-10 Man is not justified by faith alone. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him ... ~ Acts 16:32 └─> Hearing <─┐                           So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ~ Romans 10:17 The jailer repented for their wounds. <─┐       And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. ... ~ Acts 16:33      ┌─> The jailer believed what he heard. ... he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. ~ Acts 16:34 ... what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ ... ~ Acts 2:36-39 Jesus also tells us that we must confess that He is. "... whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ..." ~ Matthew 10:32-33 ... "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." ~ John 6:28-29 ... confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ... ~ Romans 10:9-10 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not ... ~ Mark 16:16 ... why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, ... ~ Acts 22:16 ... exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." ~ Acts 2:40   FAITH = ● Hear The Gospel Of Christ ● Believe-Have Faith In Christ   ● Repent Of Your Sins ● Confess Jesus Christ ● Baptized-Immersed The Keys are in your hands; turn your heart to open the door to eternity. ... by grace you have been saved through faith, ... ~ Ephesians 2:4-10 ... Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace ... ~ Romans 5:1-2 ... not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace ... ~ 2nd Timothy 1:8-9 ... according to His mercy He saved us, ... ~ Titus 3:4-7 ... Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ... ~ James 2:21-24 ... faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ~ James 2:14-17 ... a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ... ~ James 2:24-26 ... Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." ~ Galatians 3:6 Works must align with God's will to find justification through grace. Moses’ proud action (work) went against God’s will. <─┐       ... the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, ... ~ Numbers 20:8-12 Some believe faith is enough for salvation without righteous works. God by example and instruction would show us otherwise. ... judged according to their works, by the things, which were written ... ~ Revelation 20:12 "... the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." ~ John 12:47-48 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ~ Titus 2:11 (Justified)                   (Mercy)     Righteousness                Through          ↗     ↘         ↙       ↖    WORK → FAITH → GRACE    ↘     ↗         ↘       ↗        Compleated                   Access            (Believe)                   (Justified)   Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. ... ~ Proverbs 16:3-8 ... - things which angels desire to look into. ~ 1st Peter 1:10-12 ... justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ... ~ Romans 3:20-26 ... to give every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, ... ~ Revelation 22:12-13 ... "will render to each one according to his deeds": ... ~ Romans 2:6-11 Do you do the works of God? Do you do the works of God? Do you do the works of God? Do you do the works of God? Do you do the works of God? Do you do the works of God?