Over at the forum we have had an interesting discussion on the topic of ” What must I do to be Saved ? ” in fact its still going on if you wish to comment. It is important that we are clear about the message of Jesus Christ, both for ourselves and for others.
The Topic on the forum was concerning if someone asked you what they needed to do to get saved, just like it occurred in the time of Paul when the prison guard in Acts 16:32. Could you tell them in about 30 seconds? and what would you say? As there is a lot of things being told which might not be correct.
I want to dig deeper into the answer that Paul gave the prisoners which was “29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.
So while the scripture above provides how simple it is to accept the free underserved gift of God to us
Today, there are many that are of the mindset that all that is required is to believe in Jesus/God, be part of a local church gathering or dont and that is it. Done deal!.. Lets get on with our lives and do whatever we like. Not much thought may be given to what does it mean to truly believe?
So that is where the whole thread on the forum came from. I want to take a look at some of the answers people gave, ( recommend you do too ) and then take a closer look at it all.
Grab a Bible – this is going to be a long bible study, and i would not scan read this, really give thought to the scriptures and what they are saying.
What seems to be a clear answer from people is that the message people would bring across to people who want to know what they need to do.. it consists of..
1. Believe – Faith ( place your trust in Jesus )
2. Repentance ( Turning away from Sin and Towards God )
Now I want to take things a little further yet staying along the same thought
* What is True Believing/Faith?
* What is True Repentance?
* How do DEEDS ( actions ) play a role in it all?
* Why is it important to have a clear understanding both before and after?
What is True Believing/Faith..
well the bible says ” Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen “,if you ask many what a true believer is, they might say no more than that it is a person who believes in God and goes to church.
But the bible is even more clear about this, in stating that it is ” Believing in Jesus Christ ” and that the type of faith is not just someone with their head saying ” I believe ” as in the book of James it speaks about true faith, and in chapter 2:19 it says ” You believe that there is one God, Good! even the demons believe that and shudder”
Demons Believe in the existence of God/Jesus? so the type of Faith/Believing isn?t just merely a believing that God exists and that is sufficient.. no in james it provides a direct correlation between faith/believing and deeds.. in fact James knew and argument would come from this so he talked about both sides of the coin
He knew someone might say ” You have faith, I have deeds ” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do ”
Both are required.
James chapter 2: vs 22. when speaking of abraham obeying God by taking his son to the altar.. it says ” You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his FAITH WAS MADE COMPLETE by what he did. ”
So here we see that for faith to be complete, there needs to be action taken.
So continuing with Believing/Faith in Jesus
Galatians:3:24 ” So the law was put in charge to lead us to christ that we might be justified by faith ”
Romans: 5:1 Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our lord jesus christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand
Galatians : 3:11 The righteous will live by faith ”
Keep all those things in mind..
What is True Repentance?
2corinthians 7:10 Goldy sorrow brings repentance and leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death
Acts 26:20 says ” First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all judea, and to the gentiles also, I preached that they should repent, and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds ”
Clearly there is a distinction that we stand Justified and forgiven before Jesus based on Faith, but not just faith in believing that God exists for even demons believe this. James pointed out in chatper 2 vs 24 that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone yet previously in Galatians we saw that it said we are led to christ so that we might be justified by faith
So what does this mean? Justified by Faith, Yet Justified by Deeds
It means that we need to be clear about what we are telling people in regards to Faith in Jesus, we need to make it clear like Paul did in acts that they understand that their needs to be Repentance, turning to God and trusting in Jesus yet on the same hand a working out of that faith through our actions.
For some think it is just believing that God exists and that is it. It is not just that. Repentance is what leads us to salvation, Repentance isn?t just what saves us, it merely leads us to salvation and is a necessary part of what is required of us. Faith, Trusting in Jesus is what completes salvation/justification and true faith in Jesus isnt just saying, I believe in his existence as James pointed out even the demons believe in his existence and that does not save or justify them..It is a believing/trusting in not only that Jesus exists but a CONFESSION OF WHO HE IS, that is why paul said in
Romans 10:9- 10 ” That if you confess with your mouth, ” Jesus is Lord ” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved”.
James clearly points out in Chapter 2 vs 26 ” As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead ”
True Faith is a living breathing active thing which is lived out through believing/actions/deeds.. true repentance can be proven through deeds, meaning by how we continue to live our life,
not by just saying ” I repented”, but then showing no sign of turning away from sin or turning from disobedience towards what God wants.
Some might say if that is the case, that I need to walk it out, live out my faith.. how comes the criminal on the cross who said to Jesus ” remember me when
you come into your kingdom Jesus ” Luke 23: 40 reads ” But the other criminal rebuked him ” dont you fear God ” he said . ” since you are under the same sentence?. We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong” Then he said ” Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom ” Jesus answered him ” I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The criminal conveyed Godly sorrow for what he had done which leads to repentance, acknowledgement what he/we deserve. He truly believed Jesus was who he said he was, in acknowledging that Jesus had a kingdom, and that his death on the cross would not be the end, that he would raise up from there. All of which
We see in the scriptures through romans 10 9-10.. ” That if you confess with you mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that that God raised him from the dead, ou will be saved, for it is with you heat that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved”.
Some might say “Yes but what was his deeds which you are saying are needed otherwise his faith would be dead?”
Well..what deeds could he show? as he was hanging on a cross? I believe his acknowledgement of Jesus and belief in who he was, his heart was repentant of his actions in this life, Jesus accepted that.
For us who are not hanging on a cross but are capable of Living by faith for the next whatever amount of days left on this earth.. Our repentance of sin, our turning towards God and believing in Jesus, who is he, that he exists, and our confession of him as Lord is what is accepted to be saved. Still to determine between those who have Godly sorrow vs Earthy Sorrow, can be proven by our deeds ( actions ).. which is why paul was able to say Acts 26:20 says ” First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the gentiles also, I preached that they should repent, and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds ”
So In Conclusion
While you can certainly tell someone what they must do to be saved fairly quickly, as shown in Acts 16:32 and Romans 10:9-10 there will be clearly some proven outward active working of a life that is fully trusting in the Lord Jesus, which is why Jesus spoke about FRUIT. If a Tree is meant to be a Fruit Tree, you should see Fruit on it, or at least it Growing over time.
This is what makes a clear distinction between someone trusting in Jesus and someone who says they believe in God but nothing in their life even shows signs of following what Jesus has said.
And please lets not mistake, someone showing up or not showing up at church on a Sunday or some claiming to believe in God as signs of FRUIT as that could be very deceiving.
There clearly will be a difference between someone claiming to believe in God and someone who is Trusting in Jesus daily.
So what possibly are these DEEDS?
Matthew 22:40 Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it ” love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments ”
2 Parts to it.
Jesus said if you love me, you will obey me ? So obedience to him and what he says, finding out what he says, and seeking with all your heart to pursue, apply and do what he says.
Loving your neighbor, is not just done through words or being kind though that might be part of it is shown through actions
” James 2 : 14-17 What good is it my brothers if a man claims to have such faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, if one of you says to him , ” Go, I wish you well ( or in today?s words ” I will pray for you ” ) but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead ”
Why is it Important to have a clear understanding?
In Today?s society, it doesn?t take a rocket scientist to recognize that the message of the Gospel, and what is required of us by Jesus has been watered down, blurred, and made palatable and cozy like a Starbucks coffee Lounge. With many wanting to just GET PEOPLE in the DOOR and add to their numbers, less importance has been placed on what is required to be saved but not only that but even what is required to be a person trusting in Jesus daily and how that all plays out through Loving him not just in words but in action. Loving our neighbor not just in words but in action.
So yes the Gospel message of Repentance, Turning away from Sin, Now Heading Jesus way, Believe in Who Jesus is, believing that God raised him from the dead, confessing that Jesus is Lord can all be said to a person fairly quickly, but once a person does these things, there is is a need for understanding of where deeds/action plays a role in the living out of that faith.
As its the difference between someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ, and those who just say they believe in God
On this day...
- Jeremiah 8 - 2024
- Jeremiah 7 - 2024
- Logos 4 - Scholar's Library - 2012
- Felix culpa - 2012
- Utilitarian Christianity - 2011
- Utilitarian Christianity - 2011
- Stay in the Secret Place - 2011
- FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD - 2011
- Father, Glorify Thyself! - 2011
- I will both lie down in peace and sleep; ... - 2010
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