Voice Of The Valley Volume 5 Issue 3 July 1999

What Must I Do To Be Saved? by Rick Christian

It is written in Acts 9:6-"And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." This is the story of Saul, the persecutor of God's children, on his way to Damascus to continue this persecution. The Lord appears to him and gives him instruction as to what Saul must do to be placed in an agreeable relationship with the Lord. He sends him to Ananias and Ananias gives him the Godly instructions. Friend if we have never obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are not in a relationship with the Lord which is pleasing to him. There are things we must do if we expect to be pleasing to the Lord and inherit eternal heaven. What does the Bible say? God Has A Part In Salvation He has made it possible that man may be in an agreeable relationship with him, justified in his sight. This was made possible through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1,2-"God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son who he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the world." God speaks to us through his word. We cannot be pleasing to God without obedience to his word. James 1:21-"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." Man Has A Part In Conversion What Must I Do?? Must Hear! It is written, Romans 10:13-14,17-"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in who they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?....So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This passage, like a number of others, teaches that hearing is necessary to the one calling upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Proper investigation on our part is important for there are many deceivers in the world. 2 Corinthians 11:13 - "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." We must be like the Bereans who "searched the scriptures daily to see if those things were so." THEY HAD A DESIRE TO KNOW THE TRUTH. If a person has no concern or love for the truth he will learn very little about the Bible and about salvation! Must Have Faith! Hebrews 11:1-"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:6 states that without faith it is impossible to please God. I must put my faith in Christs blood which cleanses me from sin. (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:9). Faith which rests in the fact that salvation is in Christ. (Acts 4:12). Do you have the faith, the trust, the confidence in Christ, in God that he is true and his plan will save?? Must Repent! Repentance is that determination of mind to quit sin. (Luke 15:17-19). It is God's will that all men everywhere repent (2 Peter 3:9). We are commanded to repent! (Acts 2:38). If you have a fear of death and the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27), a healthy love and respect and reverence for the goodness of God (Romans 2:1-5) then you will separate yourself from sin and those things associated with ones sins. We will put off the old man and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-32). Our conduct will be different! Must Confess! Yes, salvation of God includes confession (Acts 8:37-"And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."). This is Bible authority friend. How does one know of ones faith? How does one know who is a subject for baptism? The confession is the telling. You know, the Lord showed the opposite is a denial of him (Matthew 10:32,33!!). Must Be Baptized! Baptism is that action of immersion, submersion and emergence. It is not pouring! It is not sprinkling! Baptism puts one into Christ (Galatians 3:26,27). How? By coming in contact with his blood (Romans 6:3,4). THE ONLY WAY WE CAN CONTACT THE BLOOD IS BY BEING BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH!!(I John 1:7). Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:37,38). Baptism washes away sin (Acts 22:16). Baptism saves from sin (Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21). Baptism friend is just as essential as any of the other Bible instructions in salvation. Have you been baptized? Must Continue Faithfully! James 4:7-"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." We must continue to live a devoted life, professing the name of Christ each day of our lives, loving spiritual things, Colossians 3:1-2, and continually desiring to be with Christ in eternity. (I John 2:25). Friend, examine your Bibles. If you find these things to be true, don't delay, obey God's way, the only way to heaven!