Conclusion
We have allowed the Scriptures to speak. Hopefully an overall picture has emerged to answer the question “What must I do to be saved.” By way of summary, we have chosen a few Scriptures which capture the essence of the Christian life, the joyful road to heaven:
Because you are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues put on love, which binds the rest together and makes them perfect. Christ’s peace must reign in your hearts, since as members of the one body you have been called to that peace. Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness. Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you. In wisdom made perfect, instruct and admonish one another. Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired songs. Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:12-17 NAB).
St. Peter teaches us to build a ladder which goes from faith to love. This group of characteristics, built up over time, describe
For this reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love (2 Peter 1:5- 7).
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16):
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity (Galatians 5:22-23 NAB).
When others observe the fruit of the Holy Spirit coming forth and ripening in our lives, truly the kingdom of God has seized new ground from the kingdom of the world.
St. Paul lists a grab bag of do’s and don’ts for the Christian:
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:9-18)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not hard to understand; it has the simplicity of truth. The bottom line: it all comes down to our hearts. We must believe, really, and love, really. If we do, the love of Christ flows out of us unstoppably. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). “Out of [your] heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). The barren desert around us becomes transformed into a life-giving oasis. “He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water” (Psalm 107:35).
When we love as Jesus loves:
then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water. . . . Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee (Isaiah 35:5-7,10 NAB).
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