Grant church of Christ

(As taken from the bulletin on October 28, 2007) 

Texts: Acts 2:37 & Acts 16:30

     Two questions are often confused when it comes to the matter of a person being saved: (1) "What must I do to be saved?" and (2) "What has God done that I might be saved?".  When these two questions are seperated and answered individually, a person can understand how a sinner can be forgiven and prepared for

heaven.  We are all sinners!  (Romans chapters 1-3; and 3:23.) Unfogiven sinners will go to hell. (Romans 6:23; Psalms 9:17.)  Therefore, we all need to know how to be forgiven by God so that we might be  saved from our sins.  (cf. Matthew 1:21)

     We do not have the space to consider in detail what God has done that we might be saved.  However, it is easy to note that salvation is a free gift of God's mercy and grace.  (cf. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:6-9; John 3:16; I John 3:16; II Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 1:21; etc.)

      We do have space to consider our response to God's work in saving men and women from their sins.  Note: We are considering our response to what God has done for us to be saved from our sins.  Our response is faith.  Ephesians 2:8a says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith..."  The "grace" in this passage is from God's great heart.  When God demonstrates His compassion, love, mercy, and willingness to act on behalf of sinners; we see His marvelous grace.  "Faith" is man's response to God's amazing grace.  We are saved by God's grace through faith!  Again, faith is man's response to the grace of God.  Ephesians 2:8 continues to teach that a person's being saved by grace through faith is not of ourselves and not of meritorius works of boasting before God.  The faith man obtains and demonstrates in response to God's grace is from the Bible.  When a person reads the words of God from Scripture and obeys them; the person is demonstrating belief, trust, and reliance upon God.  That is a biblical faith.  (See Romans 10:17; Romans 6:17; Hebrews 5:8-9; James 2:26.)   Man's faith-response comes down to one word: OBEDIENCE. (see Romans 1:6; Romans 16:26)

       Understanding what a person MUST DO in order to be saved by the grace of God is to understand the obedience of faith.  When I know what God expects of sinners who desperately desire forgiveness; I can obey His divine will in the matter.

 What Must I Do to be Saved?

(What do the Scriptures teach?)

1. We must HEAR the gospel. (Romans 10:17.) 

2. We must BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God. (John 8:24.)

3. We must REPENT of our sins. (Acts 17:30-31)

4. We must CONFESS our faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son (Acts 8:36-39).

5. We must BE BAPTIZED into Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38).

6. We must BE FAITHFUL to Christ unto death. (Revelation 2:10).

     The gospel is good news to the dying sinner who fears hell and its torments.  The gospel is good news to people who feel guilt and sorrow for the sins in their lives.  The gospel is good news to people who appreciate God's unspeakable gift and sacrifice in order that we might be saved.  The gospel is good news to people with hearts of gratitude for Jesus who gave his own innocent life to clear the guilty.  Have we been saved: We must answer this question biblically and not with our subjective feelings.  Many lost people FEEL saved, but they are lost. (cf. Revelation 3:17).  Are you saved?  Why not come to Jesus now?  Please...before it is eternally to late? - Steven A. Mercer