What must I do to be saved?

A most important question in this life is: “What must I do to be saved?”
– This is the question that every person must answer correctly in their lives if they hope to spend eternity with God in heaven.
– Sadly, in the world today, there are many wrong answers given to this question:
e.g., Some trust their own feelings in the matter; but feelings are, of course, unreliable:
Prov 16:25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
e.g., Others trust in the advice of people (where some say one thing, and others another thing!) but this is useless as well:
Matt. 15:9 BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN

Surely Jesus is the only One who truly knows how we can be saved (cf. Rom. 1:4)!
So let’s “listen to Him!” (as God commanded the disciples to do in Matt. 17:5) …

Believe, repent, baptism for forgiveness of sins. Luke. 24:47, Mark. 16:15-16, Matt. 28:18-19, Acts 2:36-40

Remember:
– All parts of the process contribute to the result of being saved; all parts, therefore, are essential.
– Under the NT, someone who is baptized without believing, or believes without being baptized, is not saved!

Have you been saved according to Jesus’ instructions?
– Don’t trust your own feelings! Don’t trust in other people (e.g., “faith only”, “saved without baptism in water”, etc.)! Listen only to Jesus on how to be saved!
– We would urge you, as Saul/Paul was urged: Acts 22:16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.

Sowing the Seed

Jesus’ command to all His disciples:

  • Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

 How are we to “make disciples”?

Sowing the Seed

  • Luke 8:5,11 The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up … 11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.

Rom. 10:17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Sometimes Christians may become discouraged by the apparent lack of response to the direct telling of the gospel.

It is equally discouraging to see people respond to the gospel and then fall away some time later.

So there is a great temptation, at times, to try devious means to entice people to Christ!

But to employ such:

(i)  is to practise deception (like the devil, Rev. 12:9), and

(ii)  may cause people to be attracted to the wrong thing (i.e. not to Christ).

Let’s consider four (4) questions this morning:

  1. What tricks may I use to bring others to Jesus?
  2. How should we bring people to Jesus?
  3. Why can’t we modify God’s word to please all people?
  4. Does the word of God need any “help” from us?

Which Church?

Which church should I join?

Where do all churches come from? Why is there so much division? Do all roads lead to heaven?

4 Questions answered on which church?

  1. Which Church is the Church which Jesus built?
  2. What about churches that men have built?
  3. Does it really matter?
  4. Where today is the church that Jesus built?

Some Things Wrong with Denominational “Baptisms”

  1. Denominational “baptisms” often involve the wrong person.
  2. Denominational “baptisms” often involve the wrong method.
  3. Denominational “baptisms” often involve the wrong purpose.
  4. Some Things Wrong with Denominational “Baptisms” – Does It Really Matter?