| Author | Thread: What man must do to be saved |
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What man must do to be savedPosted : 20 Aug, 2012 09:58 AMThe lost jailer at Philippi asked the preachers, "�Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16: 30). Notice, kind reader, Paul and Silas did not rebuke him and call him a legalist because he asked what he must do to be saved. Not only did they not rebuke him, they told him what to do to be saved. First, there was the matter of belief (vs. 31). Belief in this instance is comprehensive - total of man's responsibility in the considered circumstance (see Heb. 11: 6, Jas. 2: 19-24). They had to preach to him so he could believe (you see, faith is not a direct gift from God, Acts 16: 32, Rom. 10: 17). Notice how "he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway" (vs. 33). The washing of their stripes was indicative of repentance (Acts 2: 38). He and his were immediately baptized, as we have seen, because "baptism is for the forgiveness of sin" (Acts 2: 38, 22: 16, Rom. 6: 1-18). He and his could now rejoice "believing in God�" (vs. 34). Hence, the nonChristian must believe, repent, confess Christ's deity (Rom. 10: 9, 10, see Acts 8: 37, confession is necessarily inferred in the two cases noticed, Acts 2; 16), and be baptized. Belief is the first because there is not anything said to precede and baptism is the final because salvation is associated with the act of baptism (when preceded by the other noted acts). |
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What man must do to be savedPosted : 20 Aug, 2012 04:52 PMThe Christian must confess his sins and ask God for forgiveness of those sins committed while a Christian (I Jn. 1: 6-9). As the Christian walks in the light and keeps himself in the love of God, he enjoys salvation (I Jn. 1: 7-9, Jude 21). He is to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling (Phili. 2: 12). His life was begun in obedience and he is to continue in submission to God's will (Rom. 6). |
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