Message from Scripture: 7/28/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today comes from Acts 9:5-6; “And Paul said, "Who are You, ‘Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.’"

 

Jesus, in speaking to Paul, told him, regarding being saved, there were things he must do, meaning that which a person has to do to be saved. The word must means what is an absolute necessity. We go on to see Ananias teaching Paul he must be immersed to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16).

 

When we examine God's Word, then, we find He has clearly revealed how we can be forgiven of our sin. It begins with faith (Heb. 11:6), and should be followed by repentance (Acts 2:38), confessing Jesus as Lord (Matt. 10:32-33), and being immersed (1 Pet. 3:21). In the book of Acts, every recorded instance of conversion includes being immersed. Immersion precedes forgiveness, not follows. It is a matter of must, of submitting to the will of God, to have the promised forgiveness. Scripture is not gray on what to do to be saved, but absolutely clear and obvious, as it’s a matter of heaven or hell.

 

When it comes to being saved, many today would say there are various roads that will lead to salvation, and different lifestyles that are approved by God. God, however, doesn’t want us to misunderstand what we must do or how we must live, and miss out on having eternal life. Scripture is clear on what God expects of us. If there is a gray issue, it’s in the minds of people, not God’s revealed will. As Peter said, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

 

Let’s go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, confident in His word, living faithfully for Him, knowing what awaits us in eternity when we do His will. God bless.

 

Robert