"What Must I Do To Be Saved?"

"There are those who are clean in their own eyes, but are not washed of their filth." ( Proverbs 30:12 )

"Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.'" ( John 13:8 ) 

"What must I do to be saved?"  ( Acts 16:30 ) 

In my study of Christian denominations, I think it's best that nothing be assumed and that I lay a proper foundation to build upon. I should define my terms so to speak. Because depending on who you ask about how one is saved, the question could generate a plethora of answers. 

At various times, when I've heard someone attempting to explain something, they often start with what that particular thing isn't. So I decided to try that route too. 

I don't like to drag American politics into my blog, but the first example that popped into my mind, yes, I know, that's possibly my first mistake, but the first one that came to me is the interview I saw last year of President Trump and Laura Ingram on Fox News. You can google it. 

I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with anything in that interview; truth be told, I don't watch the news, possibly to a fault. But I overheard this conversation when the Farmer was following the election, and it piqued by interest. 

I want to primarily focus on a couple of sentences. In this interview before he was elected to his second term, Laura asked various political questions to Donald Trump, and then, a bit abruptly, changes her direction and asks him what he prays for. 

Trump goes on to talk about how Americans aren't as religious as they once were and says,"Religion gives you some hope, gee, if I'm good I'm going to heaven." 

Laura quickly pipes in and asked him if he believes in heaven, and Trump says that he does. He goes on to say again, "If I'm good I'm going to heaven." And then interestingly he says, "and if I'm bad I'm going to some place else, like, over there, right?" 

Over there? Over where? 

I think it's interesting that Trump, for whatever reason, doesn't or can't bring himself to say the word "hell." I mean, I've heard him say "hell" many times in speeches, so it's puzzling as to why he didn't say it then. Oh well, those are just my musings. 

Back though to the part about going to heaven. To put it bluntly, "If I'm good I'm going to heaven" is a gross misunderstanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that's taught on every page of Scripture. One would think Trump's "spiritual advisors" would have taken him aside and explained the Gospel more accurately to him. Again, my musings. 

If you are a true born again believer, you know that you came to saving faith by God's grace alone, through faith alone, in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on your behalf when you were convicted of your sins, repented of them, and trusted Christ for the forgiveness of your sins even if you couldn't quite articulate it in theological terms at the time. 

Not many of us could. 

That's okay. Our new way of walking is about to begin in the renewing of our mind, and glory hallelujah, our teacher and guide is the Holy Spirit himself who gets right to work in transforming our old nature into the image of Christ.

But I have to say that if someone asked any of us, even in our spiritual infancy, how we get to heaven, I have to believe most would say something like, "By the blood of Christ." Or at least, "in Christ" or "by Jesus" or "by the grace of God." 

Scripture teaches us that our good works can't save us. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ) 

In the beginning, God created a good world with good creatures and good humans, but after Adam and Eve, our first parents, sinned that goodness went from bad to worse because their sin was then imparted to everyone born after them. 

( Genesis 3:15, 6:9, Isaiah 53, 64, Psalm 14, 38, 51, 53, 143:2, Proverbs 20:9, Job 42, Jeremiah 15, 17, John 3:18, Romans 3, Ephesians 2:1-3, 1 John ) 

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned ---") ( Romans 5:12 ) 

"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." ( Romans 3:10-12 ) 

We can still do good things for people, but because of our sin nature, these good works are like filthy rags before the holy God of creation. In fact, Jesus told Nicodemus we are condemned. ( John 3:18 ) 

What are we to do? 

There's nothing we can do. 

To be acceptable before a thrice holy God, God's holy standard must be met perfectly. That standard is revealed in the law, the Ten Commandments, and no human being can obey the law completely. We stand condemned before God, dirty, dressed in filthy rags. Separated from the God who created us. 

This knowledge always reminds me of C.S. Lewis's ontological argument for the existence of God in Mere Christianity: Inside of us, we all know there is a moral law. We know we should be obeying it; however, we also know, try as we might, we can't. ( That's a paraphrase. ) Paul calls it the natural law inside of us. 

Some have said when presented with this truth, "He's God, he can just forgive us - He can look the other way." 

"No, he can't do that. God is perfect in all of his attributes including justice. If he let us go without payment for our sins against him, he would not be just. God in no way can clear the guilty. Payment must be rendered. ( Exodus 34:7 ) 

And anyway, do we really want a God who isn't just? Think about that. A judge who will do a "wink-wink," and pardon the worst crimes imaginable? If one of our loved ones was raped and murdered, would we want the judge to let the criminal go without handing down the punishment? Heck no. Christians rejoice in the hope that there will be a day of reckoning, a final judgement day when God executes justice for all the sick atrocities this world has ever known. 

God's wrath is holy. 

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." ( Romans 1:18 ) 

And here's the Good News on the heels of all of this bad news about our sin nature and the creation that groans around us to be restored: God provided the sacrifice himself. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." ( John 3:16 ) 

I have two sons, and I can tell you, it would be worse to watch them go through a beating than to take it myself. Anyone would feel this way. This one act alone displays to us the unimaginable grace and mercy of God. Unfathomable. Simply unfathomable. 

Jesus Christ not only died the death we should have died, but lived the perfect life, obeying God's law completely, that we could never live. That's why he came as a baby and was wrapped not just in swaddling clothes but in human flesh, so he could be a faithful high priest. He experienced all we experience, was tempted as we are tempted. Completely God and completely man. He did NOT lay aside his divinity. Or else he couldn't have paid for our sins with his perfect life. And He did it all for us, willingly. 

Now when we repent of our sins and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we can be reconciled back to God. 

Friends, even though I feel I've just bumbled my way through this explanation, we must be clear on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God for salvation. ( Romans 1:16 ) Nothing else. 

When I talk with folks who say that they don't want anything to do with being a Christian, and then I listen to their explanation of Christianity, I realize that what they just interpreted to me was a false gospel. 

It's either works-righteousness, a gospel they know they can never attain. Or it's all the prosperity, health-wealth, and faith message stuff that turns them off, along with the TV preachers and televangelists exploiting the poor and gullible out of their last dollar in return for a "miracle" or a "breakthrough." I get it. The Gospel is not for sale. 

I tell them that I don't like that stuff either. If someone is rejecting true Christianity, I can live with that, but not if they are rejecting a false gospel. I reject that as well. I think that's why when a high profile individual speaks or insinuates something false about the true Christian Gospel, we need to counter it. We need to bring clarity. 

As I said in my last blog, the Scriptures don't command us to make nice; they require us to cultivate and show kindness, speaking the truth in love. Love doesn't watch while others crash and burn. Love warns. Love rescues. 

So in the final analysis, "If I'm good, I'm going to heaven," spoken in its proper context and meaning is actually right. 

The only way I can get into heaven and be in the presence of the holy God of the universe is to be good, through and through. But the question remains - How can I achieve such goodness? By my own efforts or the efforts of another? 

That's a question we all need to ponder. Paul reminds us to examine ourselves to see if we are indeed in the faith. ( 2 Corinthians 13:5 ) Did President Trump mean that? When Trump said, "If I'm good, I'm going to heaven," did he mean the goodness that can only be attained when we are imputed with the righteousness of Christ at the moment of justification? Is that what he meant? No offense, but I don't think so. 

And I'm not giving Trump the benefit of the doubt either. I pray for his salvation because God alone knows the human heart he created. I care deeply about his soul as I do that of President Biden, and I prayed for him when he was in office. 

Romans 13 and other passages instruct Christians to pray for our government leaders and those in positions of authority over us whether we agree with them or not."For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." ( v.1 ) 

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings." ( Daniel 2:21 ) 

God is sovereign in all things. 

So back to the question: "What must I do to be saved?"

 Nothing. 

"I" can't do anything to be saved. That's the whole point of Christ coming into the world. In fact, that's the entire biblical narrative: God sending his Redeemer to save and reconcile his sinful people back to him. It is truly found on every page of Scripture in one beautiful form or another. 

Friends, if you feel you must bring something to Christ in order to be saved, great, bring your sin. When you confess your sin, he's faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Jesus Christ will exchange your feeble attempts at earning your own salvation along with your filthy rags for a robe of righteousness without spot or blemish, secured in heaven for you. 

By Christ alone. Now you can enter heaven in the joy of your Master and live with Him forever. To God be the glory alone. 

The jailer "trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.'" ( Acts 16:29 - 31 ) 

"Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be. Let thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to thee." 

Repent and believe in Christ 

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I know this is a bit lengthy, but I wanted the Gospel unpacked on my pages. Thanks for reading! 

I have to get a jump on the decorations.