What Shall We Do?

 

Matthew 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

 

The incident of the “Rich, young ruler” in Matthew 16-22 was a lesson on human misconceptions about salvation. This young man, from his youth was raised in the church and obeyed God’s Moral Law of the Ten Commandments, which Jesus recited, but knew that something was still missing. Like him, we can know and live by the letter of the Law, but not by the spirit of the Law, thereby miss eternal life qualification. If your heart is not in it, then you are just going through the motions and that doesn’t save anyone. What he and we need is heartfelt faith in God and the Gospel. God’s Law and the Mosaic Law gave us godly direction, but never was achievable by fallen mankind, yet clarified for us our hopelessly sinful state, our need for salvation and pointed us to the Savior of the world in Jesus Christ that we might be born-again by saving faith.

 

In Galatians 3:21-26 the Apostle Paul states, “Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

Chapter 3 of the Gospel according to John explain this gracious gift by the mercy of God, receiving by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, yet also tells us that those that love the darkness of their self-centered sin will reject God’s free gift of salvation, the justified wrath of God against sin shall remain upon them and shall not have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. The Gospel is not “good news” for those who reject the Savior as Lord and Master of their life. The Rich Young Ruler was told by Jesus to “go all in” and follow Him as a disciple (learning from and obeying Christ Word, Will and Way), and he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (and that was his idol, his true love, his other god). Do you have any other gods keeping you from going all in?

 

In Romans 10:8-10 the Apostle Paul declares,  “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the Gospel message, the basis] of faith which we preach because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His almighty power, absolute authority, and ultimate majesty as your personal Savior], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his or her justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth they acknowledges and confesses [their faith openly], resulting in and confirming [their] salvation. That is amazing grace.

 

In Acts 16:30 the Philippian Jailer recognized the hand of God and inquired of Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Saving faith in the Lord leads to a faithful walk of godly action in thought, word and deed. 

 

In Ephesians 4:1-3 this same Apostle Paul beseechs to us, “I appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].

 

In Acts 2:36-40 the Apostle Peter preached: “let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Anointed)—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.” And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with many more words, saying, “Be saved from this crooked and unjust generation!” This is what we shall do to be saved.

 

In Christ, Brian