Acts 16:30b Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Coming once again to the issue of questions and answers, here is the most important of all questions.

Acts 16:31b Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

If you will allow me to editorialize here for a moment, this is the only must do that is associated with salvation. If anyone were to try and tell you otherwise then their doctrine consists of grace plus and is not supported by truth.

Yes, there are religions that stress what you must do but those must do issues have nothing to do with salvation. Those must do issues are laid at your feet as a challenge. “If you are going to be one of us, this is what you must do.” At this point fellowship is cut off from the body of Christ which is free to believe grace by faith alone. Their salvation is not at risk simply because they accuse you of failing to adhere to those doctrines. Fellowship however is cut off, not because of your decision but rather their own choice.

I cannot and will not attempt to judge their salvation. That is not my right. They may well claim that right for themselves but God is our judge, not man. I would not deny them fellowship even though they deny me access to worship with them. I would not deny them communion even though the might deny me communion with their assembly.

My last point is this.

Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Mary hanging of every word of Jesus is called needful, necessary, essential, or important but is not identified as a must do. Martha working and complaining in the kitchen is just as saved as Mary. What Mary had that can never be taken away is the blessed time she spent in deep relationship with her savior.

While it is a blessing, it is still not a must do in relationship to eternal salvation.

Matthew 18:18,22 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Look very carefully at the question asked and the question answered.

Now look at this question and answer.

Matthew 18:26-27 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Are they the same questions? Are they the same answers?

On the surface some might think they are the same questions with different answer but in truth they are different questions with the same answer.

Question 18, a rich man asks for an inheritance. Question 26 a poor man asks for salvation.

Answers to both questions, it is not within you to receive what you ask.

The reason why the answers are the same goes to heart condition. The rich man was not willing in his heart to give away all the wealth he had for an inheritance he could not see. The poor man had no place in his heart to give up the painful life he so desperately wanted to leave.

Inheritance and salvation are both the purview of God. We do not get to claim either one for ourselves. Both are grace gifts from God according to His plan for mankind. The receipt of the grace gifts are within our ability to accept, but we cannot define what those gifts look like or what they will do for us. That is according to God’s plan.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Praise God if He has taken pleasure in you.