WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

“Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, “Believe on the lord Jesus the Messiah, and you shall be saved, you and your house.” [Acts 16:29-31] Whoa, don’t stop at verse 31 as most pastors do, look at what happens in verses 32-34: “And they spoke unto him the word of the lord, and to all that were in his house, – you can be sure that Paul taught them the entire gospel message so they would understand what their goal and destiny would be as disciples of the lord Jesus. Verse 33: “And he – the jailor took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes – wounds, and was baptized, he and all his straightaway.”

Note: Paul and Silas preached the jailor the gospel while their wounds were probably still bleeding and only after they finished speaking did they get their wounds attended to.

Verse 34: “And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with his entire house.”

What do we get from these additional verses?

It is just this, that just believing in the lord Jesus is not enough, you must believe the entire gospel message that Paul and Silas preached to the jailor before he and his house were baptized. As Luke has indicated in his rendition of the parable of the sower: “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God – defined by Matthew 13:19 – as the gospel of the kingdom. Those by the wayside are they that hear, then comes the Devil, and takes away the word – gospel of the kingdom out of their hearts, lest they believe and be saved.” So to be saved one must believe and obey the gospel message of the kingdom [kingship] of God! The jailor did both he believed the message of the gospel and then obeyed it by loving his neighbor as himself, by washing their wounds and feeding them.

This a thrilling piece of apostolic history contains the most important question that can be spoken. “What must I do to be saved?” Believe the message of the gospel and obey the words that God gave the lord Jesus to give to us. Believing the gospel message takes living faith and living faith produces works – as the jailor immediately washed the wounds of Paul and Silas and invited them into his home to eat and fellowship. Now we see what believing in the lord Jesus the Messiah involves. Believing the good news message he brought about the kingdom of God and believing and obeying his words that will lead us into that kingdom. Jesus was commissioned by his God and Father to bring the good news message of the gospel to mankind. Thus, he is called the “Messenger of the Covenant.” [Malachi 3:1] “The Apostle and High Priest of our profession.” [Hebrews 3:1] The word “Apostle” here applies to the lord Jesus conveys the meaning, “ambassador, a messenger.” In the parable of the vineyard, Jesus speaks of himself, “last of all He sent unto them His son.” Again, he says, “I am sent to preach the kingdom of God.” At the house of Cornelius, Peter calls attention to “the word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus the Messiah.” [Acts 10:36] Verse 37 says “that word – the message of the kingdom of God, you know, was published throughout all Judea, and began in Galilee, after the baptism which John preached.” The Father says, “This is my beloved son, hear him.” [Luke 9:35]. We would do well to heed this command! And Moses says, “Him – that Prophet – Jesus – shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every person which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed.” [Acts 3:22, 23]

To make things more clear we find the lord Jesus placed before us as a witness-bearing testimony. This he is called, “the faithful and true witness.” [Revelation 3:14] And he himself says, “For this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” [John 18:37] Now the message of the kingdom that he preached is “His testimony,” and the scriptures assure us that “He that has received his testimony has set his seal that God is true”; but on the other hand, “He that believed not the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” [John 3:33, 36] So if one does not believe the message that Jesus brought and preached all the time, the message of the kingdom of God that one will not see life!

Now we have shown, by varied illustration and overwhelming proof, that to, “believe on the lord Jesus the Messiah,” in a true and scriptural sense, is to believe and obey that message and testimony of the gospel of the kingdom that he proclaimed to mankind.

What then is that message or testimony which is so essential to salvation? Our destiny depends on a truthful answer to that question; and the Lord be praised we are not left in the dark on a subject of such vast importance. Peter has with great precision pointed out the past by which we can find out what that message was. He says that “the word of God – the kingdom of God message, which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by the lord Jesus the Messiah…. Was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached.” [Acts 10:36, 37] We are told 1^st, who sent it; “the word which God sent”; 2^nd, to whom was the word sent? “Unto the children of Israel”; 3^rd, By whom was it preached? “By Jesus the Messiah”; 4^th, In what region was it first proclaimed? “Throughout all Judea”; 5^th, from what place did it begin? “From Galilee”; 6^th, At what time did it begin? “After the baptism which John preached?” Such plain directions take us to Mark 1:14, which says, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” How accurately this answers the language of Peter. John was “a bright and shining light” but his ministry has come to a close. His voice had been hushed on the banks of the river Jordan, for John was taken away from his holy work and shut up in prison and there he was put the death as a reward for the reward of a young woman for dancing, whose mother asked to the head of John the Baptist.

Right after John was imprisoned the lord Jesus “began from Galilee” preaching “the kingdom of God.” He went through all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. [Matthew 4:23] He went from Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom “throughout all Judea,” as we learn from Luke 7:1: “It came to pass afterward that he went through every city and village, preaching and showing forth the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. When the people of Capernaum urges him to stay longer with them he declined, saying, “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also; for this reason was I sent.” [Luke 4: 43] In the interval between his resurrection and his rising up into the clouds his message was still about “the kingdom of God.”

So we can understand that it has been abundantly proved that “THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD” was the great message and testimony which the Messiah Jesus brought to Israel and mankind through his apostles. It follows that “the gospel of the kingdom of God” is what we must believe before it can truly be said that we “believe on the lord Jesus the Messiah.” He has commanded us to believe the gospel of the kingdom of God which he preached to all men/women. “Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “Repent, and believe the gospel.” [Mark 1:14, 15] The language shows that he commanded them to believe the gospel he was preaching, “the gospel of the kingdom of God.” It is essential that we keep his commandments! He says, “Why do you call me lord, lord, and do not do the things that I say? [Luke 6:46] He says, “You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you.” [John 15:14] “Whatever he says unto you do” [John 2:5] “If you love me, keep my commandment.” [John 15:15] Keeping his commandments is a test of loving him, and certainly, no one can be saved who does not love him, for the fearful penalty has been pronounced, “If any man does not love the lord Jesus the Messiah let him be Anathema Maranatha,” i.e. accursed when the lord comes. [1 Corinthians 16:22]

So we see that the lord Jesus has set us an example and made the kingdom of God the great and constant theme of his message to all men/women. Isn’t it amazing that modern preachers refuse to believe or preach the gospel of the kingdom of God? I would not want to be in the place of such preachers on the Day of Judgment. Such modern preachers are preaching another gospel than the one Jesus brought to all of mankind. Not only did Jesus preach the gospel but he sent his 12 apostles to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God and they went through the towns preaching the gospel. [Luke 9:2, 6] So we see that those who do not preach the gospel of the kingdom of God do not preach the true gospel. The gospel message is not restricted to Israel but is to go forth to all the world, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world.” [Matthew 24:14] Jesus told his disciples, “You shall be witness to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” [Acts 1:8] We can conclude that the apostles obeyed the lord Jesus and the gospel of the kingdom of God was preached everywhere the apostles went. Notice we find Philip in Samaria “preaching the things about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus the Messiah.” [Acts 8:12] Notice Paul at Ephesus, and other places, preaching “the things concerning the kingdom of God.” [Acts 19:8; 20:25] In Rome Paul lived for two whole years “preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the lord Jesus the Messiah.” [Acts 28:23, 31]

As the scriptures recognize one faith and one hope, so also it recognizes but one gospel, and pronounces a double curse on man or angel who shall dare to “preach any other gospel” [Ephesians 4:5; Galatians 1:8, 9] Since there is but one gospel it follows that it is “this gospel of the kingdom of God” which the Scripture says, “He that believes not shall be condemned.” [Mark 16:15, 16] Behold the awful penalty of either preaching or believing “any other gospel” that “the gospel of the kingdom of God.”

Now the gospel of the kingdom of God is the good message, glad tidings, and joyful news of all those who believe it will receive! Now, what truths does the gospel consist?

1.   It will be a divine kingdom, the kingdom of God – Yehovah. It is called by that name because it is a kingdom that God will set up. [Daniel 2:44] It will be far superior to the human kingdoms of this world. It’s King and princes will be glorified immortal human beings present in bodily and tangible form. The risen and glorified holy ones [saints] will be like the lord Jesus the Messiah in appearance. [Luke 20:36; Philippians 3:21] All those who are resurrected in the lord Messiah will serve in the theocratic government he will set up to rule over the nations during his 1,000-year rule.

2.   The coming kingdom of God will be on this earth. The covenants God made with Abraham and David show that the return of the lord Jesus will be the start of the kingdom on this earth; when he takes his place on the throne of David at Zion. Then he will rule over the nation of Israel as King and rule over the nations as King of kings and Lord of lords. The promises made to the patriarchs and David will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to this earth to establish the kingdom of God. The new Jerusalem will be on this earth, and “the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it” [Revelation 21:2, 10; 22:3] Notice speaking of the lord Jesus: “his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.” [Zechariah 9:10] It shall fill the whole earth. [Daniel 2:35] That “the kingdom, the dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones – saints of the Most High” [Daniel 7:27] That the kingdoms of this world shall become our Lord’s and His Messiah. [Revelation 11:15] That, the Messiah will have the heathen for his inheritance and the “uttermost parts of the earth” for his possession. [Psalm 2:8]

3.   It will be an everlasting kingdom, that shall not pass away, and of which there shall be no end. [Luke 1:33] “The everlasting kingdom of our Lord and His savior Jesus the Messiah” [2 Peter 1:11] “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom which shall not be destroyed.” [Daniel 7:14, 27] “The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” [Daniel 2:44]

4.   That Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, has been appointed by the Father to be King of that kingdom. Nathaniel confessed, “Rabbi, you are the son of God, you are the King of Israel.” [John 1:49] Peter also confessed, “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.” [Matthew 16:16] He is called the might Hero, and will come in the glory of his Father to take his seat on the throne of David. [Isaiah 9:6, 7; Matthew 25:31] Accordingly the kingdom is called “the kingdom of the Messiah and of God” [Ephesians 5:6] “The kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah” [Revelation 11:15] Our God Yehovah is going to establish a kingdom on earth, into which all who hold fast to the end will enter. “Fear not little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give to you the kingdom.” [Luke 12:32]

5.   In order to obtain an inheritance in that kingdom a person must become righteous; “for the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:9] It is “promised to those who love him,” [James 2:5] “to the saints – holy ones of the Most High,” [Daniel 7:18, 22] Therefore the lord Jesus directs us “to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” [Matthew 6:33] The kingdom of the aim and end; righteousness is the road to it. That righteousness comes only through the Messiah and by the merits of his atonement, “The Messiah died for our sins.” [1 Corinthians 15:3] “By the obedience of one many shall be made righteous.” [Romans 5:19] “The Messiah is the end of the law of righteousness for everyone who believes.” [Romans 10:4]

That righteousness, long ago made possible by the precious blood of the Messiah, is now individually applied to every believer of the gospel of the kingdom of God when he is baptized for the remission of sins; for such is the plain requirement of the scripture, “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus, for the remission of sins” “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” [Acts 2:38; 22:16] After the believer is baptized he is said to be in the Messiah; and if any man is in the Messiah, he is a new creation, for there, is no condemnation for those who are in the Messiah Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 7:1]

6.   In order to inherit and be in the kingdom, a person must be made immortal; for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. [1 Corinthians 15:50] That immortality can only take place through the Messiah alone at the resurrection. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is age upon age lasting life through our lord Jesus the Messiah.” [Romans 6:23] So when this corruptible shall become incorruptible, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought about the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O, grave, where is your victory? [1 Corinthians 15:53-55]

I think we have proven that to the believer of the lord Jesus the Messiah is to believe the gospel of the kingdom of God, which teaches that he will come to establish that kingdom on earth, and give the righteous endless life and happiness and joy therein, at their resurrection.

This is that, “Great salvation which at first began to be spoken by the lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” [Hebrews 2:3] “How shall we escape is we neglect so great salvation?” This is a solemn question, for there is no escape for any who neglect it. You need not revile, oppose, but merely neglect it, to ensure your destruction. You have heard the question, “What must I do to be saved? Now if you answer, “What must I do to be lost?” I answer, “Do nothing!” and you are rushing along the track to perdition. Continue to neglect so great salvation and you will not escape the consuming wrath of God. The sin of omission, the sin of not believing, is a great sin worthy of death; for he that believes not shall be condemned. [Mark 16:16] “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” [Hebrews 11:6] Unless you believe you will die in your sins. Surely you will die in your sins unless you believe and obey the gospel of the kingdom.

To speak of obeying the gospel implies that it carries with it commands to be obeyed, and well as truths to be believed. In the great commission under which the apostles were sent into all the world, they were instructed to baptize those who believed. Go, teach all nations, baptizing them, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” [Matthew 38:19; Mark 16:15, 16]

Thus it is, that in the very first sermon preached by the apostles under their commission, we find them commanding their hearers to be “baptized for the remission of sins.” [Acts 2:38] Also, when Peter preached at the house of Cornelius those who believed were commanded to be baptized. [Acts 10:48] So we see that baptism is one of the great commands of the bible. And what shall be the end of them who believe not the gospel? This question is asked by Peter and answered by Paul: “The lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel.” [1 Peter 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:8]

What a precious privilege to go down into the waters of baptism and experience death to self and come up out of the water a new creation having resurrection life as you are filled with the Spirit of the Messiah and God. What joy to know that all your sins have been washed away, because of the sin-offering sacrifice of the Messiah Jesus who shed blood enable our God to be reconciled to us! Amazing Grace! We can now go forward totally committed to walking in faith/obedience in love to our God and Father and loving our neighbors as ourselves. In doing so we are keeping the creed of the lord Messiah Jesus. [Mark 12:28-34] After our baptism we realize that we are the slaves of the lord Messiah because we have been bought and paid for by his shed blood. [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 7:23; Romans 6:16, 18, 22;] We are the slaves of the one we obey in our case the lord Messiah Jesus and as his slaves bought and paid for by his blood we live totally committed to obeying all the words God gave to him to give to us. As slaves of the lord Jesus, we own nothing. Everything we have has been given to us by our God and Father to exercise stewardship over. Also as the slaves of the lord Jesus, we always do what he requires of us without question. Whatever God or His anointed one command us to do comes with the enabling power to do it. What amazing grace, we are commanded to do something, and when we do we receive a reward! 

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they have right to the tree of life, and may enter into the gates of the city – the New Jerusalem.” [Revelation 22:14] Jesus says, “Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28, 30] Yehovah invites you saying, “Come now, let us reason together, says Yehovah, though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” [Isaiah 1:18] Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts!