WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? By Gus Nichols (1892-1975)
What is the greatest question ever
propounded by mortal man? Some businessman might say it is the question of how
to make a fortune. Those old and feeble might say it is the question of how to
live to be one hundred years of age and remain in good health all that time.
The sick might answer that the greatest question has to do with a cure for
cancer, tuberculosis and diseases of the heart. However, the statesmen might
contend that the greatest question is how to promote peace among nations and
prevent all future wars. While these are all important questions they have to
do with the fleeting things of time and this life only.
“WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?”
But it must be agreed by all those
who believe the Bible that the world’s greatest question is, “What must I do to be saved?” or “What shall I do, Lord?” or “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
{Acts 22:10; 2:37; 9:6.}
This question has to do with the soul of man and eternal destiny. The soul of
man in one side of the balances would outweigh the whole
world in the other side! Jesus said, “What
is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or
what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” {Matthew 16:26.} The soul
is the skyscraper to stand through the eternal ages, while the body is no more
than the scaffolding and ladders round about, and very temporary in nature.
Once the soul is lost eternally, it will be too late to do anything about our
great question.
QUESTION ANALYZED
But let us analyze our question and
show that it is exceedingly simple. First of all there are two parts to the
question. “What must I do” refers to
the sinner’s part, and “to be saved”
refers to God’s part of the plan. In other words the sinner must believe and
put his faith into obedience in order to be saved of God, and on God’s terms.
But let us further analyze the question. “What”
– of all things possible to be done, just what must one do to be saved? “What must” – it is not what one may do.
Jesus said, “It shall be told thee what
thou must do.” {Acts 9:6.} Again, it is “What
must I” – it is not what must God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit do. All
heaven has already moved and done its part, and it is our move next. It is “What must I do?” It is not how must I
feel or what must I imagine, or what must be done to me, but “What must I do?” it is not what must I
do to blot out my own sins apart from God but what must I do “to be saved.”
JAILER’S QUESTION ANSWERED
When the jailer
asked, “What must I do to be saved?”
{Acts 16:30}, he knew
little or nothing about Christ and had no faith in Him. However, the earthquake
of the occasion and the miracle in evidence confirmed the fact that Paul and
Silas were servants of God. In answer to his question they began at the very
first and said, “Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” This was a sort of
blanket proposition meaning that he would have to obey Christ and trust in Him
for salvation. They then preached Christ unto him so he could believe, for
faith comes by hearing the word. {Acts 16:32; Romans 10:17.} He evidently
believed and repented for he took them and tried to undo the harm done, and
washed their stripes. He also was baptized the same hour of the night – at midnight. {Acts 16:25, 33.} He was then saved by Christ who
had said in the commission, “He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” He rejoiced after his baptism.
He did not “hit the saw dust trail” to have his sins prayed away at an altar.
He also was saved by obedient faith and not by faith only. {Hebrews 5:9}.
ANSWERED ON PENTECOST
When many asked our great question
on Pentecost saying, “What shall we do?”
{Acts 2:37}, unlike the
jailer, they had just heard about Christ and been called upon to believe in Him
as “Lord and Christ” {Acts 2:36.} They had been pricked in
their hearts by the truth which they had heard pointing out their guilt in the
murder of Christ. {Acts 2:36.}
Since they were already believers, but had not put their faith into obedience,
they were simply told what to do by faith in order to be saved. The apostle
said, “Repent, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” {Acts 2:38.} They were to do this “for the remission of sins” for which Christ has shed his blood.
{Matthew 26:28}. When the service was over, there were no seekers turned away
with the explanation that they should keep on seeking in prayer until they
should find. But the record says, “They
then that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.” {Acts 2:41.} The last verse says, “And the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be
saved.” {Acts 2:47.} In no case were any said to
be saved who had not heard the gospel and obeyed it. Furthermore, the Lord
added all of them to the same church, the church of Christ
which he had said he would build. {Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:23; 2:16;
4:4.} They were simply Christians and wore no human religious name. {Acts
11:26; 1 Pet.4:16; James 2:7.} They subscribed to no human creed and were
members of no denominational church. They were united in the one body as Christ
had prayed that they should be. {John 17:20, 21; Ephesians 4:3.}
