What must I do 2
Contents
Trust In Good Works
The lessons of the past two chapters dealt with baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the Sermon on the Mount. In this chapter we continue our study by considering the subject of good works. The Philippian jailer wanted to do something and cried, What must I do to be saved? God's answer through Paul was simply Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:30-31). Humanity wants to do something to merit salvation and it is impossible. This is so because of God's master plan called "grace." Grace means "unmerited favor." It is God's bestowal of salvation upon the undeserving because of Christ's meritorious sacrifice on Calvary.
This program of grace fills the pages of the Holy Book. Ephesians 2:8,9 says, For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast. God gives salvation and eternal life freely to all who will accept the shed blood of Christ. Any other plan would fill heaven with cocky, arrogant braggarts. Their "I" trouble would become an obnoxious sound in heaven. "I did this" and "I did that. Therefore, to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:5). None of us will boast in eternity about our "spiritual brownie points" that got us to heaven, but we will humbly thank the Lord for His sacrifice that made our salvation possible. Until one sees, believes, and accepts this divine program, he is under condemnation.
That is why Paul could say in Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law (Ten Commandments) but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. This righteousness is actually found in Christ and never in one's own efforts. For (God) hath made (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Many miss this elementary truth. Everything a believer is or can ever become is through Christ.6 Paul's people, the Jews, missed this glorious ideal. He said, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness (Jesus Christ), and going about to establish their own righteousness (good works) have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:1-4). Yes, Christ ends all man-made programs and meritorious schemes to obtain righteousness. Christ is that righteousness, providing His righteousness to all who will believe in Him.
That is why Romans 10:10 states, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Get rid of all the false theological teachings held to this point and trust in the blood of Christ for salvation and righteousness. For without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). Quit working and start trusting. It is God's grace, unmerited favour, that saves sinners for time and eternity. As we continue this study let us consider the various works men observe to gain eternal life.
Trust in Prayer
Multitudes feel that if one prays often and passionately, heaven will certainly be awarded to them. Jesus taught differently. He said in Matthew 6:5,7, And when thou prayest. thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are ...But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do. Christ taught that the heathen and the hypocrites prayed. This did not save them for they were still heathen and hypocrites. He gives another example in Matthew 23:14: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
These pious hypocrites wanted to rob the widows, in a respectable way, of their finances. So, they conducted long and elaborate prayer vigils in their homes. However, their interest lay not in spiritual things but in filthy lucre. Christ warned that this pretentious farce would only bring the deceivers into damnation. They prayed, but in vain. Prayer only saves when one calls upon Christ for salvation. Then prayer becomes effectual. Acts 10 and 11 beautifully teach this lesson. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of a band called the Italian band, a devout man. and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always (Acts 10: 1,2). Did all of these spiritual traits, including prayer, save him? Not for one second! Peter is warned by God to go to the home of this needy seeker.
This he does. Later he describes what took place. Acts 11:13.14: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said, unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon. whose surname is Peter: Who shall tell thee words, when by thou and all thy house shall be saved. Yes, the God-fearing, alms-giving, prayer offering family still had to be saved. Quit trusting in prayer and begin trusting in the One who hears prayer.
Trust in Bible Reading
Then again there are those who believe that devotion to the Bible will certainly gain merit point toward salvation. But Christ again knocked this argument into oblivion in John 5:39,40. He said, Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have, eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. The Saviour made it dogmatically clear that salvation was through the Christ of whom the Scriptures spoke and to whom they pointed. It was the Living Word (Christ) revealed in the written Word (the Bible) who saved (see John 1:1).
Now the Scriptures are able to make one wise unto salvation (see 2 Timothy 3:15) as they point to Christ as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). However, as precious as the Holy Scriptures are, they cannot supplant Christ for salvation-only point to Him. Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, or in the Book that is His biography? Come to Him today; and then study more about Him in His Book.
Trust in Church Membership and Attendance
Others talk about church membership as if this automatically opens the Pearly Gates to sinners. Friends, a church role is not God's book of life. Occupying a pew will not make one a child of God. A rusty wheelbarrow does not become a Cadillac by occupying space at the G. M. dealership. A woman does not become an old hen by sitting in a chicken coop. She may do a lot of cackling, but she is still a Miss-or is it Mrs., or is, it Ms., (or could it be mistress?). It is hard to keep liberated birds straight these days. People and thing, are not changed (presto) by such situations, and sinners are not saved by sitting on sanctified, foam padded pews.
It takes an experience with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit unfolds this premise .for us in Acts 16:14: And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira. which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. This is so plain that even a young child could grasp God's marvelous plan of salvation. Notice this worshipper of God heard Paul and her heart was opened to the point that she attended to the need Paul's sermon created. And what was the glorious truth this giant of God proclaimed? Acts 16:31 says. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved.
The worshipping woman, upon hearing these potent words, attended to her spiritual need by receiving Christ. Oh, if all worshippers could only see their need, the Lord Jesus Christ, they would end up with Lydia in heaven rather than in an eternity of devastation and doom. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:12).
Trust in the Ten Commandments
Finally, there are those who trust in commandment keeping as a means of appeasing God and entering heaven. This is drastically wrong because it leads a soul into eternal separation from the God who gave the commandments. Does this seem contradictory? It need not when one understands God's purpose in creating Sinai's demands. Jehovah God gave the listing to Moses to expose the sinfulness of mankind. By the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). Again in Galatians 3:24: The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
A schoolmaster or teacher helps one to find the right answers. Thus the Law, a teacher, bring mankind to the point of sin's recognition in order to drive the sinner to the blood of Christ for cleansing. This Law, the Ten Commandments, could never take away sins-only reveal the wickedness of man and condemn the sinner. The law worketh wrath (Romans 4:13). Again in 2 Corinthians 3:6: The letter killeth. It is the "ministration of condemnation" and only produces a curse. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book or the law to do them (Galatians 3:10).
After one studies the Commandments, as listed in Exodus 20:3-17, he realizes his helpless, hopeless situation. He sees that he is a sinner under wrath, condemnation, and a curse. He also witnesses the fact that this judgment is for all because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and the scripture hath concluded all under sin (Galatians 3:22) Because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), the sinner realizes that the Holy Commandment, can only be his judge and jury, condemning him for all eternity. After all, who can keep the following of Sinai perfectly?
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven , image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house... wife... nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Upon analyzing the holiness of these commandments, one must conclude that he, too, is condemned, doomed, and lost. For who, in his own strength, can keep such righteous demands, especially as interpreted in the New Testament, For instance, hatred becomes murder in 1 John 3:15 and mental lust becomes adultery in Matthew 5:28. So, an act of bitterness or a lustful desire renders one a lawbreaker. Is it any wonder that God says, The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men (Micah 7:2). Oh, you think you still are blameless? Well, what will you do with the ninth commandment-Thou shalt not bear false witness; (lie)?
No truthful person admits to complete and perfect honesty from birth onward, for even gossip usually includes this sin. Revelation 22:15 states, For without (or outside of heaven) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolators, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. We are all guilty, and God's Law was given to bring every member of the human race to this conclusion. Romans 3:19 states that the Ten Commandments were given so that every mouth maybe stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. In other words, God says, "I have given My Holy Law to seal one's lips, silence one's speech, and cease one's arguments, for all the world is guilty." Since the Law produces wrath, doom, and damnation, what is the sinner's hope? The answer is Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen again.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace (unmerited favour), and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). So, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:4). Human effort through the commandments is forever finished. Christ, through death, has become our righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21) Instead of slavishly working to obtain the righteousness of God, one simply believes and receives Christ. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness (Romans 10:10). There is not one shred of hope in the Commandments. They condemn, period. Man's goodness can only be found in the sinless one, Jesus. Galatians 2:16 declares, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ. that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law (the 'Ten Commandments) shall no flesh (Get it-NO FLESH) be justified. God's plan of redemption and salvation is not in a code of ethics or in a series of laws, but in the cross of Christ.
To trust in works, the Sermon on the Mount or the Ten Commandments is to frustrate and confuse God's plan of grace, or unmerited favor. God gives the sinner salvation as a gift (see Romans 6:23). The lowliest of sinners, without any worth or merit, may have this gift without cost or obligation. To add any plan or program of human assistance to Christ's shed blood as an aid to obtaining salvation is to destroy the offer of grace. Paul said, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law (Ten Commandments), then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:21). Think of it, Christ's death is a mockery if salvation can be obtained through the commandments. Believe God today. Nothing this flesh can do merits salvation. The Galatians had turned to the commandments for righteousness and Paul says, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law (Ten Commandments), or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3). He adds in verse 1 1: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith. The Law curses but Christ bore the brunt of the curse at Calvary to lift the curse from sinners. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Galatians 3:13). Turn to Jesus today. Quit trying and start trusting. It is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11).