What must I do to be saved?

THE THIEF IS NOT AN EXAMPLE OF SALVATION FOR US:
There are two uses people have made of the account of the thief on the cross, one is illegitimate and one is legitimate. But neither of the major uses of this event is really the purpose of the event and why God recorded the event for us. First, let’s consider the illegitimate use of this event…

Some have suggested that the thief on the cross was saved before and without baptism and therefore, people are saved without baptism today.

First, we know that many Jews responded to the preaching of John the baptizer and Jesus (see Luke 3:7), who baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3). So it is very possible that this man had heard the gospel preached by either John or Jesus and that he had been baptized under John’s baptism. He mentions the “kingdom,” so clearly he knew something about the message of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, we also know that the thief lived and died while the Law of Moses was in effect, not the “baptism taught by Christ.” The Law has since been taken out of the way, having been nailed to the cross (Matt. 27:51; Rom. 2:12-16; Gal. 3:7-29; Eph. 2:11-22; Col. 2:11-17; Heb. 9:15-17).

Thirdly, and this is the fundamental answer to this question is: we know that Jesus, while He was on earth, had the authority to forgive sins (Luke 5:24).

Clearly, the thief on the cross is not the pattern for people to respond to the Gospel once Jesus rose from the dead!

WE DO LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT “PARADISE”:
Jesus tells the thief that He will see him in “paradise.”

Jesus did not go to heaven at this point; He will not go to heaven until 24:51. Jesus did, however, go to “hades” (Acts 2:27, 31). Thus we know that while part of “hades” involves torture (see Luke 16:23), another part of it can be identified as “paradise.”

The word means “garden” or “park.” It is used in the Greek translation of the OT (Septuagint) in Genesis 2:8; 13:10; Isa. 51:3; Ezek. 28:13; 31:8-9.

In the NT, besides this text, it refers to “heaven” in 2 Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7. The conclusion we draw, then, is that after the final judgment, when “hades” is thrown into “hell” (Rev. 20:13-14), the “paradise” which had been in hades will become the “paradise” in heaven.

THE REAL MESSAGE OF THE “THIEF ON THE CROSS:”
Not only did Jesus teach His followers to forgive (17:3-4), but He also practiced it, stating that these men did not realize what they were doing (see 1 Cor. 2:6-9).

Jesus promised the thief that on the other side of the cross, on the other side of the pain, on the other side of death – there awaited Paradise. That’s the message of the thief on the cross. Regardless of what sins we have committed, if we come to Jesus on His terms, we can receive forgiveness and we can embrace that hope of Paradise, the garden in the presence of God throughout eternity.

Let the story of the thief on the cross inspire you to obey Jesus’ commands and anticipate an eternity in Paradise.

Paul Holland

The church in Corinth was far from perfect, yet Paul’s teachings to them offer timeless wisdom for us today. Below are sixteen principles drawn from each chapter of his letter, each one a challenge to grow in faith and reflect more of the glory of God. Consider carefully these key insights as we strive to mature together as the people of God:
1. Be united in mind and judgment (1:10).
2. Focus solely on Christ and His crucifixion (2:2).
3. Work alongside God as His fellow laborers (3:9).
4. Seek your approval from God alone (4:5).
5. Guard against the influence of sin (5:6).
6. Honor God with your body (6:20).
7. Be steadfast and resolute in your heart (7:37).
8. Avoid being a stumbling block to others (8:9).
9. Serve others selflessly (9:19).
10. Do not provoke God’s jealousy (10:22).
11. Gather together for mutual edification (11:17).
12. Recognize the indispensability of every member (12:22).
13. Let love be your guiding principle (13:13).
14. Focus on strengthening the church (14:12).
15. Always excel in the work of the Lord (15:58).
16. Greet one another with sincere affection (16:20).

Daren Schroeder

First, the Bible: “He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently” (Prov. 13:24). This principle is reiterated in Proverbs also at: 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15. This is probably one of the most well-known “biblical principles” of parenting. It is interesting that the “rod” is also suggested for the “backs of fools,” presumably adult fools: 10:13; 14:3; 26:3. The book of Proverbs is full of guidance and instructions for parents in raising their children far beyond this direction to spank.

Some go to one extreme and believe that spanking will cure everything. Others go to the other extreme and suppose that spanking is counter-productive by encouraging children to become violent and aggressive themselves. I will not go into further discussion about that particular argument against spanking except to suggest you read Dr. Jeff Miller’s two books on parenting, In the Way He Should Go (two volumes), available at kingsolomonpublications.org.

It is very dangerous for parents to spank when they are on the verge of losing self-control. I would not say a parent should wait until the anger has passed because then discipline might not happen at all. But a parent who is prone to lashing out in anger should not use spanking as a method of discipline unless or until he or she can keep control of anger. Spanking should not become abuse. The pain inflicted should be short term and leave no lasting marks even if the lesson can be carried into the future indefinitely.

Dr. James Dobson recommended spanking between the ages of 2 and 6. When Rachel and I had Jewell and Ana around those ages, that’s when we spanked. It doesn’t take much pain, sometimes, to correct behavior. A wise parent adjusts to the specific child. After the age of 6, many other forms of discipline can be used just as, if not more, effectively.

My dad used a belt to spank us; he kept the brown 3” belt draped over the back of the dining room chair. My dad would spank – it seemed like – until his arm got tired. When we had the girls, I decided I would use my hand. That way, I was regularly reminded not to spank too much or too long. But what seems to be most important is to hug your children after you spank them to reinforce your love and your desire to encourage them to behave properly. You are after molding their heart.

Paul Holland

Although we live in a world that raises lots of questions, none of those questions is as important as “What must I do to be saved and go to heaven?” First, the Calvinistic idea that God has already determined who will go to heaven and who will go to hell, is a false doctrine. Second, the question arises, “Is my eternal salvation based solely on faith or solely on works?” Again, eternal salvation is not one or the other, but as Paul wrote, salvation “In Christ Jesus (is) faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6). One is saved by faith in Christ Jesus, but that faith must be manifested by the work that one does. But, the work that one accomplishes, does not earn that person salvation. It only shows that he or she trusts in what Christ has said and is being obedient to His will. Jesus summarized this principle when He said, “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done’” (Luke 17:10).

Some do not realize that the Bible speaks of different kinds of works. There are works of merit which would mean that one earns the right to go to heaven and works which manifest faith. Some have thought that Ephesians 2:8-9 speaks of any kind of work, but in reality, it condemns only works where one thinks he earns salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Salvation is by the grace of God which comes to one who trust Jesus Christ as his savior and is obedient (Hebrews 5:9).

Works One Must Do 

When the church began and Peter preached the first message persuading people to be saved, he closed his message by saying, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). He said, “You must believe that Jesus is the Lord and Christ.” Then they asked “Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). If, there was nothing one must do to become a Christian, that would have been the perfect time for Peter to have said, “There is nothing you must do; it is all by faith.” But, that is not the answer Peter gave. He told them what they had to do – the work they had to do in order to be saved. “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Repentance was a work they had to perform. So, forgiveness of sins is not based solely on faith, but man must prove that faith by repenting. Repentance is not the only work that one must do to be saved. Peter explained to Cornelius, “But in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:35). Notice, in order to be saved and to continue in a saved condition, one must “do” (work) what is right.

Conclusion 

Salvation is not by works. Neither is salvation by faith alone, but it is “faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6). James said, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2:17).

Wayne Burger

The night before Jesus was crucified was a busy time. He instituted the Lord Supper,(Matthew 26:26-28), washed the apostles’ feet (John 13), talked with them about the work of the Holy Spirit (John 14-16) and had a long, thoughtful prayer to His heavenly Father (John 17).

The Holy Spirit was going to guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13). Jesus also said, “When He (Holy Spirit) comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). How was the Spirit going to cause men and women to be convicted of their sins? There could only be two ways possible: (1) By directly coming into a person’s mind to bring about conviction, (2) Indirectly which means that He was going to work through an agent – the Word of God. If the Spirit works directly on a person’s heart, then God becomes a respecter of persons in that some are convicted while others are not convicted. By working indirectly through the Word of God, then God let’s each person decide how he or she will react to the gospel each is taught.

Holy Spirit’s Work Illustrated 

In Acts 2:1-4 the apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised (Acts 1:4-5). After the crowds gathered, Peter began preaching to them with these words, “Men of Israel, listen to these words” (Acts 2:22). When he finished the sermon, the people reacted this way, “when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart” (Acts 2:37). They were convicted. What convicted them? They were convicted by the words the Holy Spirit guided Peter to say. Thus, they were convicted indirectly by the Spirit through the agency of the Word of God.

Not all people who were convicted wanted to be saved. Some wanted to kill the messenger. Peter and John were brought before the rulers of Israel and Peter told them they had killed Jesus. When the rulers “heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them” (Acts 5:33). Again, people were convicted by the Word that was preached, not directly by the Holy Spirit touching their hearts.

Acts 7 records Stephen’s sermon which was preached to the Council (6:12). He showed them how God had worked all through their history but when they resisted, he said, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). How were they resisting the Holy Spirit? – By resisting the Word of God that Stephen was preaching.

The Holy Spirit Spoke Only to His Inspired Messengers

Philip, who was one of the seven on whom the apostles laid hands to give him a miraculous gift (Acts 6) was told by the angel of the Lord go toward the south. When he got there, he saw a man riding in a chariot and “the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up and join this chariot’” (Acts 8:29). The Spirit did not speak to the sinner who needed to be saved but to the messenger who would teach him the gospel. Why didn’t the Holy Spirit speak directly to the sinner or touch his heart to be convicted? Even when God did speak to people directly, He spoke only to His inspired messengers. Jesus had commanded that the gospel was to be preached by humans (Mark 16:15-20). Christ’s inspired apostles spoke the same truth (I Corinthians 1:21; Romans 10:13-17).

For about the first eight years after the church was established, the gospel was preached only to Jews and those who were part Jews (Acts 2-9). When God decided it was time to allow the Gentiles to enter the church, He chose Cornelius and his household to be the first Gentile converts. When the angel appeared to Cornelius to tell him to send for Peter the angel said, “he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:14). Why didn’t the angel tell Cornelius what to do to be saved? Why didn’t the Holy Spirit convict Cornelius of sin and save him? That was not God’s plan. God expected, then and today, for His people to preach to the lost. When Peter preached to Cornelius, the Spirit was working indirectly, not directly on Cornelius.

The Principle Stated

When Paul described the Christian armor he commanded, “take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The Word of God touches a person’s heart and that person can be convicted to obey the gospel or he may be convicted to kill the messenger. The Holy Spirit never has nor ever will work directly upon the heart of a sinner. He always works indirectly through the Word of God. That is why Paul said that the gospel “is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16).

It is so sad that so many people are taught that the Holy Spirit must come on them before they can be saved! The Bible does not teach that. Numerous people think they have had “a direct experience” with God to be saved. That did not even happen in the early days of the gospel being preached in all the world. Neither does it happen today. People’s emotions can convince them that they have had an experience with God, but that is not taught anywhere in the Bible. Emotions can deceive us.

The Holy Spirit does convict people of their sins, but He does it through the gospel being preached to them. In the Bible when they were convicted that they were a lost sinner, they were baptized to have their sins forgive or as was told to Saul, to wash away sin (Acts 22:16; 2:38).

Lost people who are convicted of sin were never told to “Pray the sinner’s prayer.”  There is no “sinner’s prayer” found in the Bible.

If you are convicted that you are lost and separated from God, please contact me and I’ll help you obey the gospel.

Wayne Burger

Someone has said that the love of God is like the Amazon River flowing down to water one daisy. When I first read that, I saw the water overwhelming the daisy to the point that it kills it. You can water flowers too much.

But the goodness of God is the love of God in action; it is the love of God as it works out in the life of God’s children. That being true, the Amazon River would water the daisy with just the right amount of water, and minerals, and it would not wash away the soil underneath the flower. It would give it everything the flower needs, forever.

That is the goodness of God.

GOD IS GOOD:
God is love and He puts that love into action for the benefit of mankind.

First, a few texts that show God’s goodness: Isaiah 63:9; Jeremiah 31:3; Hosea 11:4; John 3:16. Romans 5:5. It seems that whenever God’s love is mentioned, there is also mentioned something that He is giving or doing.

THE INCARNATION IS THE EPITOME OF GOD’S GOODNESS:
Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus coming in the flesh is the supreme example of God’s goodness. The cross of Christ is the complete example of God’s love working itself out. That God would allow Jesus to be sacrificed for us is good.

Jesus giving His life for us is a reflection of Jesus’ goodness. Practically all the miracles Jesus performed were reflections of His goodness.

GOD CALLS US TO BE GOOD:
Among the fruit of the Spirit is goodness (Gal. 5:22). That is, if we are led by the Spirit, then we will be good. If we are not being good, then we are not being led by the Spirit. Consider Romans 15:14; Ephesians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11.

The country music artist Clint Black has a song which says,

I remember well the day we wed
I can see that picture in my head
I still believe the words we said
Forever will ring true
Love is certain, love is kind
Love is yours and love is mine
But it isn’t something that we find
It’s something that we do

And we will. If we are good.

Spread kindness like confetti and let the light of your goodness shine bright in a world that needs it most!

Paul Holland

Normally we associate this expression ”peace through strength” with international diplomacy. Being a child of the 80s, I associate it with Ronald Reagan and now Donald Trump has come to promote it as an international-relations principle as well. There is a Latin phrase: “Si vis pacem, para bellum:” if you want peace, prepare for war.

Here, I wish to use the idea in relationship to our struggles as individual Christians. In James 5:16, the Lord’s brother wrote: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” How do you think James felt as he grew up with a brother who literally “knew everything!”? How do you think James felt as he grew up with a brother who “never did anything wrong!”? James knew something about seeing his flaws more clearly as they were reflected in the perfect nature, character, and mannerisms of his unique brother. No wonder he didn’t believe in Him before the resurrection!

Confess your sins to one another. It’s not just teenagers who allow themselves to slide down a slippery slope. We endure an unhappy life or unhappy experiences and we feel guilty about it. Things just don’t measure up to our expectations. So we feel guilty, like we haven’t used God’s resources as we should or we have wasted opportunities that we know God has set before us. So we feel guilt.

The guilt then slides into depression as we can’t seem to pull ourselves out of our “funk.” We often think that if we were more mature, more faithful, maybe if we prayed more or read our Bible more, we would be stronger and we won’t have such problems.

So in addition to guilt and depression, we slide further down into a pit of anger – at ourselves and maybe even at God because we feel like we just can’t do the right things. We can not get control of our lives. Like Charlie Brown in the Thanksgiving special when he gets off the phone with Peppermint Patty, he laments, “I feel like I’m losing control of the world!”

Then we are afraid to share our struggles with fellow Christians, for some reason thinking apparently that we are the only ones in the world who struggle with “x” problem. Or, maybe if we confess our faults to one another we wonder what the other person will think of us. It is a common struggle. James tells us, however, that we should confess our faults to one another and pray for one another because the “effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

We can find strength from confessing to one another and praying for one another. And through that strength comes peace of mind.

Paul Holland

The Restoration Movement originally began as a unity movement among all those who claimed to be Christians. Alexander Campbell was in the Presbyterian Church which practiced a narrow fellowship which bothered Campbell. As he continued to study the Scriptures, he realized that baptism was for adults and he left the Presbyterian Church. Then he associated with the Baptists but when he learned and started teaching that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins he left the Baptists as well. Campbell wanted unity, but he insisted that unity should be based on what the Bible teaches. He believed – naively – that if denominations would leave behind all their names which were not found in the Bible, and their creeds and manuals and Confessions of faith, and just unite on what the Bible teaches, the Christian world would be united.

Unity based on Truth.

UNITY IS BEAUTIFUL:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.”

Here, David says that unity among brothers is like oil that has been poured on the head of the priest, like Aaron. What happens when you pour oil on the head? It saturates and it covers everything. With the priest, it even poured down over the edge of the priest’s robe.

The imagery is similar with the dew coming down from Mount Hermon, which was north of the Sea of Galilee. Dew covers everything. It was on Mount Zion, where Jerusalem was located, that was the center of the Lord’s blessings which could be summarized in the expression “life forever.”

Of course the city of Jerusalem is no longer a part of God’s plan to save man. But the church stands in a similar position as Mount Zion or Jerusalem, but in a spiritual sense. Unity among brothers is good and it is pleasant and it covers everything and saturates everything.

When we are hurting, unity with fellow Christians makes things good and pleasant. The prayers. The calls. The cards. The gifts. The flowers. The transportation for someone who needs it. When Christians step up and, in a spirit of unity, helps fellow Christians, it makes the hurt a little easier to bear.

When we are enjoying life, unity with fellow Christians again makes things good and pleasant. It is nice to spend time with fellow Christians, not just in worship, but doing other things that are enjoyable. Going on short trips. Or playing games. Or watching a football or basketball game or baseball game together. Fellowship with other Christians makes the good times more pleasant and more enjoyable.

HOW TO HAVE UNITY:
1. We need to have humility. The church of Christ in Philippi was having some problems with two sisters in Christ in the church who had some type of spat or fuss between them: Eudia and Syntache (Phil. 4:2-3). See Paul’s solution in 2:1-5.

2. Agree on what the Bible clearly and explicitly teaches: Eph. 4:1-6.

3. Work together to encourage each other. When Jesus sent out the apostles, He went them out in twos. When He sent out the 72 in Luke 10, he sent them out in twos. The apostle Paul almost always had a coworker – Silas, Timothy, Barnabas, and others. Rarely was Paul ever alone.

4. We have to love one other sincerely, fervently, from the heart. That means practically that we consider and do for others what we would want them to do for us.

Embrace the beauty of humility and watch as unity flourishes among the church family!

Paul Holland

There are several parables that teach us principles that are very much related to the growth of God’s kingdom. Today we want to take a look at just a few from Matthew 13 and continue to study and learn so that we are in a position to glorify God and be blessed through His providential working.

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (Mt. 13)
The parable of the sower pictures a man sowing seed indiscriminately. The seed falls on four differing kinds of soil. We are told in Luke 8:11 that the seed is the Word of God. Without going into detail concerning this familiar parable, note the following points:
1. The agent of converting and saving the soul is the Word of God! (Rom. 1:16).
2. There is a place to scatter the Word of God far and wide (Mt. 28:18-20).
3. We should not expect all seed to come to fruition.
4. But should expect some to bear fruit, finding good hearts! The more seed spread, the more hearts will be found!
5. Remember, we sow the seed, God gives the increase! (1 Cor. 3:6).

THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND WEEDS (Read Mt. 13:24-30; 36-43; see also the Parable of the Net – Mt. 13:47-50)

This generally less familiar parable pictures bad seed secretly being spread amongst the good. When the servants make this discovery, they inquire regarding what they ought to do. The master tells them to let the weeds grow with the wheat and the matter will be settled at the harvest. Here are a few important considerations:
1. Both the Lord and Satan continue to sow seed today. The devil has done so from the beginning (see Gen. 3:1-7). In 1 Timothy 4, Paul refers to doctrine that is not from God as the doctrine of demons. We are defenders of the faith of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:17; Jude 3). We cast down arguments (2 Cor. 10:5). We speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). We join Jesus in sowing the “good seed,” the seed of the kingdom.
2. An amazing motivation we have for sowing good seed and defending the faith is what will take place at the end, on judgment day. That is what we labor for. To make a difference in eternity!
3. From a negative perspective, when sights are turned away from what will take place at the judgment, that’s often when seed becomes tainted! Don’t be short-sighted!

THE PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE AND PEARL OF GREAT PRICE (Read Mt. 13:44-45)

Both of these very short parables emphasize the amazing value and joy of the kingdom. We need to be reminded of the great hope we live with each day so that we will be compelled to make that treasure available for others!

These parables from Matthew 13 are just a few of the parables that relate to the growth of the body of Christ and the privilege we have of being involved with the work of our Lord!

Daren Schroeder

First, the Bible: “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:8-11)

This Daily Droplets serves as a prelude to an article I will be writing soon for Christian Family magazine on “How to Train a Child to Repent.” The Greek word “repent” means to “change one’s mind.” We see this illustrated in John’s command to the Jews: “bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” The “fruits” refer to the changed behavior, which must be “in keeping with” a changed mind. If you truly change your mind, you will change your behavior.

What about with children? It comes down to training the heart to be sensitive to God’s nature and His commands. When we decide we want to repent, we are going to have to put in some work. Self-control is not easy. Jesus spent many hours, even tears, in prayer to God. Repentance also needs to include the confession of the sin committed. A generic confession is a reflection of a generic (not heart-based) repentance. When the Jews were baptized by John, they “confessed their sins” (Matt. 3:6). It would help if, when you have your child apologize for doing something wrong, you also have them say, “I’m sorry I did….” You might even need to have them say, “Please forgive me.” That also creates a sensitive heart.

Sorrow for sin needs to be felt and it can also be taught (2 Cor. 7:9-10). Teach your children about the love of God and how sin offends that love. Teach them about the love of Christ and how sin is what put Him on the cross. Teach them that sin not only can cause us to lose our souls, but it also greatly saddens God when we choose not to honor Him with obedience.

After you correct your child, have a conversation with him or her. Talk about the offense, why it was wrong, and how they should respond more appropriately. Replacing bad behavior with good behavior is a part of repentance as well. There may also need to be some type of restitution made.

After your child has made the appropriate apology and made amends, put the event behind you both and move forward. Remember that Jesus forgave Peter and reenforced His love and expectations of His apostle (John 21:15-17). And, as always, Mom and Dad, you have to model a penitent heart first, foremost, and always.

Paul Holland