What must I do to be saved?

Recently, dignitaries and world leaders gathered in Paris to attend the opening ceremony of the restored Notre Dame cathedral. Since the fire in 2019, the works of art, relics, icons, and artifacts have been restored, and the famous steeple rebuilt—costing over 800 million dollars. It is an architectural masterpiece but a religious facade.

While watching some of the televised coverage, I could not help but think of Paul’s words on Marrs Hill; “God does not dwell in temples made with hands.” He warned us, “not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man” (Ac. 17:24, 29).

While world leaders came to see and be seen, few will faithfully worship God once back home. Notre Dame will return to being nothing more than a tourist attraction (15-20 million a year), and a shrine to man’s distortion and ignorance of true worship of God. “Thus says the Lord, Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool, where then is a house you could build for me?” (Isa. 66: 1). Christ did not die to provide a place where famous sculptures could be displayed or where tourists could admire the work of great architects. He died to save people, not a steeple.

-Dennis Doughty

First, the Bible: “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11).

You might say one of the essential qualities someone needs in order to go to heaven is the quality of self-control. One of the challenges parents have is to help children learn how to control their emotions as well as their behavior. Parents, of course, have to start by controlling themselves.

But how can you train your children to engage in self-control? Emotions can be so hard to control sometimes, especially for children who do not have the experience. When children experience emotions, what they are feeling is energy welling up inside of them. That energy might come out in uncontrollable energy, or anger, or something else that might not be productive. If you teach your children that this emotion is energy inside of them, it could help them learn how to control it. What are they going to do with that energy?

Of course, children have to learn how to handle little frustrations in life as well as the big challenges. Little frustrations can produce little energy; big frustrations, big energy! With small things, a child can be trained to take deep breaths, even count to 10 or so. They can walk away from the frustration; they can sit down and close their eyes. They might start doing something different. Either way, we are teaching our children that we can respond to our emotions. We might not be able to control whether we get emotional, but we can certainly control what we do with it.

Whatever you do, don’t get into a yelling match or a power struggle with your child. It seems to be that when a parent gets into a power struggle with their child – even a teen – he or she has already relinquished their authority as the parent. It is better to calm down, slow down the interaction, so that everyone has time to think and process what they are doing.

If you train your child to catch the “cues” that suggest an emotional episode is developing (especially relative to anger), you can train her or him how to channel it properly before it is displayed improperly. With older children, you can train them to start communicating with themselves or others about the proper response to make. And, as always, if they do something wrong against someone, they have to be trained to apologize.

Paul Holland

On January 24, 2025, Rudiger Koch plans to emerge from his “home”.  If he succeeds in staying inside his dwelling that long, he will have set a new record for continuously living in an underwater fixed habitat.  The old record is 100 days; his aim is to live underwater for 120 days.

Koch, a 59-year-old aerospace engineer, admits that his task is not too tough.  The custom-made capsule that he currently calls home provides him with most modern amenities.  The 322-square-foot pod is located in the Caribbean Sea just off the coast of Panama and is about 36 feet below the surface.  Videos of his experience show that his life is mostly normal during this period.

An organization called Ocean Builders is behind the experiment, and they say Koch’s feat is “a powerful testament to human ingenuity, resilience, and the boundless possibilities of sustainable ocean living.”  Their long-term vision is to provide undersea dwellings for people without harming the environment, a future where such a lifestyle “becomes a possibility for all.”

Personally, I might sign up for a day or two in such a dwelling, but I don’t believe I would relish it for longer periods.  I’m a land-dwelling creature, and underwater living is out of my element.

Based on information God has revealed in the Bible, I’m already living out of my element.  Though my entire life has been on Planet Earth, God tells me that my life will extend beyond physical life here.  There’s more to come in a place very different from this physical existence.

John testified to this truth in 1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  John was speaking of Jesus in that verse, and how Christian followers will be transformed to become like Jesus – the Jesus who was glorified after His resurrection, and who ascended back into heaven.  That’s a very different existence!

Paul agreed with this vision of our future: “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54).  This agrees with what Jesus said in Matthew 22:30: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”  We’ll be like “angels of God”?  There’s an exciting thought!

Rudiger Koch knows he will emerge from the sea on January 24 (if all goes according to plan), and his element will return to normal.  You and I don’t know the dates when we will emerge from this life.  If we have been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27), though, we know that we’ll enter into a habitat from which we will never return.  In fact, we won’t desire to return.  We will know by experience the beatitude found in Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  Here’s the truth: While I live in the flesh, I’m out of my element.  But one day …

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall

A little boy named Avery Jackson, at the ripe young age of 9 years old, appeared on the cover of the world-renowned magazine National Geographic as a prime of example of “gender transitioning” at its finest. Except when you deny Truth, you end up getting hurt. A group named Restore Childhood caught up with the teenage-Avery eight years later. Just eight years…

By then, he was growing out of a so-called “girl” phase but his mother had already chemically altered his body and sterilized him. Once you have been chemically “castrated,” there is no going back. When he was 7 years old, the boy was clearly a boy. It is interesting that the 7-year old Avery said that he would pretend sometimes that he was an animal, or a ninja, or even a princess, but he did not think that his parents should treat him that way. He was just pretending. But his mom started dressing him in girls clothes. Keep in mind that his mom had help from the medical community – their pediatrician – to do what they did to their little boy.

It was not long before the boy Avery changed his mind. But his mom would not let him. She forced him to stay to the path to transitioning. There is a documentary on Avery Jackson called “Transhood” (on HBO) that is depressing and shameful for the American people and the human race. His mom, Debi, says she is shocked that Avery changed his mind. The activists insist that parents need to listen to their children. But this mom clearly did not.

Avery started taking hormones in order to get out of the “girl” phase. But by then, it was too late. At 17 now, the boy – who still a boy biologically right down to his very cells – has been sterilized and now he claims to be “non-binary.” There is no such thing.

When you deny Truth, there are serious consequences that are going to result. And every word from the mouth of God is truth. That was a choice that Pilate also refused to make… (notthebee.com)

THERE ARE THOSE WHO TRY TO KILL TRUTH – John 18:28-30:
The Jews told Pilate that if Jesus had not bee an “evil doer,” they would not have “delivered” Him to them. It is ironic that the verb translated “to deliver” also is the verb used of Judas to “betray” Jesus. So the Jews are saying, “we would not have betrayed Him to you.”

So, like so many people today, the Jews thought they could kill Truth. They thought that they could act as if Truth did not exist and they could live their lives in any way they desired. But you cannot kill Truth. Because it flows from the nature of God. You could just as easily kill God as to kill Truth.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO IGNORE TRUTH – 18:31-37:
Pilate. Pilate retorts before he leaves Jesus: “What is truth?” (ver. 37) That’s when Pilate admits to the Jews that he finds no guilt in Jesus worthy of death. What is Pilate doing? He is looking at Truth in the face and then he turns his head and shrugs his shoulders. In verse 36, Jesus had told Pilate that if His kingdom was an earthly kingdom, then His servants would fight so that – notice – Jesus would not be “delivered” – the word is “betrayed” – into the hands of the Jews. Jesus is telling Pilate that Pilate is about to betray Truth.

But you and I do the same thing when we read a Bible verse from the mouth of God and we think to ourselves, “I don’t like that verse. It doesn’t make me feel good about myself. It tells me I have to stop doing what I’m doing.” If we do that, we show that we are not “of the truth,” but we have chosen to be servants of Satan who is the father of lies (John 8:44).

JESUS IS TRUTH – 18:37:
Notice that Jesus said He was born and came into the world to “testify to the truth.” How are humans supposed to behave? Look at Jesus. He is the epitome of a human being. Jesus did exactly what human beings were supposed to be doing since Adam and Eve quit doing what they were built to do and they listened to Satan. Jesus came to show us Truth. He came to live Truth and teach Truth and love Truth.

Living a lie is no way to go through life. Keep your focus on the Truth of Jesus and stay dedicated.

Paul Holland

Jesus speaks of His own tribulation in John 13:21 (all quotations are from John unless otherwise noted) when He becomes troubled in His spirit, specifically concerning the idea that one of His disciples would betray Him. Jesus experienced the same type of trouble and distress at the death of Lazarus in John 11 and He will do so again in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus experienced many of the same emotions you and I experience.

We have tribulation in the world because sometimes we put our confidence in the flesh and we, like Peter say, “I’ll never deny you” (13:37). And then we do. And our heart aches because we know we have sinned against our Redeemer and our Creator.

The apostles were beginning to feel like orphans (14:18). But Jesus wasn’t going to leave them alone. Because we are in the flesh, we sometimes feel alone. It is amazing that a human being can be in a large crowd and still feel alone. But Jesus does not leave us alone. In Hebrews 13:5-8, the Hebrew writer reminds us that we are never alone and the same Jesus who spoke to the apostles in the upper room is the same Jesus who walks with us today.

As Jesus’ discussion with the apostles progressed, sorrow was filling their hearts (16:6). Jesus told them that if He did not go away, the “Helper,” the Holy Spirit would not come. They needed the Holy Spirit to fully understand the will of the Father and the message of the Gospel; they needed to rely on the Holy Spirit.

So the apostle Paul, as he speaks of his thorn in the flesh, in 2 Corinthians 12 helps us understand that with the tribulations we experience, it helps us to rely on God more (12:9-10).

We have tribulation in the world because the world hates Christians. Jesus predicted that: 15:18-20.

We will have persecution in the world. Jesus promises that: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20). We can expect persecution. We should expect persecution. And in verse 25, quoting either Psalm 35:19 or 69:4, states that His enemies hated Him “without cause.”

Jesus told His apostles that they would be “outcasts from the synagogue” (16:2). He told them that the people who will kill the apostles will actually think they are doing service to God! People who persecute Christians think they are doing what is right and appropriate. Atheists criticize us because they think they understand science better than Christians. Other people in other religions criticize Christians because they think they understand Christianity better than Christians do. So we are persecuted if only through verbal abuse and ostracization.

Jesus tells His apostles in 16:16: “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

Paul Holland

While no church is perfect, the apostle Paul held the church at Thessalonica up as a model for others. A “model” church isn’t flawless but follows the divine pattern (see 1 Timothy 3:15 and 2 Timothy 1:13).

The Establishment of the Church at Thessalonica

The church’s history is recorded in Acts 17. On his second missionary journey, Paul with Silas, preached at the synagogue in Thessalonica for three Sabbaths. Though many Jews rejected his message, others—including Gentiles and prominent women—believed (Acts 17:4). Paul had to leave the city after a few months due to opposition but wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians only months later. Despite being a young church with limited teaching, it flourished in a short time.

What Made Thessalonica a Model Church?

The Thessalonian church became a model because they imitated Paul, who himself imitated Christ (1 Thess. 1:6; 1 Cor. 11:1). Their response to the gospel was a key factor in their success. Despite facing affliction, they received the Word with joy, a characteristic also seen in the Ethiopian eunuch’s response to the gospel in Acts 8. The Thessalonians’ joy, despite hardship, shows their deep trust in Christ’s promises, as He alone offers eternal life (John 6:68).

Faith, Love, and Hope: Signs of Spiritual Growth

Paul frequently thanked God for the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope as evidence of their maturity (1 Thess. 1:3). These virtues are foundational for a growing church and often appear together in Scripture, such as in 1 Corinthians 13:13. Let’s examine each one:

1. The Work of Faith – Faith that doesn’t lead to action is not genuine faith. James 2:14-26 and Hebrews 11 show that faith is demonstrated through works. The Thessalonians’ faith was active, and their actions reflected their belief in Christ. Our faith should similarly lead us to serve God, live according to His Word, and advance His kingdom.

1. The Labor of Love – True love goes beyond feelings—it results in sacrificial actions for others. Christ’s love for us, as seen in Romans 5:6-9, is the ultimate example of this. The Thessalonians’ love was evident in their selfless actions for others, and we, too, are called to love sacrificially, as Christ loved us.

1. The Steadfastness of Hope – Hope in Christ’s resurrection is the anchor of the Christian life. This steadfast hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation of eternal life with God. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul reminds us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain, as our hope in Christ gives us strength to endure difficulties (through the assurance of the resurrection). This hope is what sustains us through trials and motivates us to live faithfully.

Conclusion

To be a model church, we must cultivate faith, love, and hope in our hearts through the Word of God. The Thessalonian church received the Word not as human teaching but as God’s Word, which worked in them to transform their lives (1 Thess. 2:13). As we embrace and live out these virtues, we can glorify God and become a church worthy of imitation, just as the Thessalonian church was. Let us strive to follow the pattern of sound teaching, receiving the Word with joy, and growing in our faith, love, and hope to the glory of God!

Daren Schroeder

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