Salvation is a gift, but…

Introduction

        Too many people in the world today think that there is no work involved as far as salvation goes. They say, “All you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” But if you ask them about repentance from sin, they’ll say it is necessary. And, if you ask them about verbally confessing Jesus name, they agree with that too.

        If you point out that they don’t really in believe in ‘Faith Only’, they most likely will disagree with you; especially if subject of baptism comes up, and that’s where they draw the line.

Baptism isn’t Necessary!

        When the subject of baptism comes up that’s when people rankle in regards to salvation. Some believe that baptism is only “an outward sign of an inward grace”. In other words, you are saved when you believe in Jesus and then later you can “show it” by being baptized.

        So many people agree with everything else that is required; even those who came “Faith Only” as we said earlier. But baptism becomes the one part that most refuse to agree upon as they don’t see it as necessary.

        In Rom. 5:15-18, the apostle Paul discusses the free gift of salvation and people will jump up and say, “See! It is a gift from God, we don’t have to do anything to obtain it.” And they are right. You cannot earn salvation. Jesus said in Lk. 17:10, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'” Again, people will jump up and say, “See, even Jesus says you can’t earn salvation.”

You Must Do Something!

        Let’s look at a couple of examples to show that you have to do something in order to receive salvation. When it’s your birthday and you are expecting gifts (at your party), you know that you don’t have to go out and buy those gifts for yourself. However, you have to work at putting a party together for people to come to, you have to put your hand out to receive the gifts brought, and you have to unwrap said gift in order to get what’s inside. That, my friend, is called “work”. There are things you have to do before you can receive those free gifts. Sure, you didn’t buy them but there were conditions you had to meet in order for those free gifts to be yours.

       

Let’s look at another example. Below is a picture of a table with cash on it; we’ll assume it’s five million dollars. Now this money can be yours, no strings attached, but you have to do just one thing. That’s all, just one thing in order to obtain that money.

And that one thing is to wash my car (see picture below). That’s it! Just wash my car and that money is yours! 

Most people will do it as, to them, it’s not really worth five million; but if that’s all they have to do, they’ll do it!

Here’s the kicker to this, you know that obtaining five million dollars by simply washing one car is far-fetched, but you’ll do it anyways. How much more far-fetched is the idea that all you have to do in order to be saved is to follow a handful of steps?

        Once the plan of salvation is shown to some, they’ll say, “There has to be more to it. I’m sure I have to unravel some great mystery within the pages of scripture, do 100 good deeds, and then I’ll get salvation.” And, of course, the others that we talked about at the beginning, will rankle at the idea of baptism.

To put it another way, they’ll wash my car; but only the front half as that is the half that most people see when approaching the car. If you want to be saved, you must meet ALL of God’s conditions; not some or most.

Conclusion

        Here are those conditions you must meet:

1. Hear and Believe the gospel (Romans 10:17; John 8:24)
2. Confess your faith in Christ (Matthew 10:22; Romans 10:9-10)
3. Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3; 5; Acts 17:30)
4. Be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38)
5. Live your life faithfully (Romans 12:1-2; Rev. 2:10)

Yes, you do have to look up the passages yourself. That is a work that is also required. Remember, you can’t obtain salvation by faith only (Jas. 2:22-26). If you’re not willing to do this, then you’re not willing to be saved as God would have you be saved.