Tag Archives: SALVATION

SALVATION

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS — BOB PRICHARD

The story is told of two softball-loving brothers who made a pact that if one made it to heaven before the other, he would call back to report if there was softball in heaven. According to the story, one brother died, and true to their pact, he called his brother, and said, “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that they have softball in heaven, but the bad news is that you are pitching next Tuesday.” Of course this is just a story, and going to heaven would certainly not be bad news, but life is filled with good and bad news.

SOME BAD NEWS

The worst news of all time is that Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:4-6).

Disobeying God didn’t make them wise. It cost them dearly. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). The tragedy is that we follow in their footsteps. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

SOME GOOD NEWS

Despite our problem of sin, the situation is not hopeless. Paul, as an ambassador for Christ said, “We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Peter announced to the multitude on Pentecost, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, 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 2:36-38). The response was great. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). That is good news!

MORE BAD NEWS

Despite God’s intricate plans for His church, man has disrupted and divided the church of the New Testament. God has given direction of what the church should be in the Bible. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Later in His prayer, Jesus prayed for modern man: “Neither pray I for these alone [the Apostles], but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21).

Sadly, in a nation that has experienced religious freedom, men have used that freedom to deviate from God’s plans and make man-made rules for the church. Paul warned Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Even in our life-time, we have experiences religious bodies doing these very things.

SOME MORE GOOD NEWS

But our religious world does not have to continue being divided and in defiance of the wishes of the Savior. The Bible is our guidebook, and as long as we stay with the Bible, we can have unity. When we adhere to creeds, handbooks, catechisms and books of discipline, we will necessarily have division. We look back to the example of King Josiah who came to the throne of Judah at 8 years old, and then at 16 began to restore what had been lost. When a copy of the law, which had been lost in the neglected temple was found, Josiah “made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:31).

We can do the same thing. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). If we will plant the pure seed of the gospel, we can expect to reap the pure harvest of the gospel, the one church of the New Testament. If we will do what they did in New Testament days, we will be members of the same church. Peter commanded those whose hearts were pricked by the gospel, “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).

The great news is that you can do the same today. If we can assist you in obeying the gospel of Christ, please contact us.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, JOHN, SALVATION

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID “SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS”? — BOB PRICHARD

John chapter 4 describes the scene at the well outside the little Samaritan village of Sychar. Jesus had offered the Samaritan woman living water, and demonstrated He could truly give her that living water by telling her about her life, and her many husbands. Her wondering response was, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet” (John 4:19). When she spoke of the conflict between the Jews and the Samaritans over whether men should worship in Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim, Jesus spoke of the proper worship then and in the days to come. He said, “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).

Jesus wanted her to understand that Samaritan worship, based on only the five books of Moses, while rejecting the other inspired books of the Old Testament, was an ignorant worship. “Ye worship ye know not what,” He said. Then He spoke of the Jewish worship, saying, “we know what we worship.” The Samaritan worship was not acceptable to God, because it was a perversion of His plan. The worship of the Jews, centered in the temple at Jerusalem, was still acceptable to God at this time, even though the scribes and Pharisees had made their own worship vain. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).

When Jesus added to His statement, “for salvation is of the Jews,” He was referring to the fact that Messiah, the Savior of promise, was to come from the Jews. God promised Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). When the woman at the well spoke of the coming Messiah, Jesus plainly told her,  “I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:25-26). Thus through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the seed, or descendant of Abraham, God blessed all families of the earth.

The Jews today, like any other family or nation, must turn to Christ for salvation. Jesus told the woman at the well, “the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Jesus contrasted the Jewish age in which he lived and died with the coming Christian age. Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship, but worship in the Christian age is acceptable whenever and wherever Christians worship “in spirit and in truth.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). He is still the only way to the Father, for the Jew, the Gentile, the Samaritan, or anyone else. Paul asserted that the true heirs of Abraham are not heirs by birth but by faith. “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect” (Romans 4:13-14).

BIBLE QUESTIONS, EPHESIANS, JAMES, SALVATION

DOES EPHESIANS 2:8-9, WHICH SAYS WE ARE NOT SAVED BY  WORKS, CONTRADICT JAMES 2:24, WHICH SAYS WE ARE SAVED BY WORKS? — BOB PRICHARD

By pitting one verse against another, the Bible sometimes seems contradictory. God, the Creator of the universe inspired the Bible, though, so there cannot be any real contradictions. Apparent contradictions disappear with proper understanding of the text.

Emphasizing man’s need to rely on the grace of God, Paul wrote, “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” (Ephesians 2:8-9). A simple definition of grace is “unmerited favor.” God grants that  unmerited favor for the salvation of mankind. Paul said salvation is “not of works, lest any man should boast,” indicating that man cannot perform any meritorious works that would earn salvation. Salvation is by grace.

The apparent contradiction comes when we compare Ephesians 2:8-9 with James 2: 24, in which James wrote, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” The two passages are not really in conflict, because James and Paul were each speaking of two different kinds of works, as each emphasized a different aspect of salvation.

Paul emphasized that the grace of God saves, and man cannot earn his salvation by works of merit. The fact that God’s grace saves, however, does not mean that God relieves man of the responsibility to obey Him to receive the benefits of that grace. If salvation is by “grace alone,” with no acts of obedience, then God, “who is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34), would automatically save every man, no matter what he did. We are saved by many things, however.  “For we are saved by hope” (Romans 8:24). Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Christ  “became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Peter wrote of the obedience of Noah and his family, saying “the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us” (1 Peter 3:21). The apostle John wrote, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

How can salvation come by grace, by hope, by Christ, by the blood, and by baptism? All of these save because salvation is “by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8), that is, an obedient faith. As James said, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). A living faith is a faith that works, that obeys the commands of Christ, including being baptized. As one is baptized into Christ he makes contact with the cleansing blood of Christ (Romans 6:3-7). Hebrews chapter 11, sometimes called “Faith’s Hall of Fame,” is filled with examples of “grace through faith.”  “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice” (Hebrews 11:4). “By faith Noah … prepared an ark” (Hebrews 11:7). “By faith Abraham … obeyed” (Hebrews 11:8). We cannot earn our salvation through works of merit, but we must obey God to benefit from his marvelous grace. “By grace through faith” we obediently accept God’s love.

CHRISTIAN LIVING, JESUS CHRIST, SALVATION

THE PRICE IS RIGHT —  BOB PRICHARD

Reginald Newman, of Kirksville, MO tried a little price change at his local Wal-Mart. After putting the price tag from a $3.17 water bottle on a $500 TV, he attempted to check out. A grand jury indicted him for attempted stealing by deceit, a charge that could get him seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine (World, May 17/24, 2008). He is paying a high price for his escapade. 

Satan changed the price tag on obeying God. “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:2-5). Just one word, “not,” changed the price tag for mankind. 

It has been said that the best things in life are free. And there is truth in this saying. What can compare to a beautiful sunset or the hug and kiss of a precious grandchild? But most good things come at a cost. 

A great family may come at the cost of advancement in the business realm. A knowledge of the Bible may come at the cost of missing television or a day of shopping or golfing. A pure life may come at the cost of missing the latest movie or music. 

The antidote to our greatest problem came at the greatest of all costs. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20). This was the right price, because God ordained it. Do we appreciate it?

BIBLE QUESTIONS, SALVATION

IF GOD FORGIVES SIN, WHY IS THERE A JUDGMENT DAY? — BOB PRICHARD

One of the most arresting thoughts that any of us will ever have is that someday we must all stand before the judgment seat of God. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus warned the city of Capernaum “If the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matthew 11:23-24). Truly it will be an awful experience to stand unprepared before the throne of God on the day of judgment.

The key to preparation for the day of judgment is to obey the gospel of Christ and receive the forgiveness of sins. Peter told the multitude gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

For those who have received the forgiveness of sins, there is no fear of standing before the judgment seat of God. Matthew 25 depicts the great judgment scene, with all nations gathered before the throne, with the sheep separated from the goats. The sheep, those who have done God’s will, receive the Lord’s commendation, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). The goats, those who have not done God’s will, hear the sad words, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

John also saw the judgment scene. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:12-13). Each one is judged as to whether his name is in the book of life, and according to what the other books (probably the books of scripture) say about their obedience to the will of God.

When we picture judgment day in our minds, we frequently think of it as a trial, where our good works are balanced against our bad. A more accurate picture of judgment day, however, is that it is a day of final sentencing for those who in life decided their own eternal destiny. Those who obey the gospel of Christ and receive the forgiveness of sin will one day hear the wonderful words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father” (Matthew 25:34), while those who do not obey God will receive the sentence, “Depart from me” (Matthew 25:41).

ACTS, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHRISTIAN LIVING, SALVATION

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? — BOB PRICHARD

The prophet Isaiah looked to the coming Messianic age and said, “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name” (Isaiah 62:1-2). “Christian” is that new name God promised to his people. After the gospel had spread from the Jewish world to the Gentile world as well, the church in Antioch took a lead in mission efforts. Because of this “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).  

The name of “Christian,” found only three times in the New Testament, is a descriptive name that conveys the idea of association and ownership, that the Christian belongs to and associates with Christ. Peter said, “if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16). “Christian” is a name to be treasured, even if it means suffering and death. The Christian belongs to Christ and wants to serve  Him.

As Paul pleaded for Agrippa to follow Christ, Agrippa replied, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). If Agrippa had been altogether persuaded “to be a Christian,” he would have become a child of God, a member of the Lord’s church, and one born again of the water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5).

Several names, including “the church” described the disciples or followers of Christ before they were called Christians. Luke writes of the believers in Jerusalem that “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). Thus those who had obeyed Peter’s command of Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,” were the saved, and members of the church. Paul reminded the Romans what they had done to become Christians. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:3-6).

As he described his conversion, Paul said of the church, “I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women” (Acts 22:4). Paul was persecuting people who knew that being a Christian was a way of life. As he told the Romans, “our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6). The Christian, who has become a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17) no longer serves sin, but serves Christ. A Christian has obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and lives for Him daily.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, SALVATION

SHOULD BABIES BE BAPTIZED? — BOB PRICHARD

The practice of baptizing babies, widely accepted today, was completely unknown in the early church. The first explicit mention of the practice in history is in the writings of Tertullian of Carthage, an early church leader, who lived in the third century (some two hundred years after the beginning of the church). Tertullian wrote about the baptism of children as a then new practice, reserved for children who were very sick. Tertullian opposed the practice, saying it was not biblical, but many other church leaders accepted it, and the practice became firmly established in religious tradition. It became the almost universally accepted practice until challenged by the Anabaptists in the sixteenth century, who taught that baptism was reserved for believers.

There is absolutely no mention of baptizing babies in the Bible. Some teach that the “household” conversions of Lydia (Acts 16), Cornelius (Acts 10), or the Philippian jailer (Acts 16) show that infants must have been baptized. The reasoning is that since whole households were converted, there must have been infants included. None of these accounts, however, mention any infants, and the presence of infants cannot be assumed. Every account of conversion in the book of Acts mentions at least one thing, such as believing, which an infant cannot do. There is no reason to assume that infants were present and baptized. 

It is sometimes taught that infants must be baptized because of “original sin.” “Original sin” is supposedly the sin that all humanity inherits from Adam, because we were all involved in his original sin in Eden. Although we choose to sin, we are not responsible for Adam’s sin. Every person is responsible for his own sins, and the child is sinless until he reaches the proper mental maturity to be responsible for his own sins. The prophet Ezekiel declared, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20). When Paul said, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22), He was talking about physical death and the resurrection. If he was saying that we inherit sin from Adam, simply by being humans, then he would also be saying that we inherit eternal life in Christ, simply by being humans. Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). He held up their sinless purity as an example for all.

Infant baptism simply cannot be right, because there is no biblical authority for it. It is an ancient tradition of men, no doubt begun with good intentions, but nevertheless contrary to the Bible. Baptism is for the penitent believer (Acts 2:38). Babies cannot repent, and have no sins to repent of. The Bible picture of baptism is a burial of believers. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5). Infant baptism changes God’s plan, and may prevent the adult believer from obeying the gospel, thinking he or she has already been baptized, even though he has not followed the biblical pattern.

CHRISTIAN LIVING, GOD, NEW TESTAMENT

MIND BOGGLING! — BOB PRICHARD

Remember the Rubik’s Cube? That little six colored cube presented quite a challenge to most of us. I remember feeling proud of myself for getting a couple of sides all the same color. In June 2023, Max Park bettered his own world record for solving the puzzle by solving the puzzle in 3.13 seconds. Since there are 43 quintillion unique combinations possible (we’ll take the word of the mathematicians on this), it is truly mind boggling to me that anyone could solve the puzzle in 3.13 minutes, much less 3.13 seconds.

In an age when there are not too many things which we consider awesome, this feat of solving that puzzle so quickly truly amazes me.

We too easily take things for granted. Putting a man on the moon is arguably the greatest technological achievement of the twentieth century. Those of us who were of age will all remember seeing Neil Armstrong taking those first steps for mankind on the moon in 1969. But what about the second and third trips to the moon? The astronauts had to play golf on the moon to even get TV coverage. We so easily lose our sense of awe!

There is so much of scripture that we, out of familiarity, fail to recognize with the proper sense of awe. John 3:16 has been familiar to us since our childhood, and most all of us can easily quote it. But to restore your sense of awe, read it for the personal message it truly is. “For God so loved ME, that he gave his only begotten Son, that I SHOULD believe in him AND should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “But God commendeth his love toward ME, in that, while I WAS yet A sinner, Christ died for ME” (Romans 5:8).

Isn’t it mind boggling and awesome, to consider how much He loved us!

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING, SALVATION

JUST ONE INGREDIENT — BOB PRICHARD

My daughter Jennifer has become somewhat of a gourmet cook, trying many new dishes through her cooking club. She still likes to make some old family favorites as well, such as “pineapple au gratin.” The whole family was anticipating a wonderful dish. It smelled so good as it cooked, and it looked just as good, but it tasted terrible. Consideration of the situation revealed that it had been made correctly, with one exception—salt had been accidentally substituted for sugar in the dish. It was just one ingredient, but it made all the difference!

A young man who had most things right in his life came to see Jesus, He questioned, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him, “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.” He replied, “Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:17-23).

The recipe for eternal life was almost complete, but he lacked one thing, and it was a big one—because he had great possessions. Jesus loved him, and appreciated his dedication, but his good deeds were not “good enough” to secure eternal life.

The general teaching of our religious world, which stresses faith, and sometimes repentance, usually lacks one thing—obedience to the gospel by being baptized for the remission of sins. Most would say that surely living a good life, keeping the ten commandments, even saying the “sinner’s prayer,” is “good enough.” But nothing substitutes for obedience to the will of God. Salt may look like sugar, but it is not sugar, and it cannot be substituted without spoiling the dish, We must follow God’s recipe for salvation: faith, repentance, confession of Christ, and baptism into Christ. Just one substitution will bring ruin.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, NEW TESTAMENT, SALVATION

DID THE LORD SAVE PAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS? — BOB PRICHARD

No. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus (later known as the apostle Paul) is the most thoroughly documented conversion in all the Bible, but it is still widely misunderstood. As Saul was making his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Jesus appeared to him, but Saul was not saved simply because the Lord appeared to him. Luke records, “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). The Lord did not save Saul until he completed what he “must do.”

The first mention in scripture of Saul of Tarsus is in Acts 7, where those stoning Stephen, the first Christian martyr, lay their clothes at his feet. Luke reported, “Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1). Saul was in the middle of all this persecution: “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). Because of his zeal for persecuting the church, Saul went to the high priest and asked for letters to the Damascus synagogues, so that he could arrest the Christians in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

As Saul journeyed to Damascus, a bright light blinded him, and he heard Jesus say to him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4). After Jesus identified Himself to Saul, He sent Saul into Damascus with the words, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). Saul then spent the next three days in prayer and fasting. This showed that he was serious about following Christ, but his three days of prayer and fasting did not save him or show that he was saved. His penitent behavior was preparing him for the necessary obedience.

The Lord then directed Ananias, a Christian of Damascus, to go to Saul to tell him what he “must do.” Although it must have been a daunting assignment, Ananias, “a devout man according to the law” came to Saul, a fellow Jew, and said, “Brother Saul, receive thy sight” (Acts 22:12-13). Saul was no longer blind, and Ananias warned him of what was ahead of him if he chose to follow Christ. “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard” (Acts 22:14-15). Having warned him what lay ahead of him in Christ’s service, Ananias then told Saul what he “must do.” “Why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Why was Saul not saved before?  Because he was still in his sins.  That is why he needed to call on the name of the Lord by by washing away his sins. As he obeyed the Lord’s command through the messenger Ananias, he received the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation he had spent three days praying for in his blindness.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

HEARING AIDS — BOB PRICHARD

Before I got hearing aids, I did what most people who have a hearing loss do. I tried to make the most of what I thought I heard. It can be funny, because we sometimes think others are saying things that don’t make any sense, and then because we haven’t heard, our response may be nonsense. Sometimes I said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” or “Sorry, I didn’t understand what you said.” But most of us get tired of saying that all the time, so we just try to make sense of what we hear, even if the other person said “bread,” and we think she said “red,” or “dread” or “Fred.”

This has a spiritual application. We wonder why people in our religious world seem not able to understand what we know are simple and easy to understand scriptures. How can they read Acts 2:38 and believe that baptism is unnecessary? How can they read the Lord’s prayer for unity in John 17 and believe God approves of denominationalism? The problem is that because of their upbringing and training (or lack thereof), they just don’t hear what the scripture says. They are trying to make sense of it as it fits with their beliefs and preconceptions. It is unfortunately  too rare that people will look at the scriptures with a truly open and receptive mind.

This is one reason that I like the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch so much. “Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:30–31). Not “hearing” what Isaiah 53 said, he asked, “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?” As Philip “preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:34-35). As we preach Jesus, we need to see ourselves as hearing aids to people who really want to understand, but just “can’t hear.” Whether they are “in denial” about their hearing loss, or whether they know of their loss, we must help them hear. The power is in the Word.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED — BOB PRICHARD

Robert Frost’s 1916 poem, “The Road Not Taken,” is one of the most often quoted poems of all time. The poet speaks of two roads, each “just as fair,” but the traveler chose one, concluding “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Frost indicated that most have misunderstood the poem. The choice was actually random—the traveler didn’t know which was best. The difference wasn’t from a wise choice, but a random choice.

In life, we often have to choose between two roads that seem equally good or bad. We don’t know which road is better, because we cannot see the end of the road with either choice. We just have to choose. But what we must always remember is that when we choose the beginning of the road, we also choose the end of the road. That is why it is so important that we  not only choose the right road in life, but that we periodically evaluate the road we are now on, to see if we should change roads.

Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians. He entered the city as a blind man, and exited as a follower of the Christ he persecuted. The Lord told Ananias, “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). As Ananias taught him, Saul counted the cost (Luke 14:28) of starting on the road of service to Jesus Christ, and immediately obeyed when Ananias commanded him to be baptized (Acts 22:16).

Jesus warned that there are two ways—the broad way of the world and the narrow way of following Him. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). The narrow way is definitely “the road less traveled.” But it makes all the difference—not only in this life, but in the world to come. Are you on the right road today? Is it time for a change?

CHRISTIAN LIVING, SALVATION

WHAT’S THE SCORE? — BOB PRICHARD

I have a friend whose wife just can’t understand why so many people are so interested in sports. She says that she doesn’t understand why her husband should actually watch the games. After all, she says, all that matters is the score. Why waste time seeing how the score comes about?

While I can’t exactly agree with her point of view, and I know that other things really do matter, it is true that the winner is judged by the score. Chuck Noll, who coached the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, once commented on why he likes football. “The nice thing about football,” he said, “is that you have a scoreboard to show how you’ve done. In other things in life, you don’t. At least not one that you can see.”

Since life’s scoreboard is one that you can’t see, man has been diligent in trying to make up his own substitute scoreboard. He may think that the quantity of riches amassed is a good scoreboard, or how new his car is, or something like that. But the number of things we have is not necessarily the indicator of life’s score. Neither is how high we rise in our company, or who we know and associate with.

Sometimes in a football game, one team gets more first downs, and gains more yards, and maybe even has a better band, but those things are not what counts in the end. All that really matters in the end is the score. In the game of life, a man may have those earthly things we count so precious, and he may be a good neighbor, and may even be kind to animals, but these are not really what count in the end. 

John saw a great vision of the scoreboard of life. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. … And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-12, 15). How do you stand according to what is written in the books?

BIBLE, SALVATION

“ONE SIZE FITS ALL” — BOB PRICHARD

“Then Peter said unto them, 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).

Some  clothing is “one size fits all.” If we are large or small, we may question if something will really “fit all.” But Peter said repentance and baptism was for all.

At Pentecost, Jews came from around the world. They heard the disciples speak “the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:7-11). Others were there: priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, Levites, religious people. Probably some pick-pockets and thieves took advantage of the occasion. No matter how religious or irreligious, the message that day was a “one size fits all.” Since God is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34), all had the same opportunity and obligation to repent and be baptized.  God’s promise was for those people, their descendants, the Gentiles (“those afar off”), and us (Acts 2:39). None then or today could receive the remission of sins without this obedience.

All, no matter how unworthy, can receive God’s blessings because the simple gospel “fits all.”

CHRISTIAN LIVING, SALVATION

LOST NO MORE — BOB PRICHARD

Lost finally solved its problem.  No more stolen signs. No more lost deliveries. No more confusion. Or at least we would hope so.

On average, Lost lost a road sign every year, and it had a perennial problem of lost deliveries. People loved to come to Lost to have their pictures taken, standing there with a bewildered expression, with a Lost  road sign in the background.

The problem is solved, though, because the small Scottish village of Lost changed  its name to “Lost Farm.” Local official Bruce Luffman told Reuters News Service that in addition to the lost road signs, “Deliveries get lost because they’ve got no idea where ‘Lost’ is, and it’s very confusing” (World, March 13, 2004).

The dictionary defines “lost” as “not made use of, won, or claimed; unable to find the way; no longer visible; lacking assurance or self-confidence: helpless; ruined or destroyed physically or morally: desperate; no longer possessed, no longer known; taken away or beyond reach or attainment: denied; hardened, insensible; absorbed, rapt (as in reverie).” As I read that lengthy definition, I noticed that there is not even one sense in which lost is a good thing, with the exception of the very last one, of being “lost in reverie.”

How bad is it to be lost? Have you ever been so lost that you just had no idea whatsoever where you were? Have you been so lost that you never could have found your way back without the help of someone else?

Much of the time when we are lost, we are not really lost. We may be a bit confused, but we know if we will just backtrack a little bit, or even stoop to breaking the secret men’s code [You can’t admit you are lost], and actually ask for directions, we can find our way. But when we think of being lost spiritually, we realize that the one who is lost is not just lost but dead. When the prodigal returned, the loving father said, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:24).

Since being lost is so serious, it is imperative to do all we can to reach others. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul talks about the treasure of the gospel, a treasure that must be shared with others. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (3-4). Paul says that we don’t preach ourselves, but the wonderful message of Christ, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (7). There is power in the gospel! The lost are counting on us to share the good news with them. Do it today!

BIBLE QUESTIONS, SALVATION

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO OBEY THE GOSPEL? — BOB PRICHARD

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that mankind needs. It is a message that must be received and obeyed. Paul warned that the Loving Savior will return “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). The Lord will take vengeance on those who obey not the gospel, and He will reward those who do obey the gospel.

Paul stressed the fundamentals of the gospel, reminding the Corinthians what he had preached: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3- 4). The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ were at the heart of his message. The rest of 1 Corinthians 15 is a discussion of the importance of the resurrection. He began the chapter by reminding the Corinthians that it was the gospel he had preached to them. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). Paul stressed that the gospel is a message to receive, and to stand in, and it is a message that brings salvation when kept in memory.

Paul asserts that we choose the master we serve. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). The master we choose is the one we obey. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Paul commended the Romans for the choice they had made in obeying Christ and His gospel. “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18). They had obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine he had delivered to them. Doctrine refers to something taught, and Paul taught the same gospel wherever he went. Centered in the facts of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, his message was one of the necessity of obeying the will of God and becoming a servant of righteousness.

Earlier he stressed that they were buried with Christ in baptism to obey the gospel. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). Baptism parallels the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Man is dead in sin, and then buried with Christ in baptism. He rises from the waters of baptism in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection to walk in newness of life. He then has the forgiveness of sin, and the joy that comes from obeying the gospel.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, SALVATION

PRAY FOR SALVATION? — BOB PRICHARD

Preachers sometimes invite listeners to pray something such as, “God, I am sorry I have sinned. Please forgive me and let Jesus come into my heart. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” The preacher then says, “Since you have asked Christ into your life, you are now His child, and your sins are forgiven.” The problem, however, is that the promise of forgiveness is from a man, not God. God has never promised to respond to the sinner’s prayer.

Prayer is a privilege for God’s people. James said, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Peter quoted Psalm 34:15–16, saying, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). Solomon warned, “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9). The psalmist spoke of the dilemma of the sinner: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18).

But what about the prayers of the publican and the Pharisee? While the Pharisee prayed “with himself,” the publican, “standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” 

Jesus concluded, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18: 11, 13–14). 

This does not set the pattern for sinners coming to Christ, however, because both the Pharisee and the publican were already in a covenant relationship with God as part of His chosen people, the Jews. Both, despite their sins, had the right to pray to God.

What about Joel’s prophecy? He said, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:32). 

To “call on the name of the Lord” means to make an appeal through obedience. Saul of Tarsus spent three days in prayer and fasting, but he did not receive salvation from the Lord until he called on the Lord through obedience. 

Ananias told him, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). In his baptism, he called on the name of the Lord, and his sins were washed away. He would not have been saved if he had merely prayed the sinner’s prayer and had refused to obey the Lord’s command.

Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). This is not a blanket promise to any person, but to those who follow Him and have the right to ask things in His name, by His authority. This promise is to the children of God. In the very next verse, He puts it simply: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). 

The multitudes cried out at Pentecost, “What shall we do?” Peter did not respond, “Pray the sinner’s prayer,” but “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37–38). We will be saved if we do what the believers of Pentecost did. —Bob Prichard

BIBLE QUESTIONS, SALVATION

WHAT ABOUT DEATHBED SALVATION? — BOB PRICHARD 

The emphasis of the Bible concerning salvation is always on “today.” 

Quoting Isaiah, Paul said, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). 

When Jesus saw the interest of Zacchaeus, who had climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, He said, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5). As Jesus forgave the sins of the thief on the cross, He said, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). 

It is never wise to put off responding to God’s love. Some, however, seem to be waiting until they are near death to make things right with God. 

The book of Acts lays out God’s law of pardon for today. At Pentecost, Peter and the apostles made the first offer of pardon under the Christian Age. As the multitude understood they had crucified the Son of God, they realized they needed to respond to God’s love.  

“They were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37–38). 

Other conversions in Acts follow this pattern. The Samaritans (Acts 8), the Ethiopian (Acts 8), Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22), Lydia (Acts 16), the jailer (Acts 16), and the Corinthians (Acts 18) realized their need for conversion to Christ, and their faith moved them to repent of sins, confess their faith, and be baptized. Not every conversion mentions each step, but every conversion account does mention baptism.

Does God change His law of pardon for the person on his death bed? There are no New Testament examples of such conversions, so there is no evidence to suggest that God has a different plan for those near death. 

The thief on the cross is not an example for those living today because he lived under the Jewish law and was not subject to the new covenant of Christ (which came into effect after Jesus’ death, Hebrews 9:15–17). He received the forgiveness of sin in the same way that others did during the public ministry of Christ—through the direct pardon of the Savior. He was not subject to the commands of Pentecost, because he lived before the establishment of the church on that day. 

None of us is in the position of deciding the eternal fate of others. We are all in the hands of a just and loving God. By the gracious sacrifice of Christ, God set in motion the means of our salvation. It is up to us to respond to His love in obedience. 

He has warned that the day is coming “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7–8). 

Now is the time to obey Christ and live for him. As long as there is life, there is hope to obey God, but many who plan to repent on their death beds will never have the opportunity. 

BIBLE QUESTIONS, Featured Articles, SALVATION

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? — BOB PRICHARD

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We can ask no more important question than “What must I do to be saved?” 

Each of us will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and we are responsible for obeying the Lord. 

Salvation has two parts: God’s part and man’s part. God, because of His great love for mankind, has done His part in sending Christ to die for the sins of men. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Paul calls this grace the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). We cannot save ourselves and must rely on God through faith. “Through faith” means that man must also do his part, because no one benefits from a gift until he receives it. 

To find what man’s part in the plan of salvation involves, one must go to the right place. The book of Acts explains God’s plan of salvation through nine specific accounts of conversion: The conversion of the Jews at Pentecost, chapter 2; the Samaritans, chapter 8; the Ethiopian eunuch, chapter 8; Saul of Tarsus, chapters 9 and 22; Cornelius, chapter 10; Lydia, chapter 16; the Philippian jailer, chapter 16; the Corinthians, chapter 18; the Ephesians, chapter 19. In each example, certain common actions, or steps of obedience, were taken by those who became Christians. 

Upon hearing the gospel message, each believed in Jesus as the Son of God. Though the text does not explicitly mention belief each time, it is implied. The Jews at Pentecost, having heard the message, “were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:37). Their question “What shall we do?” showed that they believed, but they realized that they needed to do more than have simple belief to obtain salvation. James wrote, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). 

Following their confession of faith in Christ, Peter told the Jews at Pentecost, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Thus we understand that repentance must accompany faith in Christ.

One must also confess faith in Christ, as the Ethiopian did (Acts 8:37), because Christ will not confess us unless we are willing to confess Him. “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32–33). 

Baptism is the only step toward salvation explicitly mentioned in every conversion. Each account shows that baptism is necessary for obedience to Christ. Hearing the gospel message, believing in Christ, repenting of past sins, confessing Christ, and being baptized into Christ makes one a Christian, and brings salvation. Then one must serve the Lord faithfully (Revelation 2:10). —Bob Prichard

SALVATION

What Must I Do to Be Saved (WVBS)

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What must I do to be saved? The answer to this question has implications both now and for eternity. Sadly, wrong answers are being given all the time. In this study, Don Blackwell opens the Bible and shares with us God’s answer to this question. It is a simple, straight-forward study done in a kind and loving manner. With a question of this magnitude, you cannot afford to be wrong. Won’t you join us for this vital study?

What Must I Do To Be Saved? from World Video Bible School on Vimeo.