February 3, 2013 “Super Bring Your Neighbor Day Sunday”
The UCF Campus Ministry witnessed two more additions through the waters of baptism – Travis Lewis (left and) Robert White (right)
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4
Last week in Part 1 of this series on discipleship we discussed the marks of a disciple; those obvious characteristics which define a true disciple of Jesus. One of the marks of a disciple is learned from Acts 11:36 where we discover a long lost and yet (by 1980) restored teaching that a disciple=Christian=saved. In that equation we see that all true Christians are correctly defined by the Bible’s most used word for followers of Jesus, disciple/s, and therefore all who claim the name Christian must be disciples as only defined by the Bible. We cannot then water down the life, heart, purpose and faith of a true follower of Jesus. Disciples are sold-out to seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness and love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength…nothing less is a disciple! Also, we see that only disciples (who are also called Christians) with these distinguishing marks are those who are saved. The debate over salvation is quite possibly the most misunderstood and misconstrued teaching from the Scriptures in all Christendom. The most destructive attack from Satan and his demons is the using of false teaching and false teachers to confuse the world on how to be saved. If Satan can cause confusion on salvation then billions can be tricked, deceived, lied to, misled and given a false sense of security that will ultimately lead to their spiritual death! So this begs the question- who can be saved and how?
1. Who then can be saved?
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:23-26
Thank God Jesus had faith! The apostles were overwhelmed with the difficulty of salvation and lacked faith that anyone could have hope and truly gain a restored relationship with God. The central theme in their question is “who” can be saved? The very next verse shows Peter’s concern with the issues: “Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Matthew 19:27 The “rich” were often seen as “blessed by God” and so erroneously many assumed they had been righteous in order to acquire their wealth. The rich man who asked Jesus what good thing he must do so foolishly thought he was good enough. When Jesus told him to obey the commandments he got very prideful and his self-sufficiency was seen. He claims he had obeyed all the commands and wants to know; “What else do I still lack?” The solution to his “lost” state was radical and too much for the rich young man. Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21
The valiant band of brothers rejoicing with the angels as Robert White entered the Kingdom of God!
The path to salvation- being saved and getting “treasure in heaven” was and is radical! Who then can be saved? Anyone can be saved who is willing to give up everything and follow Jesus on Jesus’ terms. This teaching flies in the face of many religious people who seek the path of, “What is the least I can do or the least I have to change to be saved?” Jesus wants us to give up everything because he knows that when we hold on to the world; idolatry and the love of comfort will kill our faith. Interestingly, the camel which could not fit through the eye of the needle is a beast of burden. It carries all the “plunder” of its master and in the same way if we allow ourselves to be burdened down with all of our things, riches and pleasure we will not “fit” in the Lord’s kingdom. The term we use in the movement for disciples is “sold-out”; taken from passages like this as well as Matthew 13:44-46 where Jesus speaks of the men who sold everything to “get” the kingdom.
Can you be saved? Absolutely! You must become a disciple of Jesus and obey his commands. John 4:1-2 is powerful showing that disciples were being baptized. Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus commands his faithful to go and make disciples…baptizing them. Who then can be baptized? Disciples can. Have you given up everything for Jesus Christ? Is there anything you are not willing to change or become for Jesus? If there is, you are in danger of going the path of the rich young man. Salvation is free but not cheap. The Lord knows he has your heart when he has all you value. When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:22 Sadly he did not stick around long enough to hear the promise; “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29 Jesus demands everything and when he sees our faith to give it all up, he gives it back. Eternal life (being saved) is at stake. Is your treasure in heaven or would you walk away sad? Any person willing to follow Jesus can be saved. The cost is high- he wants all of you.
2. How is one saved?
We now see that although it may “seem” impossible to be saved, all men can be saved and God wants them saved 1 Timothy 2:3-4! It simply takes the preaching of the gospel by a disciple of Jesus and the acceptance of the gospel for a man to be saved. How is this seen in the Scriptures? Let’s begin with the ministry of Jesus. In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus teaches his disciples to go make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey. This is the fundamental pattern we see throughout the entire New Testament when it comes to making disciples and saving them. One can believe in Jesus all they want but until they do what He says in obedience- they cannot be his disciples and so cannot be saved John 8:31-32. Then in Acts 2:36-42 Peter and the other apostles begin teaching salvation under the new covenant; Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…” All examples which show conversion and how it took place in the book of Acts have the same pattern, commands and obedience taught by Jesus and his apostles. There is no deviation because there is only one way to be saved…you must become a baptized disciple of Jesus Christ- the way He and his disciples taught.
Having no doubts, Travis Lewis confidently confessed “Jesus is Lord!” in front of the whole assembly of God’s People!
The road to discipleship is narrow and only a few will find it. Jesus is asked, “Lord, are only a few people going to saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to” Luke 13:22-24. Challenging, yet the excitement of having the potential to be saved and then going on to help save others is exhilarating! I personally spent 22 years of my life in different churches insecure, doubting, uncertain and very confused about my salvation. Each time the preacher preached fire and brimstone with certain damnation to hell for all who were not saved I cringed with fear and uncertainty. Even though I had prayed Jesus into my heart at each teen camp almost every summer, had been baptized to “show” everyone I was supposedly saved or asked God for forgiveness (again and again), I had no security of salvation. Many times after a sermon on grace or a deep talk with another member about my salvation I had a temporary respite but the truth is I was totally unsure. Often I asked God to show me how to have confidence in my salvation. It never came because I had refused to repent and it seemed to me that in the scriptures there were 10 different ways to be saved. How could I feel confident when those teaching me contradicted the Bible? It was torture and so because of my uncertainty I allowed sin to rule my life.
The confidence never came until I met true disciples. They quickly showed me God’s plan and I was amazed! In Acts 8:26-31, 34-39 we find one of the most inspiring and hope building examples of a man searching for a true relationship with God and yet stuck- until a disciple obeyed and went- showing him the gospel. Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him…The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
In this short yet amazing story we find a true biblical conversion and the powerful grace of God! The Ethiopian is seeking God with all his heart but cannot find Him without help. God through angels and his Holy Spirit sends a faithful disciple into his life. Philip shares the gospel (good news) about Jesus to him. His response to the message is to stop the chariot and immediately get baptized! Then in order to be saved, one must (become a disciple) hear the message, believe the message, repent, and be baptized. These are the commands of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 and the prophetic command for all men given through Peter (who had the keys to the kingdom) in Acts 2:38-41. The gospel message the Ethiopian heard was the one proclaimed by Jesus then preached by his apostles. No new method can be invented that is truth and which brings salvation. The same message is available to us who would become his disciples. If you have not responded to the gospel message presented in the New Testament, Jesus is calling you to make a decision today to study the Bible, make Jesus Lord of your life, repent and be baptized and then you too, like the eunuch, can “go on your way rejoicing”!
He stoops down to make us great (Psalm 18:35),
Matt Sullivan
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