What Must I Do to Be Saved?

 

This lesson was prepared, for our Wednesday Praying over our City meeting. 

In a few weeks we will be going Door to Door with Bibles, and a church brochure.  There just might be someone with a question “What Must I Do to Be Saved?” and it would be wise to be ready with an answer.

In the Old Testament, the priest would slay an innocent animal as a sacrifice for the people.  The people were also required to obey the law which included the Ten Commandments.  The people were under the “Old Covenant,” that God gave to Moses on the mountain.

When Jesus died on the cross, He became the sacrifice once and for all.  By His death and resurrection, Jesus established a new and better covenant; and we no longer kill innocent animals to take away our sin.  His blood was enough for the sins of the entire world.

However when Jesus ministered on earth, He ministered under the Old Covenant because He had not died and rose from the dead at that time. 

One day a rich young ruler came to Jesus with a question.  “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus told him to keep the commandments and sell his goods and give his money to the poor. 

Now understand that although keeping the commandments is a good thing, and helping the poor is good, it is not how you receive eternal life.

Jesus was testing the young man, because He knew the gentleman loved his riches more than he loved God.

Jesus told us that He is Way the Truth and the Life and no one can come to the Father except by Christ Jesus.  Salvation cannot be earned by being a good person or by our good deeds.

Fast forward to Paul preaching under the New Covenant:  A crowd had gathered and they were listening intently as Paul spoke about Jesus the Messiah and believing on Him to receive Everlasting Life. 

The Bible says a woman named Lydia, heard Paul’s message, and she “OPENED UP HER HEART.”  Her spiritual eyes, ears and heart were opened to receive Jesus.  She requested to be baptized in water and then she invited the traveling ministers to stay at her home while they were in her city. 

Paul continued to preach in this city but daily he was bothered by a woman possessed with a spirit of fortune telling.  This woman became a nuisance and disturbed the meeting, so Paul took authority over the spirit and told the evil spirit to leave the woman.

The masters of the woman were upset because her fortune telling was making them a great deal of money.  They were so angry at Paul that they stirred up the people, and had Paul and Silas arrested, beaten with rods and cast into prison.

Even though their circumstances were not looking so good; Paul and Silas sang and praised God while chained and in the stocks.  God sent an earthquake and their chains fell off making it possible for them to escape.  The jailer was about to kill himself, because when your prisoners escape, the penalty is death.  Paul told the jailer, “Don’t harm your-self, for we are still here.”

Then the jailer asked the Big Question.  The one that you might be asked by someone you are speaking to.  Perhaps today, or tomorrow or next week, but someone will ask you this question –“WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?”  Therefore it is important that you have a certain amount of knowledge in the Scriptures and how to answer. 

When the jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?”  Paul answered simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  Then he preached Jesus to the jailer and to his entire family.  They all believed and requested to be baptized in water. 

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There are 3 important requirements as you prepare to win souls to Jesus

1.     A fully yielded, cleansed and Spirit-filled life. Yield yourself to God, Romans 6:13;  Turn from evil, 2 Timothy 2:19; Be filled with the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8;

2.     A complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit.  Allow the Holy Spirit to give you the right words, and know that the Holy Spirit will also be dealing with the person you are speaking to. 

3.     A working knowledge of the scriptures. Always point someone to the Word of God and show what God says. It is important to know our Bibles and where to find the references. John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10, Revelations 3:20.  Use some bookmarks or tabs to assist you.

         ABC’s to Receive Jesus:

Admit
It starts with admitting that you are a sinner. 
 Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
(How many sins does it take to be a sinner?)  One lie is enough to be a sinner.

Believe    John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Commit   Romans 10:9  if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

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When the person understands and follows the ABC’s: Tell the person: “Jesus stands at the door of your heart knocking.  You open the door by saying, “Come in Lord Jesus.” 

Ask the person:  “Will you do that now?”  Have them say with their mouth. Come into my heart Jesus.   Then – Ask the person:  “Where is Jesus now?” 

They should realize Jesus is now IN their Spirit.  Have them thank Jesus for saving them.

Encourage them to read their Bible every day and to attend a Bible Believing Church.  It would be good to leave them a brochure about your church or a pamphlet explaining what has just happened.