SALVATION DURING THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD

Six times on four different occasions the question is asked "What must we/I do to be saved?”   Each time a different answer was given by three different persons. Why is that? As ambassadors of Christ what answer do we give? Let us examine the Bible for the answer. 

1. THE ANSWER GIVEN BY JOHN THE BAPTIST - LUKE 3:10-14

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12 Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

They were told to perform the following works to be saved:

   a. "let him impart to him that hath none, he that hath meat, let him do likewise"

   b. "extract no more than that which is appointed you"

   c. "do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, be content with your wages" 

2. THE ANSWER GIVEN BY JESUS THE CHRIST - LUKE 18: 18-30

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (VS. 26)
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting

He was told to perform the following works to be saved:  

   a. "to keep the commandments"

   b. "sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor"

   c. "come, follow me"

3. THE ANSWER GIVEN BY PETER THE JEWISH APOSTLE - ACTS 2:37-42

37 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?
38 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.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles ' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

They were told to perform the following works to be saved:

   a. "Repent"

   b. "and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins",

   c. "and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

   d. "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (what they understood to save themselves):

      1. "glad received his word"

      2. "were baptized"

      3. "the same day there were added unto the church"

      4. "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship"

      5. "in the breaking of bread"

      6. "and in prayers"

      7. "had all things in common"

      8. "sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, as man had need."

4. THE ANSWER GIVEN BY PAUL THE GENTILE APOSTLE - ACTS 16:30-31

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

He was told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ without works to be saved! Ephesians 2:8-9 states we are saved by grace through faith and that faith is not of yourselves but is the gift of God. Paul relates to Titus we are saved not by works.

Why was John the Baptist, Jesus the Messiah, and Peter the Jewish Apostle all in agreement while Paul stands alone? The answer is really simple concerning John, Jesus, and Peter. John was a gospel of the kingdom preacher born under the law, Jesus the Messiah was a gospel of the kingdom preacher born under the law, Peter the Jewish Apostle was a gospel of the kingdom preacher born under the law. Paul was a gospel of grace preacher born under the law. Since we are currently living in the Dispensation of the Grace of God; it is imperative that we adhere to the correct gospel plan of salvation. Paul in Ephesians says we are saved by grace through faith. The object of faith is not in our own faith, our works, our rituals, etc; rather, the object of our faith in Christ Jesus according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

“THE COMMON SALVATION AND THE COMMON FAITH”

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3 KJV)
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:4 KJV)

THE BIBLICAL CONFESSION OF FAITH FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST 

1. THE COMMON SALVATION (COMMON TO ALL BELIVERS IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE)

A. THE COMMON SALVATION BRINGS GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER BY THE CONFESSION THAT “JESUS CHRIST IS LORD”

¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father Philippians 2:11 (KJV)).

B. THE COMMON SALVATION BRINGS GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER WHEN THE BELIEVER’S INWARD CONVERSION RESULTS IN AN OUTWARD CONFESSION OF “THE LORD JESUS”

⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10KJV)

C. THE COMMON SALVATION BRINGS GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER SINCE THE ONLY CONDITION OF SALVATION IS FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE

 ³⁰And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  ³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:30-31 (KJV)

D. THE COMMON SALVATON BRINGS GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER WHEN THE GOSPEL OF GOD’S GRACE IS PROCLAIMED FAITHFULLY

 ¹Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  ²By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  ³For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  ⁴And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV)

   1. THE COMMON SALVATION IS:

      a. PRESENTED IN THE SCRIPTURE - “ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES”

      b. PROCLAIMED BY THE SAVIOR – “FOR I DELIVERED UNTO YOUR FIRST OF ALL THAT WHICH I ALSO RECEIVED”

      c. PURCHASED BY THE SACRIFICE – “CHRIST DIED”  

      d. PROTECTED BY THE SEAL - “HE WAS BURIED”

      e. PROVEN BY THE SIGHTINGS - “HE AROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY”

      f. PROVIDED BY THE SUBSTITUTE – “FOR OUR SINS”

      g. POSSIBLE BY THE STIPULATION –“YE HAVE BELIEVED”

11. THE COMMON SALVATION IS THREE-FOLD:

   a. THE COMMON SALVATION POSITIONALLY RESULTS JUSTIFICATION – FROM THE PENALITY OF SIN

   b. THE COMMON SALVATION PRACTICALLY RESULTS IN SANCTIFICATION – FROM THE POWER OF SIN

   c. THE COMMON SALVATION PROPHETICALLY RESULTS IN GLORIFICATION – FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN

EXCHANGED LIFE OR CHANGED LIFE? GAL. 2:20

THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT ONE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS/HER LIFE OR  BECOME ASCETIC. THE SCRIPTURE TEXT IN GAL. 2:20 SAYS "I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME"! HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE RECEIVE IN THIS EXCHANGED LIFE-

1. HIS FAITH- GAL. 2:20

2. HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS- PHIL. 3:9

3. HIS LOVE- ROM. 5:5; GAL. 5:22-24

4. HIS PEACE-EPH. 2:4; ROM. 5:1

5. HIS WISDOM- 1COR. 1:30