What did Christ command us to do in order to be saved and inherit eternal
life?
Jesus while on earth prepared men to be received into His church (kingdom)
when it came. Jesus, by His own words, gave a pattern which became the
authority for New Testament salvation:
Hearing Jesus said, John 12:47-48, "'And if
anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not
come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does
not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken
will judge him in the last day.'" Salvation requires hearing.
Believing Jesus said, in John 5:24, "'Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me
has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from
death into life.'" In John 8:24 he said "'Therefore I said to you that you
will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in
your sins.'" Thus, salvation requires believing, as well as hearing.
Repentance Mark 1:14-15, "Now after John was put
in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.'" Jesus said, in Luke 13:3, "'...unless
you repent you will all likewise perish.'" Salvation requires repentance, as
well as hearing and believing.
Confession In Matthew 10:31-32, Jesus said,
"'Therefore 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.'" Hearing, believing, repentance and
confession.
Baptism Matthew 3:5-6 says, "Then
Jerusalem...went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing
their sins." Luke 3:3 says that John "went into all the region...preaching a
baptism of repentance for [the purpose of] the remission of sins." John's
baptism was a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). John
4:1-2 says: "Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that
Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not
baptize, but His disciples)." John's baptism and the baptism the disciples of
Jesus offered were for the same purpose.
Under the New Covenant, Acts 2:38, Peter said to those who heard and believed,
"'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins.'" Mark 16:16 says "'He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.'" And in
Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says "'Go therefore...baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you.'" One of those things the Lord commanded
was baptism. The baptism was still for the remission of sins but now was
extended to believers by the authority (in the Name of) Christ. Salvation
requires hearing, believing, confessing, repentance and baptism for the
forgiveness of sins.
Faithfulness In John 15:10, Jesus said, "'If you
keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My
Father's commandments and abide in His love.'" Again in John 14:21: "'He who
has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves
Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to
him.'" Verse 23: "'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father
will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'"
Salvation requires faithfulness (Revelation 2:10).
This, then, becomes the authoritative New Testament pattern for us to follow
today.
If you would like more information or would like to set up a personnal bible study please email me.