By: John Mitchell
We should believe in, and have faith in God, and faithfully read the Bible, and attend Bible studies and worship services. But, a person’s membership, and faithful attendance, in a church congregation, by its self, won’t reserve a place in heaven for anyone. We may look like a Christian on Sundays and Wednesdays, but are we living the life of a Christian, every day of the week? In addition to church membership and attendance, we need to live our life the way God’s scriptures tell us to live our life, and do the works that God wants us to do. God, our Creator, knows what is best for us. His commandments for us, are His will for us. Remember, they are commandments, not suggestions.
In John 14:21, Jesus said, “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.”
In Matthew 22:36 to 40 Jesus was asked, what is the great commandment? Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Proverbs 3:5-7 tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Some people reason with their own understanding, that because God loves us, we are not required to do any works to be saved. It is true that our works will not save us. It is also true that if we don’t have any works, we are not living our life in faithful obedience to the word of God. God is a God of righteousness and justice. “Therefore consider the goodness, and the severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness.” (Romans 11:22)
Many people think that if they say a “Sinner’s Prayer”, they are “Once saved, always saved”, from going to hell. There are many different versions of the sinner’s prayer. There is not any sinner’s prayer in the Bible, but the scripture does say there is only one way to heaven. “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
“Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) There are many, many, scriptures in the Bible about God wanting us to do works.
“…faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17-20)
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.’ (James 1:22)
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
‘in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.” (Titus 2:7)
God has done all that He needs to do for salvation to be available to us. Now it is up to us to do all that we need to do to be able to receive salvation.
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12,13) God has plans for every one of us. His plans for us include the works that are in His will for us to do. God’s plan of salvation is for everyone. Sadly, many people reject and rebel against God’s good plans for them. “For many are called but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
In Matthew 10:22, and 24:13, Mark 13:13, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 3:14, 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:12, and in Revelation 2:10, they all tell us that if we faithfully endure to the end, and not get weary of doing good and not give up, we will be saved. With these, and so many other scriptures, telling us that we have to do, to be faithful to God, to the end of our life, how can anyone believe that we can’t lose our salvation?
Just as others were obeying God’s commandments when they helped us to understand and obey God’s plan of salvation, God expects us to do the work, of helping others to understand and obey His plan of salvation for them. One of the last things Jesus said, before He ascended up into heaven, was about Christian believers helping others to become Christian believers.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15,16)
Someone was obeying God’s will for them, when they helped us to be baptized for the remission of our sins. Now we Christians need to obey God’s will for us, by helping others to know the wonderful truth of the gospel, that tells us all that God has done for us, because of His love for us.
There is a hymn named “May the work I’ve done speak for me. Some of the lyrics are;
“May the works I’ve done speak for me.
May the life I live speak for me.
When I’m resting in my grave,
there’s nothing more to be said.”
After we die, we don’t get a second chance to decide to obey God.
“…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, Yes says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17)
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
“And behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)
.. The way each of us chooses to live our life here on earth decides, where we will spend eternity. If we live our life to it’s end, God’s way, then we have chosen heaven for our eternity. If we live our life to it’s end, our way in disobedience to God’s plan of salvation for us, we have chosen hell for our eternity.
Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Jesus said, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”
(John 17:4) It is time for us to say, I will be faithful to the end, to do the work that God has given me to do.