WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Greetings SAVED or LOST ones. The burning question that is usually asked...if you ask someone if they are saved...is SAVED FROM WHAT? Or there will be a plethora of jokes about Jesus Saves...but Moses Invests.

Bob Dylan experienced SALVATION (being saved) after attending Bible studies at the Vineyard in California. The expression of that experience was first seen in his album...Slow Train Coming. The Times They Are A Changing...and so was his life. The follow up album was called simply....SAVED. Before we look at some definitions of the word SAVE, SAVED...let's see how Bob view this salvation experience:

SAVED

I was blinded by the devil...borned already ruined
Stone cold dead as I stepped out of the womb

NOTE: Wow...talk about acknowledging the spiritual condition. These two lines blow me away every time I hear them.

By His GRACE I have been TOUCHED
By His WORD I have been HEALED
By His HAND I've been DELIVERED
By His SPIRIT I've been SEALED
I've been SAVED...by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB
SAVED...by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB
SAVED...SAVED...

NOTE: The problem was stated...and now the SOLUTION has been underscored. The solution...getting SAVED...and it through THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB...aka...JESUS. That SALVATION was expressed by GRACE, THE WORD, HIS HAND AND HIS SPIRIT. The CAUSE AND EFFECT of these things are being: (1) touched (2) healed (3) delivered (4) sealed.

And I'm so glad...yes...I'm so glad
I'm so glad...so glad
I want to thank you Lord...I just want to thank you Lord
Thank you Lord

NOTE: When you have been living in darkness...lost...being brought into the light and SAVED...floods you with a heart of thanksgiving and gladness.

By His TRUTH I can be UPRIGHT
By His STRENGTH I do ENDURE
By His POWER I've been LIFTED
In His LOVE I am SECURE
He BOUGHT me with a PRICE
FREED me from the PIT...full of EMPTINESS and WRATH...and the FIRE that BURNS WITHIN

NOTE: Once saved...the WORK CONTINUES. We can stand upright, have endurance, be lifted up, have security all because He bought us WITH THE PRICE of his blood and life as He became the PROPITIATION, SUBSTITUTE, SATISFACTION in our place.

NOTE: Bob repeats the course of thankfulness and gladness to the Lord for what He has done by the blood of the Lamb.

Nobody to RESCUE me...nobody would DARE
I was GOING DOWN for the LAST TIME
But by His MERCY I've BEEN SPARED
Not by WORKS...but by FAITH IN HIM who called
For so long I've been HINDERED
For so long I've been STALLED

NOTE: Needing rescue, going down, hindered and stalled were the conditions...RESCUE, MERCY, SPARED, by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB.


This picture is from the book REMEMBER THE WORD by Jerry Lucas. It is a Bible Memorization System that utilizes pictures...to bring the themes of the Bible alive. Matthew 1:21 is seen here..."And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS for He shall SAVE His people from their SINS." Note the picture of the bear with the sun/son. He shall BEAR their sins.

One of the pictures in the first collage is Elvis...dancing the JAILHOUSE ROCK.
There was another version of JAILHOUSE ROCK found in the book of Acts as Paul and Silas were in JAIL...praising God at midnight...and an EARTHQUAKE rocked the JAIL. The guard ran in...and found the doors open...and was going to commit suicide...rather than face the wrath of the authorities for letting the prisoners escape. Paul shouted out..."Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Nelly!" Don't do that...we are here." (Rumiantor Version).

"And brought them out and said...Sirs...WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? And they said...BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus...and thous shalt be SAVED and thy house." (Acts 16:30-31)

Paul also stated...For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL (I Corinthians 15:1-5=D.B.R...NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS)...for it is the POWER OF GOD for SALVATION...to the Jew first...and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

SALVATION: (so-tay-ree-ah)= rescue or safety (physically or morally) deliver, health salvation, save, saving....(so-tare)= a deliverer...that is ...God or Christ...saviour. (sode-zo)=to save, that is deliver or protect, heal, preserve, save, do well, be whole.

In the book THE SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL EVANGELISM (101 lesson on how to share your faith simply, effectively, biblically...the way Jesus did) by KIRK CAMERON and RAY COMFORT...states that the LOST (those not SAVED)... first need to come to the realization that they need a SAVIOUR. The LAW is the schoolteacher...that teaches us our need to turn to someone who can help us keep this thing called the LAW...because WE CAN'T.

Once we come to the point of realizing our need...we can call on a SAVIOUR... by asking...WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED. The answer is...like this storefront church in KENYA, AFRICA says...WELCOME TO JESUS.

What must I do to be SAVED? The answer...'BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus...and you shall be SAVED." (Acts 16:30-31) Direct question...Direct answer.

NOTE: Paul is not talking about an assimilation of historical facts about JESUS. Any lost theologian or demon can BELIEVE.
"But someone may will say...you have faith...and I have works...show me your faith without the works...and I will show you my faith by my works. You BELIEVE that God is one...You do well...the demons...ALSO BELIEVE...and TREMBLE/SHUDDER..." (James 2:18-19)

This thing called BELIEF...goes BEYOND...assimilating of facts...it elicits ACTION. If you BELIEVE...in the DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION OF JESUS...there will be a difference manifested in your life.

"But the righteousness BASED on FAITH...speaks thus...'Do not say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven? (that is to bring Christ down)...or Who will descend into the abyss (that is to bring Christ up from the dead)'...but what does it say? THE WORD IS NEAR YOU IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART...that is the word of faith which we are preaching...that if you CONFESS with your MOUTH...
JESUS AS LORD...and BELIEVE in your heart that God RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD...you SHALL BE SAVED....for with the HEART man BELIEVES...resulting in RIGHTEOUSNESS...and with the MOUTH...he CONFESSES (comes into agreement with God and speaks it forth)...RESULTING (cause and effect)....in SALVATION (being saved from being lost)." (Romans 10:6-10)

"For WHOEVER will CALL upon the NAME OF THE LORD....will be...SAVED." (Romans 10:13)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY!!!!

There are many lost intellectual, religious, moral, good work doing people. Some even express a BELIEF (even demons believe and tremble) in Jesus...or at least a BELIEVE in their denomination....BUT that is NOT ENOUGH. Salvation is through the D.B.R...NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS....VIA THE BLOOD OF JESUS. "He SAVED us...NOT on the BASIS of DEEDS/WORKS we have done in righteousness (self)...but ACCORDING TO...His MERCY...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by THE HOLY SPIRIT."
(Titus 3:5)

Love and Believing Kisses
Rodney "Saved" Boyd