I will answer this question in a minute, but first, I want you to think about another question. What does it mean to be saved? We are saved from what?
We assume, because of traditional teaching, that we are saved from “hell”. Although scripture never says that, we have been taught that. The word “saved” isn’t the best translation of the greek word sozo. To be saved doesn’t necessarily mean to be rescued from impending doom. It simply means to be made whole or restored. When Jesus healed a blind man, he said, “Thy faith has SAVED thee”. In other words, he was made well or his sight was restored.
Scripture says we were alienated from God, in our minds, through wicked works. There has been a perception that we were separated from God. It was only “in our minds”. But, if there was an actual separation, Christ took care of it with his birth, death, resurrection, and destruction of the old covenant. “Of a truth, God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD unto himself”.
The wages of sin is death, not hell. To be saved spiritually is to come out of a realm of death, futility, selfishness, unfruitful living without purpose and into abundant life. Eternal life is not living forever but walking in newness of life. Knowing we have been reconciled (past tense) to God and now there remains no more condemnation. We are now free to live and love and pursue the purpose we were created for. That is, to love God and each other. Jesus himself IS eternal life. He is the door by which all enter into God; and ALL will eventually go therein.
Now back to our question. What must I do to be saved? Well, if you rely on the Bible for the answer, you will get many different answers.
The answer to this question in Micah 6:8 is - “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God”.
For the rich young ruler, Jesus’ answer was keep all the commandments and sell everything you have and give it to the poor.
In Luke chapter 3, Jesus gives three different answers to three different groups of people. To one group he says, “if you have two coats, give one to another:.
To a group of tax gatherers he says, “take no more tax money than is required”.
To a group of soldiers he says, “Do no violence. Accuse no man falsely; and be content with your wages.
If you ask the apostle Peter, His answer in Acts chapter two is: “Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”.
Notice how nothing so far has mentioned faith or believing?
Also in Acts 2 it says that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10 says you must confess with your mouth (what if you can’t speak?) and believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.
When the jailer in Acts 16 asked Paul and Silas this question, they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, AND THY HOUSE.” implying that his family would be saved just because he believed and there was no need for them to believe.
The contradictory answers and the confusion for so many concerning this question is simply due to misunderstandings, wrong interpretations, faulty translations, and simply not understanding scripture in it’s proper context.
You see, when Paul and Silas was talking to the jailer, they were talking to a particular person living in a particular point in history. They weren’t speaking to you or me.
When Peter commanded them to repent and be baptized, he was speaking to jews only. Also, Christ had not yet destroyed the old covenant and Scripture assures us that as long as the first covenant stood, the new could not fully come into effect. So, Peter’s command is not relevant to you or me.
The Bible, for the most part, was a book written by jews to jews. Christ himself said, “I have come only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. You must understand that only the jews had a covenant with God. Until the new covenant was fully established, we gentiles did not have a covenant with God. But, when Christ came in judgment and destroyed the old covenant at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, he established the new covenant kingdom which was an everlasting covenant which included ALL people. This was the Good News that the angels proclaimed.
God’s plan before creation was to “save” all mankind. Christ came and bought it for us all. God accomplished His purpose. Christ said, “It is finished.” The scriptures concerning damnation, destruction, and the like need to be understood in their proper context; that is, warning to the jews of the coming destruction that was to happen to THAT generation. Confusing that with eternity causes fear, confusion, and misunderstanding, which, in turn, gives us a faulty view of our Heavenly Father. This is where religion has failed us.
Consider this:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9 This contradicts what Jesus, Peter, and Paul said. Here there is nothing concerning baptism, selling all your possesions, verbally confessing, or anything else. Because Salvation ultimately is of God, not us. If we could attain salvation by doing anything; working, believing, praying, attending church, Bible reading, etc., then we would not need God to give it to us. Christ would have had no need to die. It’s not of us, it’s all of God.
Romans 5:10 “WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED to God by the death of His Son…….” (not after we were born again, but when we were enemies)
Romans 11:26 says, “ALL Israel SHALL be saved……….” (ALL doesn’t leave out anyone)
1 Timothy 2:4 says that God, “….WILL HAVE ALL men to be saved…” (includes everybody)
Titus 3:5 says, “Not of works of righteousness which we have done, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY he saved us”
1 Corinthians 15:22 “..as in Adam ALL die, EVEN SO, in Christ shall ALL be made alive”. (same ALL)
Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw (literally drag) ALL men unto me”.
Ninety-nine ain’t good enough. Jesus said if he has 100 sheep and one goes away, he will leave the 99 and search UNTIL he finds the other.
So, to answer the question: What must I do to be saved? The answer is “NOTHING”. God did it all through Christ. You cannot add one thing to it. You were saved before the foundation of the world. Nothing can pluck you out of God’s hand. You are his child. You came out from him and one day you will go back into him. He does not need your praying, repenting, baptizing, church going, bible reading, confessing or believing, or anything else.
Your own children do not have to do anything to win your approval. Your love for them is unconditional. You do not ask them for their permission or consent in order for you to love them. There is nothing that they could do to cause you to stop loving them and there is certainly nothing that they could do or not do that would cause you to torture them forever. Your love for them has no strings. It is without conditions. And you, “Being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more does your Heavenly Father…..” Do you get my point?
It is not absolutely necessary for everyone to “believe”. The majority of people who have lived on earth either have never heard of Christ or were influenced by their own culture (including their families whom they love and trust) to believe in other gods and other religions. They CANNOT believe. There are millions of others in judeo-christian societies who also cannot believe because of faulty religious views and hypocrites who claim to represent Christ. However, one day, EVERY knee shall bow and Every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord…..TO THE GLORY OF GOD. Not forced to do so through fiery torture, but willingly TO THE GLORY OF GOD having been won over by God through His great grace, love, and mercy (and correction).
Friend, God loves you. We just have a hard time understanding the depths of His love because religious tradition has taught us that He is an angry vengeful God that needs to be appeased or He will fry us forever. God gave me this revelation and scripture and history confirms it. This message is truth, light, peace, love, and life to my soul. I am thankful for His bringing me this true”Good News”. That is why I plan on spending the rest of my life tearing down religious lies and bringing truth and hope to people. I accept whatever consequences may come. All I ask is that you consider what I’ve written and if you cannot agree, please love me anyway because I love you , whoever you may be.
If you have any questions or want to talk about this further, you may contact me by phone or e-mail.
Mike Miller, a son of God