Saved? Or Not?

They were called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26.) It wasn’t a name given by Jesus. It appears it was applied to the disciples, not used by them to denote who they were. It reflected their following the doctrines given by Jesus Christ.

There have been many through the centuries that were put forward as the Messiah. Gamaliel named Theudas and Judas of Galilee who lived at the same time Jesus did (Acts 5:34-39.) There are some today who proclaim they are the anointed One. At some time, one of them will be believed. Though it was prophesied, I pray I will not live to see that prophecy fulfilled.

Jesus was not concerned with us being called Christian. He was concerned with two things – our relationship with God and our relationship with our fellow man. Jesus was here with one purpose – to provide a way for both to be fixed.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

He told us why He comes:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17 KJV)

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13 KJV)

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10 KJV)

I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43 KJV)

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 KJV)

He also said that He comes to be divisive.

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: (Luke 12:51 KJV)

We choose for ourselves, life or death. Justification, or just rewards. Saved or unsaved. The kingdom of God, or the alternative:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV)

How must we be saved? We’ve been given an example:

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:30-33 KJV)