I Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Who are the “us” who are victorious through our Lord Jesus Christ?
Does “us” = all mankind?
The world wants us to believe this.
Hebrews 5:9, “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,”
According to this verse, the “us” are those who obey Him.
That is not to say that belief in our Lord is not essential, but this verse shows that God requires obedience to His will as well.
Let Us Now Look at What God Requires of Man:
Hear His Word: Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Why God’s word& not man’s?)
2 Samuel 22:31, “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
Psalms 118:8, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Believe
Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (Belief & Obedience go hand in hand.)
Repent of your sins.
Acts 17:30, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,”
Luke 13:3, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Acts 8:36-37, “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Read Romans 10:9-10
Be buried with Him in Baptism for the remission of your sins.
Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Romans 6:3-4, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Acts 22:16, ” ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'”
Many teach that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus from the account in Acts 9.
This verse proves otherwise.
When you read Acts chapter 9 you will see that it was God who told Annanias to go to Saul. What did God’s man tell Saul he needed to do in order that his sins may be washed away? Be baptized.
1Peter 3:21, “There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”
It is not because of a physical washing.
It is because of our obedience to His Will.
Our response doesn’t end with baptism; this is just the beginning of your new walk with God.
As a child of God, we must always strive to be Christ-like.
1John 2:6, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
1Peter 2:21, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:”
We must continue to keep His commandments.
John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 15:14, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
Here are few more verses to ponder:
Romans 6:7, “For he who has died has been freed from sin.”
Does this mean that we are not freed from our sins until after our physical death?
That would contradict I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Studying Romans 6:3-4 we see that while we are being baptized we put our old self (sinner) to death and when we come up out of the water we are a new man or woman (child of God)
James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble!”
Demons not only believe, but they tremble because of their fear of God.
If all one has to do in order to be saved is believe, then this verse is telling us that we are going to have demons with us in Heaven.
Can God dwell with evil? No.
Matthew 7:21-23, “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. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Verse 22 – weren’t these people performing good works?
Verse 21 – tells us not everyone who calls the Lord’s name will be saved.
Why were they allowed not to enter? Because they failed to obey the will of God.
Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?”
Obedience is a Must – if one wants to have his eternal home with God the Father.