What Must I Do To Be Saved? (Remain Faithful)

Murray Wade
10/01/12 - Knoxville TV

Tonight we want to conclude our series "What Must I Do To Be Saved" with a lesson that focuses on remaining faithful to the Lord. We have really benefited from this series and we hope you have as well. If you have missed all or any part of the series "What Must I Do To Be Saved" you can read the notes from oakridgechurch.com. If you are a Christian who is looking for Bible Study material for teaching your friends and neighbors who need to be saved, please feel free to use our material in your teaching efforts!

From Genesis to Revelation the problem presented in the Bible is sin.  Throughout the history of God’s people, the danger of unfaithfulness has always been present. Hosea declared, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (4:6). Jeremiah asked, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number” (2:32). Amos spoke of a famine in the land, “not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (8:11). During His ministry Jesus warned, “If anyone does not abide not in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6). Paul and Barnabas urged Christians “to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43). Jude admonished, “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21). The Corinthians were told, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (10:12). Peter admonished, “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (2 Peter 3:17). 

Tonight we want to discuss ways for a faithful Christian to remain faithful.

Do Not Have a Compromising Spirit

More and more we hear congregations not worrying about following everything in the Bible but rather that we all get along. Many professed Christians seem to have the idea that grace automatically and unconditionally forgives a person without any conditions including repentance, and that even if we do compromise with the world, grace will cover us. Jesus and the apostles taught a much different view (1 John 1:5-10; 2:3-5; 15-17; Romans 8:13; Hebrews 10:26).

Study The Word! 

It is easy to forget that unfaithfulness starts in our hearts when we start believing something that is false.  Temptation first hits us in the mind and if the mind can be convinced then everything else (body, time, talents, and so on) follows. The Bible helps us keep the right focus and the right priorities (Psalm 119:9,11). Look at what Paul plainly said in (2 Timothy 2:15). 

Realize Choices Have Consequences

Many choices are life altering. Many choices have consequences, consequences that still remain even after one has repented. Many of the choices that confront us have eternal consequences (Galatians 5:19-21).  In addition, both good and bad consequences tend to multiply. Good choices in life multiply opportunities to do good; they bring us happiness and so on. Bad choices quickly remove happiness; they remove opportunities, and just as quickly bring many negative side effects or secondary consequences (Notice the list of cursings in Deuteronomy chapter 28). 

Choose Your Friends Wisely

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived:  ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’”;Proverbs 22:24-25 “Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul”. Indeed, those with whom one associates can have a strong influence upon our thinking. In addition, do not make the mistake of thinking that friends affect us only when we are young. We are affected by friendships throughout our lives; remember 1 Corinthians 15:33 was written to adult Christians. 

Choose a Marriage Companion Wisely

We know many who have been married to non-Christians who would be the first to tell you many passages emphasize the importance of marrying someone who is spiritually strong. One could say “spiritually compatible”, but the only spiritually compatible person for a Christian is a spiritually strong person (Genesis 26:34-35; Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Samson (Judges 14:1ff; 16:4ff) and Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-4) show us examples of what happens when our companion is not spiritually strong? 

A study was done in a congregation in Oklahoma to discover what happened to these young people when they married. 

Even if you marry a good moral man or woman, you are still on two different paths (Matthew 7:13-14, 2 Corinthians 6:14).   Even though the following was written by a non-inspired man, it shows how marriage is a relationship in which a man and woman are to become “one” (Genesis 2:24).  “Beautiful is the marriage of Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice. They are both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in spirit. They pray together, they worship together; instructing one another, strengthening one another. Side by side they visit God’s church; side-by-side they face difficulties and persecutions, share their consolations.  Unembarrassed they visit the sick and needy. They give alms without anxiety. Psalms and hymns they sing” (Tertullian of Carthage).

Realize Jesus is Lord

Faithfulness is much easier if we accept the fact that Jesus is the Master and we are the disciple (Luke 17:10).  Unquestioned allegiance to His will is far easier when one has unquestioned trust in His wisdom and love (James 1:17, Hebrews 13:5-6).  Since God created me and Jesus died for my sins, God has the right to demand my complete attention and the very best of my heart and mind (Mark 12:30). Seeing that He rescued me from eternal suffering, I should never resent any of His requirements, even if they cost me friends, family, possessions, or my life (Luke 14:26). 

Remember the Devil Is Real

Satan is real and wants us all to fall (1 Peter 5:8-9, 2 Corinthians 11:14, Ephesians 6:12). He would love for us to treat one another selfishly (Colossians 2:1-4) and to have us bite and devour one another (Galatians 5:13-15). Unfaithfulness, whether in doctrine or morals, often happens when people forget that the devil is active and relentless. The devil is always trying to push the limits or boundaries of God’s truth. This is why people need to be taught exactly and accurately what the Bible teaches (2 John 9, Acts 20:27). Satan is also a master of twisting Scripture (Matthew 4:1ff), and has many willing and ignorant accomplices (1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Peter 3:16-17). The devil has a large tool box, and he will do whatever he can to turn us on one another. We all need to rise above Him with the Lord’s help. These are all good reasons why we need to continually study God’s word, verse by verse.  

Love the Brotherhood

Love each other (1 Peter 2:17, 1:22). Some people become unfaithful when they become disillusioned with the church or the Christians who compose it. In addition, the devil is always trying to cloud the issue concerning who is right and who is wrong. We need to remember that the church is the bride of Christ, the body that was purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).Though mocked by the world, we love the church for standing for Truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Our denominational friends ridicule the necessity of biblical baptism, but we love the church of Christ for insisting upon it. We stand for the conviction that there is one true church. We love the simplicity of worshipping in ‘spirit and truth’. We love the name ‘Christian’ and that we can call Bible things by Bible names. We love the preaching of sound doctrine. And we give the benefit of the doubt first and foremost to our brethren (Galatians 6:10).   

Take Time to Be Holy

Our use of “time” can make all the difference in the world: time to pray, time to study, time to be with brethren, and time to be involved in good works. Never underestimate the value of redeeming the time (Eph. 5:15-18).

Conclusion

As we have seen, one can lose their faithfulness for a many reasons. The consequence of the destruction of one's faith is the destruction of one's soul. Let us be on guard (1 Corinthians 16:13). What about you tonight? Have you been losing your faithfulness? If so, why not put into action some of the things we have studied. If you are not a Christian, at this point you have no faithfulness. You are on the wrong path. To get on the right path, you need to submit to the Lord and let Him guide your way (Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 10:23, 2Thessalonians 3:5). Truly hear what the Lord has said and believe in Him with all your heart. Confess before men that Jesus is the Son of God. Repent, or feel sorrow for your sins, and turn from your sinful ways to serving God in all that you do. Be immersed in water, baptized, to wash away your sins. And then be determined to live your life in a way that serves God in everything you do. That is when you can start your journey to eternal salvation (1 Peter 1:9). We hope our series "What Must I Do To Be Saved" was helpful to you. Please tune in with us next time on "Speaking The Truth In Love" when we begin with a study of the Book of Genesis.

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