Three Answers to One Question
Could one question be given
three differing answers, and all answers be correct? Seems unlikely doesn't it?
Yet this is the case in the N.T. book of
Acts when the question, "What must I do?" (to be saved) is asked.
The expressed answer given to the Philippian jailer was "Believe!" (See Acts
16:25-34 for full account.) Some insist that this expressed reply is complete, and hence
salvation is by faith only. However, a consideration of the expressed replies given this
question on other occasions will show the fallacy of such reasoning.
When some of the Pentecost multitude asked, "What shall we do?" they were
told, "Repent, and be baptized." (See Acts 2:6-38-f. for details.) And when Saul
asked what to do he was directed to Ananias, who told him to "Arise, and be,
baptized." (See Acts 9:1-18 22:6-16 for the record.)
If only the expressed reply is to be considered we would have to conclude that the
jailer was saved by faith alone, and that those on Pentecost were saved by repentance and
baptism (i.e., without any faith) and that Saul was saved by baptism alone, without either
faith or repentance. Of course none of these conclusions are valid.
A fair study of the context shows that the same elements, and all three of these
elements, were present in each of the cases examined. One must have faith in Christ to be
saved, but faith that is not strong enough to cause one to obey the Lord's commands is a
"dead" faith. (Jas. 2:24-26)
Why
Did The Answers Differ?
Because the questions were asked by people in different circumstances. A
man in Burnet may ask how far is it to San Antonio?" and be told, "100
miles." In Marble Falls this question would get a different answer. And in Blanco,
the same question would get a third, and different answer. Yet all would be part of one
great truth.
There is no indication that the Philippian jailer had either knowledge or faith in the
Christian system; so he was told to believe, and then "they spake unto him the word
of the Lord." He repented, as indicated by washing their stripes, and he was
baptized, as stated in Acts 16:38. Thus he truly believed. (vs. 34)
But those on Pentecost heard the preaching of Christ before they asked their question.
The preaching "pricked" their hearts; i.e., they believed. Then they were told
"repent and be baptized."
And Saul (later called Paul) had already believed, and had spent three days penitently
praying, when he was told, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins."
Your status or condition before God must be considered in answering your
question, "What must I do?" The Lord will save "all who will obey;"
(Heb. 5:9) and has given one gospel to all. (Gal. 1:8 Rom. 2:11) Have you proven your
faith by full and complete obedience to His will?
- from PLAIN TALK, Feb 1964 issue, Vol. 1 No. 4
Have you ever had a friend
tell you that you had a smudge of grease, food, or make-up on your face? What did you do?
If you're like most folks, first your mind races with questions like "How did that
get there?" "How long has it been there?" and "Who else has seen
it?" Then, if you are caught in this kind of situation without a mirror, you rub your
face at the point you estimate the blot to be and ask, "Did I get it?"
Your friend responds, "No, you smeared it!"
You roll your eyes, rub again and ask, "How about now?"
"OK, you're fine," you're told; and you believe it.
We often deal with sin like a smudge on the face. At first we don't realize its
there. Then we're not sure how it got there. Next we blindly try to rub it off before too
many others see it. Our inability to see ourselves and our pride combine to make our
spiritual faces into messy smears of sin. Folks tell us we're OK, and we believe them
without checking a mirror.
God has a solution to the smudges of sin.
1.He has given us a Mirror.
God's word is like a mirror in which we can see
our spiritual selves. It ought always to be with us -- in our hearts. As it guides our
steps, it can even keep us from getting sin smudges to begin with. "Your word I have
hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11).
2.He wants us to look into the Mirror regularly.