Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

"One And Only One"

Jarrod Jacobs

The story is told of a man who had several apple trees. As the year progressed, he watched the apples grow. He could hardly wait for the apples to be ripe. In watching his apple trees, he also noticed several boys walking past those apple trees, waiting for the apples, themselves. Knowing that if he didn't watch, those boys would steal all his apples, he went out one day and said, "Boys, if you'd like, you can have an apple off of these trees, but you can have one, and only one."

As the days passed, he saw the boys looking and walking around the trees. They were going to choose which apple they would eat. They walked, and looked, and thought, waiting for the time when those apples would be ripe. Finally, the day came when the boys chose which apple they would eat. They did so, and enjoyed every bite. The man also got to enjoy his harvest of apples.

What can we learn from this story? We ought to learn that with God, as with the man who owned the apple trees, there are times when we have one, and only one option.

Marriage

Concerning the subject of marriage, God has told man that he can have one, and only one spouse with which to live for the rest of his life. He established this in the beginning (Gen. 2:18-25). Jesus said, "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:4-6). Notice please, Jesus spoke of one man and one woman living as husband and wife -- one and only one. If people today respected God's will concerning being married to one and only one, perhaps they would not be so quick to jump into marriage in a frivolous manner. Perhaps if they respected Matthew 19:4-6, being careful as to who they would choose for their marriage partner, there would not be a divorce rate of 50% in this country! Yes, when it comes to marriage, one can choose one and only one as a spouse for life (Matt. 19:4-6).

Remember, those boys in our story waited until the right time to choose which apple they wanted. They did not take bites out of many apples, deciding that they were not ripe enough, not big enough, etc. They thought and considered the apples because they knew they could have one and only one. Perhaps a correct understanding and application of God's will would slow some people down and they would be more considerate of who they are marrying before they make a tragic mistake!

Divorce And Remarriage

In connection with the above point, I understand that Christ has given us an exception in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. But, did you notice that He has given us one, and only one exception? Not just anything will sever the bond between husband and wife. Christ said fornication will do it, but that is the only exception to His rule of one man and one woman for life! And, when this tragedy occurs, there is one and only one person who has the right to remarry -- the innocent spouse! The guilty has no right to marry another. In the case of divorce, there is one and only one authorized reason for which one can divorce and remarry (Matt. 5:32). Let us never forget this, and respect the will of God.

The Church

Paul used the illustration of one husband and one wife to describe the Lord and His church (Eph. 5:23-33). Jesus has not joined Himself to, nor did He establish two, three, or any plurality of churches. He established one and only one church, just as the illustration of one husband for one wife declares! A careful reading of Ephesians 5 shows us that singular words such as "body," and "it," declare that there is but one church. Christ said He would build His "church" (Matt. 16:18). He was not building "churches," but one and only one "church."

The church is also described as the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24). Again, we read of one and only one body. This one body has one and only one head -- Christ (Col. 1:18). The New Testament speaks only of the Lord's church, and any other church is man-made, is headed by men, and is foreign to what is revealed in the Scriptures. Let us stay away from these, and be a part of the one and only one body of Christ, His church!

Plan Of Salvation

When we discuss the Lord's plan of salvation, we find one and only one plan! To hear most people today, one might think that he/she could get to Heaven any way they wanted! Not so. There is a world of people who think that just being a good, moral person is enough to be saved. Some think that one can just pray to God, and the result will be salvation if they simply ask God for forgiveness. Still others look for their salvation inwardly, thinking that if they could achieve "inner peace," then this is all that is necessary. Besides these, it seems that there are untold numbers of inventions men have offered to bring about salvation. In light of all these things, some will say that it is your "choice" as to what you will do. Is this what the Bible has said?

In truth, none of these things we have mentioned will save men. There is but one way to be saved, and it is the way that has been taught since Christ resurrected. We find that those who follow the Lord's plan for salvation have: 1) Believed in Jesus as the Son of God. 2) Repented of their sins. 3) Confessed Christ as the Son of God. 4) Been baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:36-38, 41; 8:5, 12, 35-39; 10:34-35, 48; 16:30-34; 22:16). Yes, living a moral life and praying to God are important, but at no time in the Bible does God say a person is saved based on his/her morality. Nor does He tell us to pray for salvation. We find one and only one plan of salvation mentioned in the book of Acts. The question is will we or will we not submit to it?

Standard For Living

In all aspects of life, there is one and only one standard that we must follow, and that is God's word! Paul taught that we are to live in accordance with the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17). Of course, this is only possible when we know His word (Jn. 12:48). Peter said that if we are going to speak, we need to "speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11). Therefore, such things as the Koran, the Book of Mormon, denominational creed books, Masonic writings, the sayings of Confucius, etc., are not the source of truth, nor are they our standard for living in this world. There is one and only one standard -- the Bible! How do I know this? It is because God's word is the truth (Jn. 17:17), incorruptible seed (I Pet. 1:23), and light (Ps. 119:1-5). Nothing else deserves such descriptions. Do we appreciate the fact that one and only one thing has the power to save men (Rom. 1:16)?

Friends, if we spend our years immersed in the works and doctrines of men, we will have wasted our lives. There is one and only one thing that God has given which fills the hungry soul (Matt. 5:6), strengthens the weak (Ps. 119:28), convicts and exposes sin (Eph. 5:11; II Tim. 4:2), purifies the soul (I Pet. 1:22), and can lead us to Heaven. That is God's word, our standard for living! Are we following that one standard?

Conclusion

Yes, at times, God allows men options and choices, but on many occasions, God has said there is one and only one option that is authorized to men. May we respect God's will and follow what He has said that we can see Heaven together one day.

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