July 6, 2016 - Jesus said, “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:47-48).
Jesus also said, “But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved” (Jn. 5:34). So what can we conclude from this? We can conclude that anything Jesus said about salvation or that saves us, is indeed something that is connected with salvation. On the surface of that statement I know of no one that would disagree with it. If Jesus said it then it must be true, right?
Well lets make some application. Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ...5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3,5). It is also written, “...The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mk. 1:15).
And lo and behold that is what His apostles taught as well (Mk. 6:12). You see repentance is a condition of salvation. Simon had to repent in Ac. 8:22-24. Peter also would have to repent at Paul’s' rebuke in Gal. 2:11-14. And the young man in 1 Cor. 5:1-5 would have needed to and was required to repent. Even the church at Ephesus was going to have to repent or lose its status as a church (Rev. 2:5). We cannot live and do things our way and still be saved.
Not only did Jesus say repentance was for salvation He also said baptism was to. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). Without it the kingdom is not available to us, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ...5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3,5). While some religious circles deny that this is baptism and the water is our fleshly birth (which is what Nicodemus thought) it is baptism. The “again” is with the water and the Spirit, a spiritual birth.
Peter also said, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Ac. 2:38). Did not Peter teach the sayings of Jesus? Remember when Jesus said, “but these things I say, that ye might be saved”. Who will disagree with Jesus? If Jesus said it, it must be true.
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