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Got
Saved? The
above saying is a take off of the “Got Milk?” commercials that ran a number
of years ago. While it is asking an important question, I have a problem with
its implications. It
sounds as if one “gets” saved instead of one being saved. There are some
that believe one is saved when the Holy Spirit comes into their hearts and
regenerates them. Calvinism teaches that salvation is wholly of God and man is
passive in his own salvation. I compare it to getting a cold or virus. In such
cases we are passive in getting a cold, it just happens. Man is not passive in
being saved, but active. Jesus
told the Jews they had to believe He was the Son of God in order to be saved.
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not
believe I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8.24). Later in the same
discourse Christ says we are His disciples if we abide in His word, John 8.31. On
the Day of Pentecost, Peter told the audience they had crucified the Son of God,
and He is now at the right hand of God, Acts 2. It was then they asked, “Men
and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2.37). Peter did not turn around and
say, you have to get saved, he told them what to do in order to be saved.
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”
(Acts 2.38). Throughout the Book of Acts, people heard the word of God and were
told what to do so as to be saved. The Philippian Jailer asked what he had to do
to be saved, Acts 16.30. Paul did not say, “You have got to be saved” but he
told the jailer “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you
and your household” (Acts 16.31). After further teaching the jailer and his
household were baptized. He was not passive in his salvation, he did not wait
for a sign or feeling from God, he heard the word and obeyed.
If
one is to be saved it will be due to God’s plan of salvation and man’s
obedience to His word. Do
not think for a moment that one day you will just wake up and realize you are
saved. Do not wait for some mysterious sign or feeling telling you what to do in
order to be saved. In the Book of Acts we read of people being saved and not
“getting saved.” On the Day of Pentecost Peter said to be saved from this
perverse generation, Acts 2.40. The same applies to us today. Dennis
Tucker |