Was the famous question of the jailer of Philippi, who stripped and guarded the apostle Paul and Silas in prison where they were locked up with the accusation he answer was “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved”. How many times do we ask what must we do to be saved and acquire Jesus salvation from the cruel bondage of sin and it’s last punishment and the answer is you must not do anything but believe only.

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Was the question of the Jewish ruler who was rich and very intellectual to the Lord Jesus Christ:

What must I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke18:18)

Now what draws our attention is that he is asking “What must I do to inherit” and the answer is there is nothing you must do to inherit, all what you must do is to accept the inheritance that became your lot and your part.Inheritance is neither bought nor sold and you do not need to do anything in order to enjoy it, you just enjoy it and use it.

Notice that this young man’s social position and his wealthy background did not fill the void in his heart but led him to a life full of worries without peace or security or guarantee wondering about his everlasting life (or his life after death) When the Lord Jesus saw that he wanted to do something in order to inherit eternal life he told him to live “Moses 10 commandments”

You shall not commit adultery you shall not murder you shall not steal you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor honor your father and your mother, etc …

All these I have kept since I was a boy, he said (Luke18 :20-21)

Although no one on earth could really live the 10 commandments not even Moses who received the tablets of laws. Jesus at that point didn’t comment at the matter but he asked the rich man to do something else which did appear much more difficult for him than following the 10 commandments, he said to him:

“Sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me” (Luke 18 :22)

Now what was the young man’s reaction? Remember he was ready to do anything in order to inherit the everlasting life but when Jesus asked him to sell everything and follow him we read “He was very sorrowful for he was very rich” (Luke 18:22-23)

My beloved there are two things that hinder our salvation: First: We think most of the times like this young man that we are following God’s commands and we are saved and that we’re going to heavens because we’re better than who are surrounding us. Second: We do not repent and follow the Lord’s voice when he says “follow me” but we sustain to our ways and keep our attitude. Money is not a sin by itself but: “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6 :10) As the love of the world will lead you to live for the world and “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John2 :15)

And now what do you intend to do?

The Lord Jesus has paid on Calvary the price for each and everyone he became obedient to death and despite so that to become the redeemer and the savior and consequently he asked us to receive him and to accept his redemption for us. Listen to him saying: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name” (John 1 :12 )

Now you need to stop and think for a while?

Think about your eternity Your present life and your life after death Think about the Lord Jesus who is coming again not as the crucified redeemer but as the judge of the universe to every single soul each according to his or her works Think about your life, is it filled with peace and joy or filled with fear sadness and oppression? Are you happy from within or you feel an inside void? Do not convince yourself by saying that life is bitter and this is what life is all about. Simply because it is not so. The reason of a miserable life is the absence of Jesus Christ from it. So let him come into your life now to have a true living relationship with him through his Holy Spirit. Hence, the second truth is: you must not do anything but receive what the Lord had done already for you.

Confess Your Sins

Regretting and repenting without confessing by mouth will not lead you to acquire the salvation and the total freedom from your sins and the bondage of your past life. We have to confess our sins with our mouth after a real regret and a real repentance that comes from the heart. We read according to the Scriptures : “That if you confess with your mouth (Jesus is Lord) and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved” which means he’s a living God who could save you and help you. (Romans 10:9)

“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John1:9)

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper but whoever confess and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverb 28:13)

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16)

Our best example for the life of repentance and confession is the life of the prophet David who confesses in Psalm 51 after falling in his sin by saying:

“Have mercy on me, O God according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.. hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.. create in me a pure heart, O God ,and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm51:1-10)