by R. L. Morrison

There are some questions many people consider great, and seek answers to them. For example: "How can I make a million dollars?" "What can I do to regain the health I once enjoyed?" "What can I do to gain fame and honor in the entertainment world (or perhaps the political realm)?" Undoubtedly, many people consider these questions great and important!

However, there is another realm in life in which a greater question than these needs to be asked. These things all pertain to life in the flesh. The attainment of any one of them is difficult, and yet they are fleeting. It passes with life, or perhaps even before life is gone. The greatest question one can ask has to do with spirituality, a quality which does not fade with passing time, when properly nourished. The answer to this great question, "What must I do to be saved?", effects ones manner of life, both here and hereafter. The answer is not difficult to find or to understand. Yet, it seems that more people are concerned with how to make more money or gain fame, than to consider HOW to gain eternal life!

The Bible is the only reliable source of information when we begin to search for the answer to this important question. We have all sinned against God (Rom. 3:23), therefore God has the right to set the terms of forgiveness. This has been done, and we find God's plan for our forgiveness in the New Testament.

But the question itself, "What must I do to be saved?", implies that man is lost. Only one who is lost can be saved. This agrees with what Paul wrote, "All have sinned." One's own sin becomes a barrier that separates that one from God. The wages of sin are death; not physical death, for people who are reconciled to God die also. This death, the result of unforgiven sin, means one is eternally lost, without hope of reconciliation with God.

But notice the question again. "What must I do to be saved?" This places responsibility on the person who asks the question! Some say there is nothing you can do. God has done it all for you. Others reply, "Only believe. Trust Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior." These are NOT God's answers to the question. These answers have their origin elsewhere. All one needs to do to learn God's answer is to examine a few passages of scripture. Let us do so!

When the men on the Pentecost of Acts 2 heard the apostles declare Jesus to be the Son of God and the Savior of men, many asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter, one of the twelve, answered their question. "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" (vs. 38). Hearing the answer, and convinced that what they heard was true, about 3000 of them were baptized the same day. In their obedience, they received the forgiveness of past sins and were added to the church. Here is the Bible answer, and result of the greatest question they ever asked.

In Acts 9:6, we find the account of a question asked by Saul of Tarsus. He was a zealous Pharisee, and had been guilty of persecuting the people of God even unto death. As he journeyed to Damascus to seek out others to persecute, a light from heaven shined about him. He fell to the earth and heard a voice from heaven say, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul asked a question: "Who art thou, Lord?" Upon being informed that Jesus spoke to him, he asked the greatest question, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Saul was told to arise, go into the city and there he would be told what to do. When the Lord sent Ananias to tell Saul what to do, Saul received the answer: "And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Here again is a Bible answer to the greatest question man can ask!

In Acts 16:30, we find this great question asked again. The Philippian jailor asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." He spoke to this jailor the word of the Lord, who then took Paul and Silas from the prison, and was baptized the same hour of the night. And again the same answer is given to the same important question.

But Jesus said, "Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 17:21). These facts should convince anyone that a sinner must DO something to be saved.

Consider something more about this question: It is personal! It is not a question of what must my parents or my friends do! It is not a question of what must God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit do! The question is: What must I do?

Remember, we are not interested in man's answer, nor one's conscience, or feelings, or sincere beliefs. Conscience is not a safe guide, feelings are deceptive, and one can be sincere, yet wrong.

The New Testament, revealed by Jesus Christ through the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, is God's message of salvation to us today. See Heb. 1:1-4; Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 2:11-13. This message of salvation, the New Testament, provides us with all things which pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3); is the perfect (complete) law of liberty (James 1:25); is called the engrafted word which is able to save your souls (James 1:21); and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

What then is the answer the scriptures give to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. And they spake unto him all the words of the Lord, and to all that were in his house, and he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his straightway" (Acts 16:30-33). Jesus had previously said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:15-16). When the Jailer asked the question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul told him to believe the word of the Lord. When he heard it, he believed AND obeyed the commands of the Lord, being baptized for the remissions of sin.

We have considered some Bible answers as to what is "The Greatest Question." It would seem that most religious people would answer the question in the same way. However, circumstances indicate that such is not the case. True, many people are religiously minded, but the world seems to have a greater attraction for them. And many of the churches of today seem to be more interested in man's physical well being than in his spiritual development. This can be seen by observing what they do. The worship of some of them is undoubtedly intended for pleasure. Some make a "fun-gathering" of worship. They provide music, many kinds, from a soloist, to a symphony orchestra. The sermon is designed to make the listeners "feel good." Fun, food and frolic seem to be the order of the day. One seldom, if ever, hears the question, "What must I do to be saved?" If it should be mentioned, it is very doubtful if the Bible answer would be given.

People (and churches) seem to be more interested is satisfying their interest in the "here and now" than in thinking about eternity. They seem to think that anything they do in worship or service will be acceptable to God. Even some brethren have adapted a policy of "there is no pattern. There are no instructions that tell us HOW to worship. We must recognize this and change our practice, or the church will die." This idea is rank heresy! The church ceases to exist when it turns away from the truth, to the ways of the world.

We need to carefully consider: "What is the greatest question?" It deals with both time and eternity; and friend, we are involved with both!

Are you prepared for eternity?