SAVED AND STAYING SAVED
Jesus saved or rescued a woman caught in adultery; but told her to go and sin no more. (John 8:1-11). The biblical Word of God said, “God did not send His Son into the world [in the form of flesh] to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:17; Philippians 2:6-8).
THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO BE SAVED ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
John 8:1-11 tells a story about a woman caught in adultery, by which Jesus teaches what people need to do to be saved from sin.
Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus whom they claimed was caught in adultery. They said the law of Moses said she should be stoned to death. But they asked Jesus, “so what do you say?”
But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
7When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” 8And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.
9When they heard this, b they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. 10Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? d Has no one condemned you?”
11“No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
Jesus Christ, is “the author and finisher of our faith” concerning salvation from sins (Hebrews 12:2). The Lord tells people:
- “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
- “If we say we have no sin, [like the Pharisees who slipped away when Jesus wrote on the ground] we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). For “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)
- “If we confess our sins, [like the woman who committed adultery] he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO STAY SAVED ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
The Bible shows that to stay saved believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need to overcome besetting sins. The Bible tells us we all have sin “that so easily besets” us; but it advises us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1). But Jesus lets us know we can do nothing apart from him (John 15:5). Just as Jesus rescued and forgave the adulterous woman for her besetting sin, she need his spiritual help to “go and sin no more.” We need the Lord’s love and help as well although the sin that easily hinders us may be different.
The apostle Paul let us know he recognized his need of the Lord’s help in dealing with the sin that caused him problems in serving God as he wanted. But the apostle learned that because of his faith in the Lord, God “delivers me through Jesus Christ” (Romans 17:21-25). God delivers all true believers in Jesus from their sins by his loving grace and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 3:16; John 14:15-17).
Believers need to study the God-inspired written words of God to be complete, “thoroughly equipped” as servants of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:15).
There is a need for believers to pray. Jesus said people “ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1). “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death” (Hebrews 5:7). But in wanting to please God and save people, he prayed to the Father “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42, God enabled him to die on a cross in agony to save believers from eternal death (John 3:16).
But being resurrected, “He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them (Hebrews 7:25). And when he returns, he will give believers sinless bodies and take them to live with him in heaven forever (John 14:3)
