Signing On!

The story has been told of a company attempting to start a new pension plan for its employees; a plan requiring 100 percent participation. All except one employee had signed up and no amount of argument or persuasion could get him to change his mind. Finally, the president of the company called the man into his office and said, “Here is a copy of the proposed pension plan and here is a pen. Sign up or you’re fired!” Immediately the man picked up the pen and signed his name. The president of the company then said, “I don’t understand why you refused to sign until now. What was your problem?” The man replied, “You’re the first person who explained it to me clearly.”

There are many who refuse to accept God’s Will and the need for believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. It seems that no amount of argument or reasoning is able to convince them of the need to “sign on” in the sense of accepting what God has provided to take care of man’s greatest need -- the salvation of the soul. What is it that CLEARLY must be understood?

Peter, responding to Jewish officials with regard to the power and authority by which a man had been healed, stated the following.

“(8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, (9) if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, (10) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead -- by him this man is standing before you well. (11) This JESUS is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. (12) and there is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE, for there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given among men BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.’” ( Acts 4:8-12 ESV)

The thing that must be CLEARLY recognized is that without JESUS we are lost! Living a good life and even believing in God (note James 2:19) is not enough. Jesus came so the world could BE SAVED THROUGH HIM. ( John 3:17) He came to seek and to SAVE THE LOST. ( Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15) The lost condition must be CLEARLY recognized and the fact JESUS IS THE ONLY MEANS OF SALVATION.

In response to those who asked, “what must we do?” ( Acts 2:37), Peter pointed to the need of repenting and being baptized “in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST” for the forgiveness of sins. ( Acts 2:38)

When a Philippian jailor asked, “what must I do to be saved?”, he was told by Paul that he needed to believe IN THE LORD JESUS. ( Acts 16:31) He did believe and he and his household were baptized the night.

Jesus pointed out that those who do not believe “in the name of the ONLY SON OF GOD” are condemned already. ( John 3:18)

In Mark’s account of the great commission Jesus pointed out that whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. ( Mark 16:16)

To the church at Rome Paul associated salvation with confessing that “JESUS IS LORD” and believing God raised Him from the dead. (Rom. 10:9)

And when Peter pointed to the example of Noah and his family being saved by water, he stated how baptism corresponds to that by saving “through the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST.” ( 1 Peter 3:20-21)

CLEARLY a proper focus on JESUS CHRIST is necessary because salvation is found IN HIM. (note again Acts 4:12) God’s plan of redemption in Christ is the one to “sign on” in the sense of accepting it as the means of our salvation. Offering eternal hope it is the best “pension plan” we could possibly have.

Have a great day ACCEPTING AND SHARING THE PLAN GOD HAS PUT IN PLACE!
Carl

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