What must we do to be saved?

Some skeptics have suggested that there are numerous ways that the bible says that we might be saved. There are probably more but these should be sufficient. Let us summarise some of them.

Obeying the commandments

Mat 19:17 obey the commandments."

(Luke 10:25-28 NIV) "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Comment: none of us does obey the commandments, it is a theoretical possibility only.

Faith, believing etc

(Luke 7:50 NIV) "Your faith has saved you; "

(John 3:14-15 NIV) everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

(John 6:40 NIV) everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him

(Acts 16:30-31 NIV) "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

Believe and be baptised

(Mark 16:16 NIV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,

Call on the name of the Lord

(Acts 2:21 NIV) And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

Confess Jesus as Lord and believe in the resurrection

(Rom 10:9-10 NIV) 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. {

Grace through faith

(Eph 2:8-9 NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.

Childbearing

(1 Tim 2:15 NIV) But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Faith plus works

(James 2:24 NIV) You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Now to make sense of all this God has gifted his church with evangelists whose job it is to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to those outside of the church. To those within the church there are teachers who explain God's word to them (Eph 4:1). This is good common sense, after all we send our children to school and university to learn from those already knowledgable in a subject. Jesus was known as 'Teacher' or Rabbi.

(Eph 4:11 NIV) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

What message did NT preachers preach?

In order to clarify what a person needs to do to get saved I want to firstly distinguish between teaching, which is intended for believers or disciples and preaching, which is intended for those who are not yet believers. It is hardly surprising that an unbeliever finds the teaching, which is intended for believers, to be confusing. Peter comments about Paul’s writing “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” 2 Pet 3:16.

If we look at the public preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, the disciples, Peter and Paul we find that the response demanded to the hearers of the message is reasonably consistent. Namely to repent for the forgiveness of sins, repent meaning to change ones mind (metanoeo:G3340). John the Baptist also says that we should produce fruit in keeping with repentance and then gives interesting examples. In Acts 26:20 Paul says that he “preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds”. We should also remember that repentance is not just turning away from doing bad it includes doing good. As an example Paul teaches that the thief should no longer steal but should work so that he may have something to share with those in need (Eph 4:28). In Paul’s instructions to Titus he tells him to tell the new converts in Crete to be ready to do whatever is good (Titus 3:1, see also verses 8 and 14). The teaching to do good is common to Jesus, John, James, Peter and Paul (Luke 6:35, Gal 6:10, Eph 2:10, 1 Tim 6:18, Heb 13:16, James 1:27, 1 Pet 3:11, 1 John 3:17).

Usually those who heard the word and who believed were also baptised. See Acts 2:38, 2:41, 8:12, 8:36, 9:18, 10:47, 16:15, 16:33, 18:8, 19:5. We should also note that the content of the message would vary according to the audience, for example to the Jews (Acts 2:14-40), to the Greeks (Acts 17:16-32). However for both Jews and Greeks the requirement is the same.

Preaching:

John the Baptist:

(Mat 3:2 NIV) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

(Mark 1:4 NIV) And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.{8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.{9} The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." {10} "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. {11} John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." {12} Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" {13} "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. {14} Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

Jesus:

Mat 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

(Mark 1:14-15 NIV) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. {15} "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

(Luke 5:31-32 NIV) Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {32} I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

(Luke 11:32 NIV) The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

(Luke 13:2-3 NIV) Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? {3} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

(Luke 24:46-47 NIV) He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The repentance of Zacchaeus

(Luke 19:1-10 NIV) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. {2} A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. {3} He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. {4} So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. {5} When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." {6} So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. {7} All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" {8} But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." {9} Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. {10} For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Disciples:

(Mark 6:12 NIV) They went out and preached that people should repent.

Peter:

(Acts 2:37-38 NIV) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" {38} Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 3:19 NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

(Acts 10:42-43 NIV) He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. {43} All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Paul:

We should note in Paul’s preaching that when he preached to the Jews, his message was that Jesus is the Christ. However in general his preaching included repentance. (Acts 20:21 NIV) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

As to content Paul says that he preached Christ crucified:

(1 Cor 1:21-25 NIV) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, {23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Later Paul says what is of first importance, i.e. that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised on the third day.

(1 Cor 15:2-9 NIV) By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. {3} For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, {5} and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. {6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. {7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, {8} and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. {9} For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Summaries of Paul’s preaching are as follows:

Acts 9:20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

(Acts 16:30-33 NIV) He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. {33} At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.

(Acts 17:24-31 NIV) "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. {25} And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. {26} From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. {27} God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. {28} 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' {29} "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. {30} In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. {31} For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

(Acts 18:4-8 NIV) Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. {5} When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. {6} But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." {7} Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. {8} Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

(Acts 20:21 NIV) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

(Acts 26:20 NIV) First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.

We can summarise the NT message as preached by the apostles as – repent and believe the gospel, which is that Christ died for our sins and rose again. Those who accept the word should get baptised as a public declaration of their acceptance of the message.

The repentance of the Thessalonians

(1 Th 1:8-10 NIV) The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, {9} for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, {10} and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

They turned to God

They turned away from idols

They served the living and true God

The source of their salvation was Jesus

The repentance of the Ninevites:

(Jonah 1:1-2 NIV) The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: {2} "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

(Jonah 3:4-10 NIV) On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." {5} The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. {6} When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. {7} Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. {8} But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. {9} Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." {10} When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

Their wickedness was great and they would be destroyed by God

They believed God, through his messenger Jonah

They fasted

They called urgently to God

They gave up their evil and violent ways

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion on them and did not destroy them

The repentance of the Romans

(Rom 6:15-23 NIV) What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! {16} Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? {17} But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. {18} You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. {19} I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. {20} When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. {21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! {22} But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. {23} For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

They used to be slaves to sin

used to offer the parts of their body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness

wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted

set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness

ashamed of their old sinful actions

slaves to God

Repentance is an elementary teaching:

(Heb 6:1-2 NIV) Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, {2} instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

What about the thief on the cross?

(Luke 23:39-43 NIV) One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" {40} But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? {41} We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." {42} Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." {43} Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

His confession is a model prayer and an example of repentance and faith:

• He rebuked his sinful companion
• He publicly confessed his own sin
• He confessed Christ's innocence
• He exhibited great faith in Christ's resurrection
• He recognised the kingship of Jesus
• He got an immediate response

Clearly he did not live long enough to do good deeds or get baptised. He did the main work that God requires of us, which is to believe in the one he has sent, Jesus Christ.

(John 6:28-29 NIV) Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" {29} Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Repentance in the OT

(Isa 55:6-9 NIV) Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. {7} Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. {8} "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. {9} "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isa 1:15-20 NIV) When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood;
{16} wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
{17} learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
{18} "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. {19} If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; {20} but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Ezekiel

(Ezek 18 NIV) The word of the LORD came to me: {2} "What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: "'The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? {3} "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. {4} For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
{5} "Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. {6} He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or lie with a woman during her period. {7} He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. {8} He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between man and man. {9} He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.
{10} "Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things {11} (though the father has done none of them): "He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor's wife. {12} He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things. {13} He lends at usury and takes excessive interest. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head.
{14} "But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things: {15} "He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife. {16} He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. {17} He withholds his hand from sin and takes no usury or excessive interest. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live. {18} But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people. {19} "Yet you ask, 'Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?' Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. {20} The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
{21} "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. {22} None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. {23} Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
{24} "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die. {25} "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? {26} If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die.
{27} But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. {28} Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. {29} Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust? {30} "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. {31} Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? {32} For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Repentance leads to a change in our attitude as well as our deeds.

Once I thought that I was a good man with no need to repent, now I see that my good deeds were worthless before God

Once I thought that God was a cruel sadist, now I am thankful that he had mercy on me.

Once I was a thief, now I have enough to give to those in need

Once I thought that I had made it, I had a beautiful wife, nice house and car, good job, people looked up to me, now I realise that my heart was empty

Once I persecuted the people of God, now I am persecuted

Once I thought nothing about the poor, now I give to the poor

Once I hated God, now I obey him

While repentance is our response, it is not the basis of our salvation.

The basis of our salvation is that Christ died for our sins, repentance is the only proper response to this. The good news is that today God does not count our sins against us, we can still be reconciled to God. Now we are living in the time of God's favour towards sinners. The reason for this is that Christ became sin for us, so that we could be reconciled to God today.

(2 Cor 5:18-21 NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: {19} that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. {20} We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. {21} God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 6:1-2 NIV) As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. {2} For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Peter puts it in similar terms "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Pet 3:18) In other words Christ died that we can be reconciled to a holy God. This should result in bad men becoming good.

(1 Pet 2:22-24 NIV) "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." {23} When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. {24} He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

The alternative is that we are judged for our own sins and bear the punishment for our own sins.

Paul reminds the Corinthian church of the gospel that was preached to them, and which they had received, and on the basis of which they had taken their stand. Namely that Jesus Christ had died for their sins, was buried and was raised on the third day-- this fact of Jesus resurrection was witnessed by more than five hundred people.

(1 Cor 15:1-8 NIV) Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. {2} By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. {3} For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, {5} and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. {6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. {7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, {8} and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

He goes on to say that "if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith". (1 Cor 15:14). Ultimately the basis of the Christian faith rests on historical facts. If Christ has not been raised from the dead then "our preaching is useless and so is your faith". Later Paul says "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.' " (1 Cor 15:32).

What about baptism?

While in the case of the thief on the cross and death-bed conversion, baptism is well nigh impossible.Under normal circumstances it is:

Demanded by scripture (Mark 16:16,Acts 2:38 )

A public declaration of faith in Christ (Acts 2:41)

A first act of obedience to the gospel and Jesus (Acts 2:41)

Identifying oneself with the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom 6:31, Cor 15:29 )

Jesus himself was baptised to give us an example to follow (Mat 3:13).

Weak faith?

What if you have weak faith, you want to believe but cannot?

We have the example of the man who cried out to Jesus "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24 We have the example of Thomas who said "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:25) Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:27). Jesus also said "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29 ) John continues by saying: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. {31} But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31) To those who are weak in faith, Jesus would say "though your faith is weak, it is sufficient for me". It is not our faith that is so important, rather it is the object of our faith. If the death of His Son on the Cross is accepted by the Father it should be accepted by us. It is Finished. The Son has done it, the Father has accepted it and we should embrace it and rejoice in it.

What about confessing the Lord?

What we say before men is important because it reveals our heart. If we acknowledge Jesus before men, he will acknowledge us before the angels of God.

(Rom 10:9-10 NIV) 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.

(2 Tim 2:19 NIV) Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

(Luke 12:8-9 NIV) "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. {9} But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

The thief on the cross confessed Jesus before men, and two thousand years later we still read about it.

What about good works?

(Eph 2:8-10 NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast. {10} For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Paul makes it clear that we are saved by grace, through faith, for good works. The same faith that saves will produce good works or deeds as James says (James 2:14-18). Any faith that does not produce good deeds is not true faith.

A thief who responds to the gospel should stop stealing and work so that he can provide for those in need, that is repentance. If the thief on the cross could have he would have. Jesus who knows the heart accepted his response on the cross as a token of his action.

Further reading:

Gospel According to Jesus, The (Revised and Expanded Edition) by John F. MacArthur

The Gospel According to the Apostles : The Role of Works in the Life of Faith by John F. MacArthur