What Must You Do To Be Saved?
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Today, we’re going to look at some interesting passages. So, a basic principle to studying the Bible is using the clear passages of Scripture to shed light on the unclear passages of Scripture. You take what is firm and established and use that to illuminate strange, difficult, or bizarre passages of Scripture. So today, now that we’ve gone over many examples of the “clear” types of passages when it comes to our salvation, we’re going to dive into some strange and difficult passages in our Bibles that talk about Salvation. Let’s jump in.
1 Tim 2:15
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Based on everything we’ve talked about so far, why does v. 15 stand out? What makes this challenging?
Ladies, How can you imagine this verse has been used in the past about what women MUST do if they are to be good Christian women?
Let’s read this passage in context.
Read vv. 11-15
We will talk about this verse again in the future when we get to women in the church. But let’s look at the implications of this passage
Where in the Plan of Salvation does it say that women must bear children in order to be saved? Notice how it doesn’t.
So then why is this here? The answer is "We don’t know."
So just exploring the implications of this passage, I’m going to follow some of our own church logic with this passage here for a second. Many people will point to v. 11-12 and say “See women cannot and must not serve in any capacity where a man is under them.” They say “Yup this passage is hard-core scripture and cannot be revoked." But is it fair to say that when v. 15 comes up, most people say “Hey woah no! Salvation is through Christ alone, not on if you can bear children or not”
Think about the implications for women who can’t have kids
So you see the problem here. Vv. 12 we might say "Yes authoritative scripture," but then look at v. 15 and say, "well no that’s not what it’s saying, that passage isn’t authoritative in that regard."
We will talk more about this again in a few weeks, but you see the double standard here. I don’t have an answer to this question, but we do need to sit with it and it’s tension. No, I personally don’t believe that women must bear children to be saved. Especially when it’s a reason outside of your control. You can be super faithful, but “oops sorry, you didn’t have kids, you can’t be saved” does not reflect the overall purpose of the free gift of salvation to all who call Christ lord.
Romans 10:9-13 + Joel 2:32
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
What is the difficulty here in v. 9. What specifically does this verse say we need to do in order to be saved?
It says that all we have to do is profess with your mouth and that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Do you see why some denominations point to passages such as these for their justification that baptism isn’t needed. Again not that I agree, but do you at least understand why?
How does this fit into our previous conversations about the plan of salvation?
Why do you think this passage was written this way? Why leave out Baptism?
Luke 10:25-28
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘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.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
What stands out in this passage that is difficult?
It's ambiguous as to the differences between “eternal life” vs “salvation.” Are they the same? Are the different and distinct? Don't those who reject Christ and choose Hell technically live forever in eternal separation from God? There's also no mention of baptism. It also begs the question of "Who is my neighbor?"
How do you reconcile this passage with what we’ve talked about so far?
How do you reconcile the difference (if there even is one) between eternal life and salvation?
Luke 19:9-10
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 the lost.”
What is difficult here?
The phrase “because this man is a son of Abraham” Not because of salvation through Jesus.
Now yes you could argue that Jesus hadn’t died yet, so you could get salvation by other means, but then you beg the question of if the people of Israel are still God’s chosen people and if God’s promises of salvation still apply without Jesus.
Read
Romans 11:28-29 - Israel is loved because of their ancestors and God's gift is irrevocable.
Gen. 17:7-8– God’s Everlasting covenant with Israel
Deut. 30:4-5– Talks about a remnant and a deliverance of the Israelites.
Isaiah 43:6-7/ Amos 9:11-12– Both passages promise a remnant/deliverance.
Zech. 12:8-10– Fulfillment of this prophecy has not yet happened?
Take Away
I don’t have the answers. But it’s important that you understand these difficult passages because they are in our Bibles. I don’t know what to do with them. I have my own thoughts, but that’s Joshua talking. What is important is if you are Being a Disciple and Making Disciples. We cannot know for certain who is or isn’t saved. We can look at and point at tests and factors that indicate one’s standing with God, but God is the final judge. What is most important for us is to continue to live like Jesus lived, Love like Jesus Loved,
Be disciples, make Disciples
Following Jesus, being formed by Jesus, and being on mission with Jesus
Notice, Name, Know.
How has this conversation impacted you?
What will you do to live out our instructions to be who Jesus wants us to be?