What Shall I Do?
by Stephen Bastin
If one assumes that the earth is
flat, then everything observed has to be interpreted in a way consistent with
that theory. Thus was born the
“Flat Earth Society!”
We laugh at such theories in our
modern world. After all, we know
better now.
Yet in religion there are theories
that fly in the face of all that can be observed and they are believed just as
readily as proponents of the “flat earth” believe their theory.
Consider the matter of
predestination as opposed to free will. Are
people able to make choices or is everything determined by God?
Were Augustine, Luther and Calvin right or did they completely
misinterpret the Bible?
Consider just a simple little
story from the life of Jesus. Mark
records it in chapter 10 beginning with verse 17.
“As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt
before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal
life?’”
According to Augustine, Luther and
Calvin there is nothing that he could do. God
decided before he was born whether he would have eternal life or eternal
condemnation. There is nothing that
this ruler nor anyone else could do to change the eternal decree of God.
The matter has been settled in heaven and there is nothing more to be
said.
According to Jesus, there is
something that the man could and should do.
Jesus reminds him of several of the commandments.
When he states, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth
up.,” Jesus instructs him further. “One
thing you lack: go and sell all you
possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come,
follow Me.’ But at these words he
was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much
property.”
The question asked was “What
shall I do to inherit eternal life?” When
Jesus says, “One thing you lack,” that
seems a clear indication that more was expected of this man than he had done.
There remained something that he ought to do.
If there was a lack on the part of
this rich man would we be safe in assuming that he would be saved in spite of
that lack? You may want to pass down
that path, but I would rather stand on the answer of Jesus.
“Go and sell” are imperatives. Jesus
does not make a suggestion. He is
not offering alternatives. Jesus
commanded.
Since Jesus commanded, the proper
understanding is that the man was capable of obeying or disobeying.
Nothing else makes sense. God
had not predetermined the outcome. The
choice lay before the rich man. Would
he obey Jesus or would he walk away? He
walked away grieving. Apparently he
wanted both his riches and eternal life, but he could not bear to part with his
riches!
The question, “What shall I
do?” appears often in scripture, either stated directly or implied.
Never is someone told there is nothing to do.
Never is it indicated that the choice has already been made by the Lord.
Always men are put in the position of obeying or disobeying with eternity
hanging in the balance.
Consider the challenge that Moses
set before the people of Israel before he died.
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set
before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.
So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.”
(Deut 30:19)
Joshua offered a similar challenge
to the next generation: “If it is
disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom
you will serve: whether the gods
which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the
Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord.” (Josh 24:15)
Many generations later, in the
days of Samuel, the people faced a choice and rejected the Lord.
“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in
regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they
have rejected Me from being king over them.’”
(1 Sam 8:7)
Continuing on into the New
Testament we find a similar situation addressed by Jesus.
“He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges
him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”
(John 12:48)
A passage from Joel 2:32 is quoted
several times in the New Testament. “And
it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be
delivered.” One of those times is
in the sermon that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost.
The sermon is in Acts 2:14-36. The
quotation is found in verse 21.
When the prophet says,
“Whoever,” the plain meaning would seem to be, whoever.
That is, it is not those predetermined by God who will be saved, but
“whoever calls on the name of the Lord.”
Peter expects that there may well
be people in his audience who will do such if they are properly informed.
The preacher, Peter, intends to inform them who the Lord is upon whom
they need to call and he intends to inform them exactly how they are to call
upon His name.
In verses 22-36 Peter preaches
about Jesus. He proclaims Jesus’
death, his resurrection and his ascension with appropriate proofs from the Old
Testament and his eyewitness testimony to the resurrection.
Peter concluded his sermon with
the statement, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that
God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
These were startling words to a crowd of Jews who had been involved in
the death of Jesus less than two months before.
Peter’s proofs from the Old Testament were undeniable.
Their hearts were pricked.
In anguish they cried out,
“Brethren, what shall we do?”
Again, we have the question about
“doing.” Some would say,
“There is nothing to do. We are
saved by grace alone.” Others
might respond, “Pray, confessing you are a sinner and ask Jesus to come into
your heart.” Obviously both
answers cannot be correct since one states there is nothing to do and the other
offers something to do.
Neither answer is the one given by
Peter. “Repent, and each of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you
will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
(Acts 2:38)
Do you agree with Peter or with
modern day theology? Your salvation
hangs in the balance.