Depending
on whom one asks and what denomination one belongs to the answer to the
question, “What must I do to be saved?” will vary. In this article an
attempt is made to appeal to the Scriptures for the answer to this
question. This article is the first installment of five. It is my prayer
and sincere hope that the reader will read, pause, ponder and profit.
When it
comes being saved from the eternal bonds of hell the Bible speaks of
several things that save. In this article one of those saving items will
be examined, “hearing.” Without hearing it is impossible to learn of
God’s precious and divine plan for mankind. It should be noted that
hearing in its proper context also includes reading (for the benefit of
the deaf). Despite the fact that hearing is an integral part in the
salvation of mankind there are many today that refuse to hear. In the
time that the minor prophet Zechariah prophesized there were some that
“turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears and would not listen.”
To this God responded that since the people refused to “hear” Him He would
not listen to the people’s pleas. (Zechariah 7:11-13) Since God would not
listen to the pleas of the people and the people would not heed God’s
commandments; destruction, condemnation and punishment would then be
inevitable.
As the
apostle Paul traveled in chains to Rome he tried frequently to persuade
the Jews to hear him and learn the truth concerning Jesus (Acts 28:20).
When Paul arrived at Rome he was allowed to preach to the leading Jews.
As he reasoned with them about the Christ using proof texts from Moses and
the prophets some listened and were persuaded while others left without
believing. To the latter group Paul said, “…you will keep on hearing, but
will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
27 for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they
scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes; lest they should see with
their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and
return, and I should heal them.” (Acts 28:26-27) This particular group
of people refused to reason and therefore they would not receive salvation
(Acts 28:28-31). Paul had written Timothy warning him that people would
get worse and would not want to listen (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Jesus, while on
earth taught that good hearing is the foundation or first step to building
a good foundation (C.f. Matthew 13:23; 7:24; 11:15; John 6:44-45). John
6:44ff teaches a very basic yet important principle: hear, learn and then
come to God.
It can be
plainly seen that without hearing it is no possible to obtain salvation.
Since hearing is important people ought to prepare themselves to hear.
The writer of proverbs said; “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15) The wise
preacher of Ecclesiastes teaches that it is prudent to be quite so that
one can hear (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, c.f. Habakkuk 2:20; James 1:19ff, Luke
8:15).
Not
everyone in the Bible gladly heard what the Lord and the apostles had to
say. Some became angry to the point of stoning earthen vessels for the
message delivered through them (Acts 7). There were some, though that
gladly heard the words of salvation: Ethiopian recognized the need to hear
the gospel message (Acts 8:30f), Cornelius obeyed the command to send for
Peter in order to hear “…words by which you and your household will be
saved” (Acts 10”33), the noble Bereans not only heard the gospel message
but they also compared what they heard to the scriptures (Acts 17:11), the
Thessalonians heard and received the gospel as the Word of God (1
Thessalonians 2:13). The message is clear: without hearing the Word of
God one cannot obtain salvation. Have you heard as God commands us to
hear?