There are scores of scriptures that teach us what God requires of us before we can receive salvation.  One of the most important is in Acts 2:37-38.  This is the first step in God’s plan of salvation for us. 

On the first Pentecost after Christ had gone back to heaven, the Apostles, Jews, and devout men from many nations were gathered at Jerusalem  to observe this holyday.  Peter had preached a powerful sermon about Jesus, and in verse 37 “…they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “men and brethren, what shall we do?”  then peter said unto them---- “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  There were about three thousand people baptized on that same day."

The New Testament Church began on that day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.  These people knew, I’m sure, that this was the beginning of a new life of practicing righteousness.  They were aware that repentance and baptism was not the only thing that was required for salvation.

Of all the steps that we must take toward God’s Kingdom, let’s ask: “what is the MOST IMPORTANT thing that God requires of us before we receive salvation?”   After that first step we must begin to rid our lives of sin.  There are many definitions of sin in the bible:  James 4:17 “To him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.” Romans 14:23:  “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  I John 5:17:  “all unrighteousness is sin …”   You might say that all these definitions together are summed up in I John 3:4:  “ Whosoever commits sins, transgresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.”   Romans 3:20 -----“for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  So it is very obvious that the most important thing that God requires of us involves getting rid of sin and keeping God’s law.

We’ve seen the definition of sin, so now what is the definitions of God’s law?  Does God’s law mean only the ten commandments?  Is sin defined only as transgressing the ten commandments?  Romans 5:12: “wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

If God’s law is defined only by the ten commandments, which commandment did  Adam break that he  introduced sin into the world?  Let’s read verse 19 of Romans 5: “for as  by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” 

Adam’s sin was disobedience.  God had told them not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but they disobeyed and ate of it anyway.  So, as we are beginning to see a different definition of God’s law?  It certainly appears to go beyond ten commandments.  Now let’s read Romans 5:14:  “nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses----” (Moses received the ten commandments from God and gave them to the children of Israel).  So, Adam sinned before the ten commandments were given officially.  Because of sin, death entered into the world.  Although the ten commandment law had not been officially given until Sinai, it was a spiritual law and can be shown to have been in force long before it was given officially.  Malachi 2:6:  “The law of truth was in his mouth---.”  Verse 7 ---- “and they  should seek the law of at his mouth----.”  The law of God comes from his mouth.

So what is the most important thing that God requires of us before we can receive salvation?   Let’s conclude with Matt. 4:1-4:  “Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was  very hungry afterwards.  And when the tempter came to him, he said if you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  But he answered and said, 'It is written, man shall not  live by  bread alone, but by every word that proceed out of the mouth of God.'” 

God’s word is not only truth, (John 17:17) but it is also LAW.  Anything that God tells us to do, or not to do, is His law.  The most important thing that God requires of us before we can receive salvation is to live by every word that proceed out of His mouth.

 ~ Neil Wroten