Simply stated, the key to attaining salvation is OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD WITH FAITH IN HIS SON. The true Christian “walk” is all about the Word–the Standard by which God will judge every man (Mat. 12:48). On judgment day each individual’s future will be determined by the answer to one question: WHAT DID I DO WITH GOD’S WORD? A careful study of John 12:44-50 will bear this out. Here we find Jesus talking to those who had heard Him speak and had seen Him do many miracles but who refused to believe in Him. He told them that those who believed in Him also believed in His Father, and that when people “saw” Him they “saw” the Father–JESUS WAS GOD’S WILL EXPRESSED IN HUMAN FORM. THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WILL EXPRESSED IN WRITTEN FORM. It is for this reason that Jesus is called “the Word” (Jn. 1:1-4,14/Rev. 19:13). He went on to tell the people that He had come into the world as the Father’s “light” in order to show them the way out of darkness. That “light” (Word) of God would judge those who do not believe Him, who remain in darkness by disobeying that Word. God, Jesus said, had given Him every Word He spoke audibly to the Jews, every Word He had spoken to the Old Testament prophets and every Word He would speak to His apostles, whose writings form the doctrines of His church (Eph. 2:20).

The Lord makes it clear throughout the testaments that the Ten Commandments, which He had written in stone with His finger, constitute the His Father’s will and way for those who would be His people. Every Word He spoke to His messengers (prophets and apostles) relative to His direction for His people reflects the Ten Commandment Law. That every statement is in His eyes a commandment is brought out in Genesis 7:1-4. In verse one we read: “And the Lord SAID to Noah ….” What He “said” involved animals he was to bring aboard the ark. Then in verse five we read: “And Noah did according to all that the Lord COMMANDED him.” Here God Himself shows us that each Word recorded in the Bible is in reality a commandment. He commands–His people obey. The Ten Commandments comprise a condensed version of the entire Bible.

In summary, just as being hired to do a job does not automatically produce a paycheck, loving God and man does not automatically produce salvation. The employee must do the work commanded by the employer in order to receive the promised compensation. By the same token, the convert must do the work commanded by the Lord in order to receive eternal life. That work consists of OBEYING TO HIS WORD. See Faith Versus Works. L.J.