Introduction

Getting or being SAVED. A fundamental Christain State that will determine our fate at the “great white throne” judgement of Revelations 21. This post discusses the process of getting to that SAVED state. We will review the harmony between 2 verses in the Holy Bible, Acts 2:38 and Romans 10:9.

Harmony, the 2.A definition from “www.merriam-webster.com”: “pleasing arrangement of parts”. That is what God has inspired in the Holy Bible to help us achieve this SAVED state.

The Harmony

Apostle Peter is being quoted by Brother Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, (Acts) 2:38, and Apostle Paul is the writer of Romans 10:9. Some, well I know I have struggled with what might appears to be 2 paths to the SAVED state. But are they speaking of 2 different paths? In a previous post we started a discussion on “context”.

In context, Apostle Peter in Acts 2:38 is responding to the crowd’s question concerning what to do after he has convinced them that the root of our salvation is faith in Jesus, God’s Christ, our Saviour of the world. The crowd’s confession of their faith in Jesus is their desire to take action. And Peter gives them what Jesus Christ gave him to give, using his “keys of the kingdom of heaven”, see section below.

In context, Apostle Paul in Romans 10:9 is re-emphasizing the root of our salvation, faith in God’s finished work in Jesus, God’s Christ, our Saviour. Apostle Paul, in previous chapters in this Book of Romans has already written about the keys” Peter speaks of in Acts 2:38. Repentance, baptism, and the Holy Spirit have already emphasized by Apostle Paul. So, in chapter 10 he wants the reader to grasp the root of our salvation, faith in Jesus, God’s Christ, our Saviour.

The state of being SAVED, starts and never ends with of our faith in Jesus Christ. But that faith without works or deeds is dead according to the Book of James chapter 2. So, during this state of being SAVED, a Christian’s works affirms their faith.

The “keys of the kingdom of heaven”

In Book of Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus says to Apostle Peter, “18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [g]prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [h]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.“¹

Apostle Peter is not the author of the Holy Bible book Acts of the Apostles, (Acts) but he is a significant character in first few chapters. In chapter 2, he exercises the authority that Jesus gave him Matthew 16 above. He preaches the first sermon after he, the other Apostles, and other believers received the baptism by Holy Ghost that Jesus promised in Acts chapter 1.

In Acts 2:36 Peter affirms that God has made Jesus to be both our Lord and Saviour. To this, Brother Luke, the author of Acts says the people asked, “what shall we do?“.

So, after seeing their saving faith, Peter uses his keys and establishes the 2nd works of our Christian Faith. “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit“².

Conclusion

All the Holy Bible leads us to saving faith in Jesus.

1. Copied from Matthew 16 NKJV (biblehub.com). “The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.” ↩︎
2. copied from Acts 2 NKJV (biblehub.com). “The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.” ↩︎