“SAY WHAT?”

When caught off guard by something that someone has said, I’ve found myself responding with the expression “Say what?”. I guess it’s just my lazy way of asking “What did you say?”. It got me to thinking about those who have a “Say what?” moment about something they heard from God’s word that they weren’t aware of or didn’t understand. Take note of a few examples.

There seems to be a growing number of people who believe all one has to do is acknowledge the existence of Jesus and they will be saved. Yet, Jesus makes it clear in Matthew’s gospel account, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21; see also Luke 6:46). Say what?

There is also the thought of many that baptism is not a requirement for salvation, but just a public expression of one’s faith. Yet, Peter makes it clear in Acts 2:38 that repentance and baptism are requirements for (not because of) “the remission of sins.” To bring the point home even more clearly, in his first letter Peter tells us baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21). Say what?

Finally, there are those who consider that once they are saved, they are always saved, and it doesn’t matter how they live their lives. Yet, we find Paul instructing the saints in Rome, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). Just a few verses later he speaks of “our old man” having been crucified with Jesus, “that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (vs. 6). Say what?

The list could go on an on, but this should suffice. Therefore, when “Say what?” occurs in regards to God’s word, may we as His children “always be ready to give a defense (answer – KJV) to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).