Jesus Saves but You Must Make the Deposit

By Dale Decker In In Remembrance On March 27, 2016

A few years ago when I was preaching in Olathe, Ks. I read some graffiti in a bathroom that said “Jesus saves but you must make the deposit.” First let me say that Christians should never be involved in destroying someone’s property by writing graffiti on walls. However, the statement is thought provoking. When we decide to open a savings account in a bank, we realize that the account is worthless unless be make a deposit. Once a deposit is made, it then can begin to grow. Likewise, Jesus Christ is the author of our salvation. He is the source, the head, the one who made possible the salvation of each of us. That salvation is for every person who will receive it. In Mark 16:15 Jesus said;

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Jude 3 calls it a common salvation;

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation.”

Jude does not mean that the salvation is simply ordinary. He meant that it is equally offered to every human being. It is available to all on the same basis and denied to none who will comply with His conditions. We must remember, though, that Christ will only save those who obey Him. Being the author of salvation entitles Him to the right to lay down the principles and requirements of salvation. If one rejects His stipulations, then he rejects salvation and the author of salvation. So how does one go about making deposits for this salvation?

1. We must have faith in Christ as the Son of God. Jesus said in John 8:24:
   

   “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

   In Mark 16:16, Jesus said;

   “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

   Jesus said in John 3: 18—

   “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

2. Another deposit that we must make is repentance from sins. We cannot expect Jesus to save without turning from our sins. Both the Old and New Testament frequently pointed out the need to repent. Isaiah reminded the people that they must repent.
   

   “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

   In Luke 13:3, Jesus said; “unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost he told the people in Acts 2:38—

   “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”

3. If Jesus is to save, we must be baptized for the remission of sins. Bible baptism is not an ordinance of man, nor is it just a requirement of a church for membership. It is a command of our Lord Jesus for a specific purpose. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said,
   

   “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”

   Every detailed account of conversion in the New Testament shows baptism as a requirement of salvation. This truth is difficult for some to accept because baptism has been scoffed at by so many who claim to be preachers of the Word. Remember that it was Jesus who gave the command and He is the author of our salvation. I Peter 3:21 says:

   “There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

4. If Jesus is to save, our deposit is a daily walk with Him. Jesus made it very clear that following Him is much more than an occasional association with Him. He said in Luke 9:23—
   

   “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

   This requirement “weeds out” those who are afraid to confess Him for fear of disfavor of mankind, those who will not give of their time and talents, those who will not contribute of their financial means, and those who are not willing to put Him first in their lives each day. Jesus wants those who will start and finish the race. He said in Luke 9:62—

   “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

   The writer of Hebrews 10:38-39 said;

   “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

We must remember that the gospel of Christ is the power to save. Jesus has decreed that salvation must come through hearing and obeying the gospel. To this end, He said,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Even in times of great persecution, the scattered Christians, according to Acts 8:4;

“…went everywhere preaching the word.”

Paul declared that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ in Rom. 1:16—

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

We must know that we cannot devise our own plan of salvation. This is well established in the Scriptures and yet some still do not believe it. Some of Paul’s own Jewish brethren did not believe it and therefore were not saved. Paul said in Rom. 10:3—

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

We cannot take our salvation for granted. Heb. 2:1-3—

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”

After mentioning several sins of the Israelites, Paul warned in I Cor. 10:12—

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

In the Galatian letter, Paul wrote of those who were trying to keep the Law of Moses as well as the law of Christ. Gal. 5:4—

“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

Let us not be guilty of failing to make the deposit.