Salvation and Compassion

The Greatest Question

“What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?”

This is the most important question anyone can ask!

The men of Israel asked this question on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:37–39 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.””

The Philippian jailer asked this question of Paul after the earthquake! Acts 16:30–31 “Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””

However, the layer in Luke was not asking sincerely, but to entrap Jesus. Jesus turned the question back to him. What does the law say?

He answered from Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18. It was a doctrinally correct answer summing up the entire law. Love of God with everything we are will result in love for others.

The Lawyer’s Justification

The law was given to show us our need for a Savior. Jesus was pointing this man back to the evidence of the law. Eternal life comes by loving God completely and loving others. It is by faith in God that results in love. However, it is impossible without a change of heart.

The lawyer was trying to use the law to prove his own righteousness. He wanted a theoretical argument, a doctrinal debate. His was head knowledge, but not heart change.

He wanted to justify himself. The law can only condemn.

The Savior’s Illustration

A life and death situation. Without help the man would die.

The Priest kept all the religious rituals. He had just come from “worship” his duties in the Temple. And was busy rushing home. The Levite were the keepers of the law. They were the experts.

However, the Samaritan, a man who was a social outcast and despised by the Jews, had compassion!

He took his time, his resources and used them to meet the needs of another. He even followed up!

This is what Christ has done for us, and it is what he calls us to do for others.

The Evidence of Compassion

Genuine love for God will be displayed in genuine compassion and mercy for others.

Jesus turned the lawyer’s question around. The real question is not who is my neighbor, but how can I be a neighbor to someone else?

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: What in the World Does a Christian Do? (Luke 10)

The big question is, “To whom can I be a neighbor?” and this has nothing to do with geography, citizenship, or race. Wherever people need us, there we can be neighbors and, like Jesus Christ, show mercy

Compassion for others in their moment of need.

1 John 4:20–5:5 “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Have you experienced the life transforming power of salvation by faith in Christ? Has your heart been changed by the love of God and so you love Him and others?

Who has God called you to be a neighbor to today? Start with those in closest proximity that have need!