Jesus' Discourse on What Must I Do to be Saved? 

Jesus addressed a question about salvation, emphasizing belief in the gospel and acceptance of divine forgiveness. He stressed the importance of faith in recognizing God's indwelling spirit, which makes one a child of God. Jesus explained that salvation is a gift from God, not something that can be bought or earned and that righteousness naturally follows from accepting this gift. He concluded by highlighting that true believers desire righteousness and divine perfection, with this message bringing joy to all who heard it, especially the women who felt included and equal in God's eyes.

When Jesus was teaching a group of twelve of the younger evangelists under the direction of Jacob, together with the twelve women evangelists, Rachel of the Women's Evangelistic Corps asked Jesus what they should answer when women ask what they should do to be saved. Jesus answered, "When men and women ask what shall we do to be saved, you shall answer, Believe this gospel of the kingdom; accept divine forgiveness. By faith, recognize the indwelling spirit of God, whose acceptance makes you a son of God."

Jesus went on to quote several Scriptures that support this spiritual foundation of the kingdom: In the Lord, I possess righteousness and strength. God the Father states his righteousness is near, his salvation is here, for he embraces his people. Joyous is my soul in the love of God, for he clothes me in the garments of salvation and enrobes me in his righteousness. The Father has removed my filthy rags of self-righteousness and clothed me with divine righteousness and eternal salvation. Those just live by faith.

Jesus continued and emphasized the important role of faith: "Salvation is the gift of the Father and is revealed by his Sons. Acceptance by faith on your part makes you a partaker of the divine nature, a son or a daughter of God. By faith you are justified; by faith are you saved; and by this same faith are you eternally advanced in the way of progressive and divine perfection. By faith was Abraham justified and made aware of salvation by the teachings of Melchizedek. All down through the ages has this same faith saved the sons of men, but now has a Son come forth from the Father to make salvation more real and acceptable.”

In summing up his final statement, Jesus said: “You cannot buy salvation; you cannot earn righteousness. Salvation is the gift of God, and righteousness is the natural fruit of the spirit-born life of sonship in the kingdom. You are not to be saved because you live a righteous life; rather, is it that you live a righteous life because you have already been saved, have recognized sonship as the gift of God and service in the kingdom as the supreme delight of life on earth. When men believe this gospel, which is a revelation of the goodness of God, they will be led to voluntary repentance of all known sin. The realization of sonship is incompatible with the desire to sin. Kingdom believers hunger for righteousness and thirst for divine perfection.”

All those who heard Jesus’ gracious words were filled with joy, and in the days to follow, went out proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom with newfound energy bubbling over with enthusiasm. The women were overjoyed to know they were included in everything that Jesus said and equal to men in God’s divine eyes.