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Some “Musts” In The Bible

Acts 9:1-9

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Introduction

• Word “must” found in the Bible many times!– KJV - Occurs 132 times in 126 verses!– NKJV - Occurs 186 times in 179 verses!– RSV - Occurs 206 times in 192 verses!– ASV - Occurs 124 times in 118 verses!– NASV - Occurs 196 times in 179 verses!

• This little word has a great impact in the Bible!• We will consider it’s definition and usage in scripture!• If you are told you MUST do something, what does that

mean?• If you are told that some action is a MUST, what does

this mean?

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Acts 9:1-9• 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the

disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,• 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he

found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

• 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

• 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

• 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

• 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

• 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

• 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

• 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

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Vine on “Must”• dei - an impersonal verb, signifying “it is necessary” or “one must,” “one

ought,” is found most frequently in the Gospels, Acts and the Apocalypse, and is used:

• (a) of a necessity lying in the nature of the case e.g., John 3:30; 2 Tim. 2:6; • (b) of necessity brought about by circumstances, e.g., Matt. 26:35, RV,

“must,” AV, “should;” John 4:4; Acts 27:21, “should;” 2 Cor. 11:30; in the case of Christ, by reason of the Father’s will, e.g., Luke 2:49; 19:5;

• (c) of necessity as to what is required that something may be brought about, e.g., Luke 12:12, “ought;” John 3:7; Acts 9:6; 1 Cor. 11:19; Heb. 9:26;

• (d) of a necessity of law, duty, equity, e.g., Matt. 18:33, “shouldest;” Matt. 23:23, “ought;” Luke 15:32, “it was meet;” Acts 15:5, “it is needful” (RV); Rom. 1:27, RV, “was due,” AV, “was meet” (of a recompense due by the law of God); frequently requiring the rendering “ought,” e.g., Rom. 8:26; 12:3; 1 Cor. 8:2;

• (e) of necessity arising from the determinate will and counsel of God, e.g., Matt. 17:10; 24:6; 26:54; 1 Cor. 15:53, especially regarding the salvation of men through the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, e.g., John 3:14; Acts 3:21; 4:12. See BEHOVE, No. 2 (where see the differences in the meanings of synonymous words), MEET, NEED, NEEDFUL, OUGHT, SHOULD.

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“Must” DefinedAdjective Form –

• necessary; vital: A raincoat is must clothing in this area.

Noun Form –

• something necessary, vital, or required: This law is a must.

Synonyms –

Must, ought, should express necessity or duty. Must expresses necessity or compulsion: I must attend to those patients first. Soldiers must obey orders. Ought  (weaker than must ) expresses obligation, duty, desirability: You ought to tell your mother. Should expresses obligation, expectation, or probability: You are not behaving as you should. Children should be taught to speak the truth. They should arrive at one o'clock.

– Dictionary .com

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“Must” DefinedAuxiliary verb –

• 1. To be obliged or bound to by an imperative requirement: I must keep my word.

• 2. To be under the necessity to; need to: Animals must eat to live. • 3. To be required or compelled to, as by the use or threat of force:

You must obey the law. • 4. To be compelled to in order to fulfill some need or achieve an

aim: We must hurry if we’re to arrive on time. • 5. To be forced to, as by convention or the requirements of honesty:

I must say, that is a lovely hat. • 6. To be or feel urged to; ought to: I must buy that book. • 7. To be reasonably expected to; is bound to: It must have stopped

raining by now. She must be at least 60. • 8. To be inevitably certain to; be compelled by nature: Everyone

must die. – Dictionary.com

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Some “Musts” In The Bible

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John 3:14“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up”

• Serpent lifted up in wilderness: – Num. 21:4-9– Because people sinned– God punished them with fiery serpents– God provided a remedy to those bitten– If they did not obey God’s instructions, they died!

• Christ was lifted up on the cross: – Jn. 8:28; 12:32– God’s remedy for sin! – Jn. 3:16; Heb. 12:12– Required Christ’s blood to be shed – 1 Pet. 1:19– Sinful man must obey God’s terms & conditions – Heb. 5:8, 9– If obedience is not according to Gods’ way – No Salvation!

• Matt. 23:12; 1 Pet. 5:6; Jas. 4:10; Matt. 7:21-23

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Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

• We must Trust God and His word! - Psa. 18:2– Not man’s way – Prov. 3:5; 14:12; 16:25

• Faith involves trust! - Psa. 71:1-5– Abraham trusted God – Gen. 22:1-19

• We sing the song “Trust and Obey” - # 326• Me must SEEK God, God’s way!

– Prov. 15:14; Matt. 6:33

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John 3:7

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

• Jesus stated an exception!– “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot

enter into the kingdom of God” vs. 5.– Jesus gave this exception to Nicodemus a Jewish

leader:• The new birth refers to the ONE baptism! – Eph. 4:4

– Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38

• This birth was revealed by the Holy Spirit!

– Christians are born of God & keep His Commandments:• 1 Jn. 2:3, 4, 29; 3:9-10, 22-24; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18; 2 Jn. 1:6

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Acts 4:12

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

• Peter preached salvation by faith in Christ!– Acts 2:33-38

• Must be saved by obedience to Christ! - Heb. 5:9 • Christ is our High Priest – Heb. 3:1

– Heb. 4:14; 5:5; 6:20; 8:1; 9:11; 10:21

• Spiritual blessing granted only to those in Christ!– Eph. 1:3-7; Gal. 3:23-29

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Acts 16:30

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

• This is man’s greatest question!– Asked by those on Pentecost – Acts 2:37

• Paul and Silas told him what he “MUST DO”!– “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be

saved, and thy house” – vs. 31– Verse 32 explains what belief involved!

• Paul was told what he “must do”! – Acts 9:6– Ananias told him to arise and be baptized! – Acts 22:16

• Same principle applies today!– Man must believe and obey God according to God’s terms and conditions

in order to be saved!

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John 4:24

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

• We Must worship God! – The creator of all things! Acts 17:23-29

• We Must worship God in spirit!– With right attitude, sincerely, humbly, orderly!

• We Must worship God in Truth!– According to the Divine pattern!

• Worship of the NT churches of the First Century!

– By the right authority! – Col. 3:17; Act 20:7– As His word directs! – Matt. 7:21-23; Jn. 17:17

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2 Corinthians 5:10

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

• God will judge the whole world in righteousness!– Acts 17:30-31; Acts 10:42; Rom. 2:16; 14:10-12

• Will judge all nations!– Matt. 25:31-46

• Everyone will be judged by their deeds!– Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; Gal. 6:7; Eph. 6:8; Col 3:24-25– Eccl. 12:13-14; Rev. 20:12; 22:12

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A MUST Conclusion• The death of Christ was a must!

– John 3:14

• We must believe God in faith!– Hebrews 11:6

• Man must be born again to enter the Kingdom!– John 3:7

• There is no other name whereby we must be saved!– Acts 4:12

• We must do God’s will to be saved!– Acts 16:30

• We must worship God in spirit and in truth!– John 4:24

• We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ!– 2 Corinthians 5:10