Eternal Rewards

[Eric E Stahl]

Eternal Rewards

Daniel 12:1–3 KJV
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Notice verse 3! I believe our brightness will be determined by our works. I ask my Sunday school class, how bright will you shine?



Work for the night is coming!​

 

[gdemoss]

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

The wages of sin is death.

The gift of God is eternal life.

The shine speaks of glory. Is the glory then the reward given by God? All glory belongs to God. We are only a reflection of his glory. If we shine brightly then are we not just the ones who are more like the Father?

hmmm? Thinking...

Gary

 

[judge not]

Matt 5:14 - Ye are the light of the world..."
verse 16-" Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father, which is in Heaven "

Just believing in God is not enough- we need to do good works to exemplify Christian living and obedience to God's laws

 

[gdemoss]

Just believing in God is not enough- we need to do good works to exemplify Christian living and obedience to God's laws

What laws of Gods are you proposing Christians are to be living in obedience to?

 

[judge not]

Ten Commandments

 

[Eric E Stahl]

Ephesians 2:6-10

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus not by good works but unto good works.

 

[gdemoss]

Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are some of Gods most awesome work. Very glorious. They are, in fact, made for unrighteous men to 'work' to follow as a task master to bring them unto Christ. The very words that God spoke unto a rebellious Israel in the wilderness which cut them to the heart. But the glory of them was to be done away with in Christ through the ministration of the spirit. We don't teach the law anymore for righteousness. We teach Christ, who is the righteousness of God manifest in the flesh. He is much more glorious than the law. The ten commandments made nothing perfect and cannot, but the bringing in of a better hope did. That hope is Christ in you. Your spirit conforming to Gods spirit as one spirit with God producing the fruit of the Spirit in your life instead of the works of the flesh that manifest themselves in the form of disobedience to God the Father. Through Christ we become Gods children and are constantly changed into the image of Christ from glory to glory. There is one glory of the commandments but a brighter glory of Christ. The commandment commands that we do not commit adultery as an external act of the body. The spirit compels us to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of mind pertaining to the covenant relationship with the wife that we are in fact one flesh with.

Surely as Paul spoke in Romans 8, the righteousness which is of the law is fulfilled in us who walk after the spirit. We are to owe no man anything but to love one another, which is the total sum of the last five commandments you speak of. And when teaching young Christians about love, these commandments are a great place to start. But to teach them that it ends there is to short change them. Their love for one another is not to be solely reserved to avoiding sinful external action toward their neighbor. Brother, we must teach them the deeper understanding of the love of God that pours itself out in sacrifice for its object. You don't just refrain from stealing, you give to all who ask of you.

The commandments were given for the unrighteous not the righteous. Their intended end was to cut to the heart of the hearer and convict him of his sin before a holy God. Yes, they still work for that intended purpose and can be used if they are used lawfully. To use them as the rule of law to follow for the righteous standard of a Christian is an unlawful use as Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to them that believe. The spirit of holiness is the new righteous standard which far surpasses the letter of the law. We are the circumcision made without hands which is of the heart.

Let us truly honor God in the Spirit by ministering the spirit to one another and not the ministration of death which is the law. Give the ministration of death to the unbeliever and the sinner that they may die, be reborn and live unto God. One who struggles in his flesh to maintain the letter of the law has not been made perfect in love.

Peace be with you and Gods love,

Gary

 

[judge not]

Jesus said " If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments '
(matt19:17)
Long after Christ's death and resurrection, the Apostle John stated plainly that " this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments " (1Jn 5:3)
He was speaking to converted Christians.
The truth is clear regarding God's eternal law's-As King David said
" they are sure and stand fast for ever and ever"
The true saints in the future in Revelation are described are those that keep the commandments of God? (Rev14:12)
Our terms for Salvation- Repent, be baptized and keep the commandments
sin is the transgression of the Law-even Christians with saving grace and faith sin - only Jesus was without sin.
Christ did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it by expounding the principles and intent of the commandments, which made it even more binding and comprehensive than before, He extended the physical keeping of the Law into the realm of our thoughts.
" blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life..." Rev22:14
Christ's new commandment of sacrificial love no way does away with the Ten commandments, rather it amplifies their meaning and shows that Christians are held to an even higher standard than was ancient Israel.
No amount of Law-keeping will atone for past law-breaking. However Grace must never be construed as a license to sin.
Jude warned of those who twisted the meaning of grace by equating it with permission to disregard the Ten Commandments (Jude 4)
The only curse of the Law we are redeemed from is the death penalty
The curse of the law is not obedience. It is the penalty of the second death by our disobedience to God's Ten Commandments.

 

[gdemoss]

Jesus said " If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments '
(matt19:17)

Yes, but you seem not to care whom he said it to. There is always a context to deal with.

Long after Christ's death and resurrection, the Apostle John stated plainly that " this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments " He was speaking to converted Christians. (1Jn 5:3)

I wonder why John left out the word '10' that you add to his words. It is dangerous to add to the bible. It is how deception is born.

The truth is clear regarding God's eternal law's-As King David said
" they are sure and stand fast for ever and ever"

Of course, they will always fulfill their 'intended end'.

The true saints in the future in Revelation are described are those that keep the commandments of God? (Rev14:12)

Again, they seem to have left out the word '10' that you like to imply.

Our terms for Salvation- Repent, be baptized and keep the commandments

Where do you see this together in scripture as the clear command to someone needing understanding of what salvation is?

Our terms of salvation are surrender and let God be God.

sin is the transgression of the Law-even Christians with saving grace and faith sin - only Jesus was without sin.

Only Jesus 'Never' sinned. Those of us who walk as he walk in his spirit, walk without sin. We may choose to stop if we give in to temptation but it is a choice for the one who follows Christ.

Christ did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it by expounding the principles and intent of the commandments, which made it even more binding and comprehensive than before, He extended the physical keeping of the Law into the realm of our thoughts.

Christ could not fulfill the law by expounding. By expounding he exposed the limitation of the law and placed the glory upon himself in its rightful place. He let the brightness of his Glory dim the glory that is in the law, just as his brightness upon returning will dim the light given by the sun and cause the moon to no longer give its light.

" blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life..." Rev22:14

Where's the '10'?

Christ's new commandment of sacrificial love no way does away with the Ten commandments, rather it amplifies their meaning and shows that Christians are held to an even higher standard than was ancient Israel.

Everyone was always under the same standard and failed that standard. The law just showed the failures that none upon the Earth were righteous like Christ is. The new commandment given is just that. It is a new commandment.

No amount of Law-keeping will atone for past law-breaking. However Grace must never be construed as a license to sin.

Well put.

Jude warned of those who twisted the meaning of grace by equating it with permission to disregard the Ten Commandments (Jude 4)

Jude never spoke of the '10' commandments. Jude spoke of what you see in the world today. The heresy that saved Christians are still sinners who cannot stop sinning but only sin less. They claim that Christ was 100% God and 100% man and for that cause was the only one who could walk without sin. This is error. Christ came in the flesh with only his person/personality who once was in the form of God but now 100% in the form of man without anything of the form of God, power, knowledge, etc. These things were given to him as gifts by the Holy Spirit later on in his life to prepare him for his ministry as the Father ordained him too.

The only curse of the Law we are redeemed from is the death penalty
The curse of the law is not obedience. It is the penalty of the second death by our disobedience to God's Ten Commandments

.

People who say things like this are in error because they make the commandments God and worship them not the God who created them. To avoid this foolish idolatry of the law, God showed people breaking it and calling them innocent.....God is God of the law the law is not God.

Jesus is who we are to follow. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Pharisees worshiped the Law not God.

Gary

 

[judge not]

When Jesus says in order to enter into eternal life, " keep the commandments " that is for the record and is for all mankind. There are no exceptions or context for understanding that statement. We know that as THEWORD and is held by Christians as the truth and law.
for instance in Matt19:17-19, Jesus says " ...but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He doesn't say 10 all the time but He does identify by listing some as examples as the ten commandments in verse 18.
What commandments do you think He is referring to when He makes a reference to ' the commandments "
Repentance, baptism, and keeping the commandments are preconditions to salvation according to most teaching in the Bible.
What is your understanding for salvation?

 

[gdemoss]

What is your understanding for salvation?

The simple answer is Salvation is achieved by complete submission to God. You ask what is absolutely necessary for salvation. Is baptism required? Is following the 10 commandments plus the 'new' commandment required for salvation? What list of things do I need to accomplish before I die in order to be saved?

There is only one condition for salvation. Faith. Saving Faith.

What does that look like?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

The Gospel according to Gary: In the beginning God created everything and there was perfect order of all things. God as God. Lucifer as an Angel in heaven. Adam and Eve as man on Earth in complete submission to God, with total reliance on him for understanding of good and evil. Iniquity was found within Lucifer and he fell from his place in heaven like lightening to earth where he subsequently deceived Eve into disobeying God by obeying his voice as God instead. After Adam willfully disobeyed Gods command the whole creation was subjected to vanity for the hope of salvation for man. God promised to fix the problem for all who would believe his promise.

God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son that those who are in the world might not cause themselves to perish through disbelief but rather be given eternal life by Jesus if only they would bow the knee and obey him as King. Confessing him as Lord, which means to agree with God that Jesus Christ is the rightful heir of the World and then conform your every deed into that which justifies the faith you claim to have.

Upon believing the Gospel of God one is given the Holy Spirit of God to indwell and guide him into all truth. The Holy Spirit also lives through the believer to convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement. Those ordained to life believe. Those ordained to death either run away from the truth stopping up their ears or they turn and try to destroy the light that is in their presence.

In the name of Christ the Lord of Heaven and Earth,

Gary

 

[judge not]

Acts 2:38 - " Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." also receiving the laying -on-of hands is necessary for the reception of the Holy spirit
faith or belief is not enough- " Faith if it hath not works, is dead " James2:17

So Saving faith means embracing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with all it's responsibilities and finally burying our old self in the watery grave of baptism along with the receiving of the laying on of hands to receive the Holy spirit-this is the way the Bible shows Salvation can be achieved.
and even all this is just the beginning -'and he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations
why would Jesus urge us to overcome if there is nothing further we must do once we have accepted Him as Savior?

 

[gdemoss]

why would Jesus urge us to overcome if there is nothing further we must do once we have accepted Him as Savior?

What would prompt you to ask such a question?

 

[Kit Carson]

Acts 2:38 - " Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." also receiving the laying -on-of hands is necessary for the reception of the Holy spirit
faith or belief is not enough- " Faith if it hath not works, is dead " James2:17

So Saving faith means embracing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with all it's responsibilities and finally burying our old self in the watery grave of baptism along with the receiving of the laying on of hands to receive the Holy spirit-this is the way the Bible shows Salvation can be achieved.
and even all this is just the beginning -'and he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations
why would Jesus urge us to overcome if there is nothing further we must do once we have accepted Him as Savior?

Wrong!!!!

If I meet a man out on a fishing trip and tell him about Jesus and he accepts and believes, he is saved. I do not have to drown him and I do not have to lay hands on him. The only requirement is for him to hear, to accept and to believe.

As for works, this would be a work on my part. If he believes and puts ten bucks in the salvation army pot , when he used to just walk on by , this is a work on his part.

If I have a million dollars and I do all kinds of good things with it and say God does not exist. I am not saved. Works alone will not save me, ........now I can debate this one, as if I am basically a good man and have not committed serious sins, I will be judged. God is not evil and not without understanding. So I would leave that one up to God.

Works are a result of acceptance and belief. One is with the other and one is the result of the other and both are the same, as one cannot be in truth without the other.

In the beginning God created the law, and the law and tradition of water baptism was required, it was a symbol of things just as circumcision was a symbol of the agreement between God and his people. So at that time it was a time of law.

We are no longer under tradition, culture, law, and all those things. It is all done, and it its place is Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

So any person, anywhere, in any situation, can accept Christ and obtain salvation. There are no stings and no other requirements. Just by simple and truthful acceptance they are saved.

Now the traditions of man, are important, not saying that they are not as they for man symbolize the acceptance and cause strength to it. Laying on of hands and the emotions with that, strengthen but are not required. To be around other Christians and to fellowship is good, as it helps guide people. But it is the Holy spirit who guides and leads just like now as I cry Wrong!!!

This idea of works is a dandy. It causes many to turn from Christ and Satan will use the words of other men to make the first man feel like he is insignificant, or worthless and or cannot help and do great works to be saved. He may not be able to afford to do anything but support his family or buy food, and for sure cannot help much in money matters. He cannot father a ministry, he does not even have the money to put in the car to go to church, so he is with eyes downcast told by other men, you are worthless. WRONG!!!

His works can be many, he accepts and that day he gives his wife a hug , he is more understanding and seeks peace. He can volunteer his time as this costs nothing, he can put ten bucks in the salvation army pot and is further ahead than the one who can afford to put in 100 but drops in a quarter.

Works are not required, but are a form of the change. When one accepts Christ, the faith in Christ, results in works, be they small or large. One of the main works is the change in a person.

Traditions, law and culture, laying on of hands not required. Reading into and adding requirements not required. These are things of men.

Christ simply says, I am the way, come to me and ask and I will give to you.

It is as simple as that.

Kit

 

[judge not]

What would prompt you to ask such a question?

Jesus is the one offering the promises if we overcome
" To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God ....." Revelation 2:7-28
Why does Jesus keep promising us the gift of life to us who overcomes and does his will to the end if we already are saved?
And what does overcome mean/-to conquer, or prevail over our common enemy-sin. Resisting temptation is a daily battle.
If we believe we are saved after repentance for past sins and accepting Jesus as our savior then we are going down the wrong path of our spiritual journey. The Bible warns of such misconceptions. The apostles warn converted Christians to flee from sin lest we should fall away from grace.
It's up to you to decide what the right road to eternity is.

 

[judge not]

Wrong!!!!

If I meet a man out on a fishing trip and tell him about Jesus and he accepts and believes, he is saved. I do not have to drown him and I do not have to lay hands on him. The only requirement is for him to hear, to accept and to believe.

As for works, this would be a work on my part. If he believes and puts ten bucks in the salvation army pot , when he used to just walk on by , this is a work on his part.

If I have a million dollars and I do all kinds of good things with it and say God does not exist. I am not saved. Works alone will not save me, ........now I can debate this one, as if I am basically a good man and have not committed serious sins, I will be judged. God is not evil and not without understanding. So I would leave that one up to God.

Works are a result of acceptance and belief. One is with the other and one is the result of the other and both are the same, as one cannot be in truth without the other.

In the beginning God created the law, and the law and tradition of water baptism was required, it was a symbol of things just as circumcision was a symbol of the agreement between God and his people. So at that time it was a time of law.

We are no longer under tradition, culture, law, and all those things. It is all done, and it its place is Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

So any person, anywhere, in any situation, can accept Christ and obtain salvation. There are no stings and no other requirements. Just by simple and truthful acceptance they are saved.

Now the traditions of man, are important, not saying that they are not as they for man symbolize the acceptance and cause strength to it. Laying on of hands and the emotions with that, strengthen but are not required. To be around other Christians and to fellowship is good, as it helps guide people. But it is the Holy spirit who guides and leads just like now as I cry Wrong!!!

This idea of works is a dandy. It causes many to turn from Christ and Satan will use the words of other men to make the first man feel like he is insignificant, or worthless and or cannot help and do great works to be saved. He may not be able to afford to do anything but support his family or buy food, and for sure cannot help much in money matters. He cannot father a ministry, he does not even have the money to put in the car to go to church, so he is with eyes downcast told by other men, you are worthless. WRONG!!!

His works can be many, he accepts and that day he gives his wife a hug , he is more understanding and seeks peace. He can volunteer his time as this costs nothing, he can put ten bucks in the salvation army pot and is further ahead than the one who can afford to put in 100 but drops in a quarter.

Works are not required, but are a form of the change. When one accepts Christ, the faith in Christ, results in works, be they small or large. One of the main works is the change in a person.

Traditions, law and culture, laying on of hands not required. Reading into and adding requirements not required. These are things of men.

Christ simply says, I am the way, come to me and ask and I will give to you.

It is as simple as that.

Kit

Sorry that was too long a quote for me to post but if you could look at this Acts 8:-this was after the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus-they were now preaching the gospel.
let's say starting at verse 12 -
" But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13- Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip....
14- Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost
16- ( For as yet he (the Holy Ghost ) was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17- Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy ghost
18- And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostle's hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.

baptizing and laying on off hands to receive the HS continued long after Jesus death and resurrection.
If it wasn't necessary anymore wouldn't the Apostles be the first to know since they received all their training and power from Jesus.
Believing was fine, but it wasn't enough. You have to be baptized and laying on off hands.
False doctrine has taken over the most important concept of salvation because of misinterpretation of scripture.
I'm sticking with what the Bible says......

 

[gdemoss]

Jesus is the one offering the promises if we overcome
" To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God ....." Revelation 2:7-28
Why does Jesus keep promising us the gift of life to us who overcomes and does his will to the end if we already are saved?
And what does overcome mean/-to conquer, or prevail over our common enemy-sin. Resisting temptation is a daily battle.
If we believe we are saved after repentance for past sins and accepting Jesus as our savior then we are going down the wrong path of our spiritual journey. The Bible warns of such misconceptions. The apostles warn converted Christians to flee from sin lest we should fall away from grace.
It's up to you to decide what the right road to eternity is.

You misunderstand my question. What makes you think I believe as you think I do. I don't believe I ever said anything remotely close to what you perceive that I have said.

I pray that God will help us be easily understood by each other,

Gary

 

[Kit Carson]

Sorry that was too long a quote for me to post but if you could look at this Acts 8:-this was after the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus-they were now preaching the gospel.
let's say starting at verse 12 -
" But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13- Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip....
14- Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost
16- ( For as yet he (the Holy Ghost ) was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17- Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy ghost
18- And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostle's hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.

baptizing and laying on off hands to receive the HS continued long after Jesus death and resurrection.
If it wasn't necessary anymore wouldn't the Apostles be the first to know since they received all their training and power from Jesus.
Believing was fine, but it wasn't enough. You have to be baptized and laying on off hands.
False doctrine has taken over the most important concept of salvation because of misinterpretation of scripture.
I'm sticking with what the Bible says......

Yes Sir the Bible says that, in black and white. But..........

Taking parts without the understanding of the whole is where the danger is.

This is a story of a Sorcerer. A man called Simon, who had his way and wanted to buy eventually the power the Apostles had with money. He wanted to be like them and to have their power.

The true Apostles heard of the word of God being preached to the people in Samaria. When you read the entire context you find that the Apostles had to step in and correct things as the true word was not being preached and the man doing so still had not repented himself.

So this was a special case, for a special time and circumstance. A case where the truth had to step in to correct false teaching even at that time. I believe if you read the entire chapter 8 you will understand the reasons for this and the why.

Jesus simply says I am the way. Believe on me and I will give you salvation by grace. It is so very simple.

In the world of today, especially there are false teachings in every church, in all walks of life, people simply do not believe and rely on men to save them. So hundreds of ideas are born, and old ways and old traditions are held up as the way. Even Jesus used to fuss at the Jews about old traditions and cultures and tell them to walk away from them. And some of these are easily seen in the bible. Even with the Apostles you see opinion and tradition, from one of them not wanting to eat with circumcised or not circumcised and Paul saying for a woman to be silent and so on. Then it is said that there is neither male nor female, and people jump all over that and say this justifies sexual immorality, when it simply means man and woman are equal, forget your silly tradition.

There seems to be no common sense today either, no true and total acceptance of God. Man is intent on his way, his tradition and seems to forget that true acceptance brings the Holy spirit direct from God.

Well let me shut up....Lol! I am not a preacher, just a man who does believe in God and what he puts in my heart. I can cause a preacher to have to eat a whole bottle of antacid......but Jesus says, I am the way, you come direct to me and I will answer you. You come to me and I will teach you, and you will learn the truth and the way to sort out the truth.

Most of that laying on of hands and stuff today is for men. For their own pride and way, just like the man called Simon. The sorcerer.

Do not say some of it is not real, do not say that at all, but much of it is false.

So the direct way is to run to God, ask Jesus for salvation and he will grant it.

Simple question, is the man on the battlefield who is dying, with a leg blown off, who accepts Christ, who has no water baptism and the only laying on of hand is the application of a compression bandage, is he saved?? He who cries out my name, he who believes in me I will answer.
Men live in fear, and other men promote this fear, and men worry, as for me I accept Christ with joy and confidence. I believe on Christ and I am very wary of men.

Kit

 

[Gmart]

Jesus is the one offering the promises if we overcome
" To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God ....." Revelation 2:7-28
Why does Jesus keep promising us the gift of life to us who overcomes and does his will to the end if we already are saved?
And what does overcome mean/-to conquer, or prevail over our common enemy-sin.

Here is what the Bible declares an over-comer to be.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

baptizing and laying on off hands to receive the HS continued long after Jesus death and resurrection.
If it wasn't necessary anymore wouldn't the Apostles be the first to know since they received all their training and power from Jesus.
Believing was fine, but it wasn't enough. You have to be baptized and laying on off hands.
False doctrine has taken over the most important concept of salvation because of misinterpretation of scripture.
I'm sticking with what the Bible says......

You are sticking with part of what the Bible says, what about Acts 10:34-48 where the Holy Spirit fell upon men before they were ever baptized and then laying on of hands is never mentioned here?

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision. It is an acknowledgement of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection through an action. So whether one believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth Jesus as Lord, dead and raised, or whether one repents and is baptized both are saved because both of these actions, the one verbally and the other in deed, confess Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus as God and our need to make him Lord of our lives.

 

[gdemoss]

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision. It is an acknowledgement of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection through an action. So whether one believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth Jesus as Lord, dead and raised, or whether one repents and is baptized both are saved because both of these actions, the one verbally and the other in deed, confess Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus as God and our need to make him Lord of our lives.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

How does a man make himself righteous by believing Jesus is Christ?

How does a man save himself by declaring Jesus is Lord to others?

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Why would a man be ashamed for not believing on him?

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

The Apostle Paul is a clear declaration of why a man who believes in Christ shall not be ashamed before him at his coming. Many will be ashamed, Paul isn't one of them.

Sin is what shames. Knowing what it is and continuing in it. A man who believes that Jesus is the righteousness of God manifest in the flesh puts on the Lord Jesus and will in turn not be ashamed at his coming.

Be ye not deceived, he who doeth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous and we can have boldness in the day of judgement if we walk as he walked. There is no law against it.

Close your 'eyes' and see through Gods,

Gary