Requirements of Salvation

[BlessedCreator]

I made this because there are people preaching in these final years of the world, teaching that
just by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ you can be saved. If it was that easy we wouldn't have scriptures
warning us that few will be saved and that the path to eternal life is narrow, of which few be there that find it.

A holy and sanctified life lived in strict obedience unto the commandments and precepts taught in the word of God,
the Holy Bible, is required of all those that seek the salvation of their souls. This is what the Bible is speaking
of when it says that we must be born again. Born again means to be transformed by God into a new moral life.

John 3:3 KJB
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

If all we had to do was simply believe, demons and the wicked heathen would be saved. For there are
innumerable people in this world that war against God and His saints and know the truth.

James 2:19
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

If all we had to do was believe then this verse below would have no meaning.

Matthew 7:14
"because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

We see from the verse below that they that do the will of God, that keep His commandments and precepts
taught in the word of God, the Holy Bible, will be saved. Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ that He
is the true messiah, that He really is God in the flesh, is the absolute first step anyone must take on the
path of salvation. It is the first commandment of God we must obey, to simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
For why would anyone even begin to consider keeping His commandments and obey Him if you didn't believe He
was who He said He was.

Matthew 7:21
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven."

When it says to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ it should always be accompanied with the explanation that
obedience, love and duty to and for Him is also required in this faith.

James 2:17
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

We see that faith (trust) in God is really false faith without doing the works of God. What works are these?
These works are the commandments and precepts taught in the word of God. For example, overcoming the world,
and the lusts there of, giving alms, preaching the truth of Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible, encouraging one another, loving one another,
honoring your parents, not hating anyone, not stealing, etc. These are just a few of the many holy commandments
given to us by God in the Holy Bible.

1 John 2:17
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

If the entire Bible could be summed up in one verse I would choose the following.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Understanding faith and grace.
Faith means to have trust and hope in God.
Grace means the favor of God.
To have faith (trust) in God you must have a good conscious toward Him.
To have a good conscious toward God you must obey Him.
Faith and obedience go hand in hand.
If you are obedient to God's commandments and precepts He will give you true faith, real trust in Him.
He will show you that you can trust in Him by the protection of His Spirit (the Holy Spirit).
Grace and obedience also go hand in hand.
If you are obedient, the grace (favor) of God will be upon you and all that you do.

1 Peter 3:21
"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

The above verse is not saying that baptism literally saves us. It is saying that by being baptized
you are keeping God's commandment which will allow you to begin to have a good conscience towards
God because of your obedience. Just as believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is a commandment, so also is baptism.
Continue seeking God's will in all that you do to continue with a good conscience toward God.

If you want to be saved from the damnation of Hell, get in the word of God,
start in the New Testament at the gospel of
Matthew, in a King James Bible (PDF above) and
read every word and do exactly as God's word teaches you.

 

[Reba1]

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

[Dave M]

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

 

[Brother-Paul]

@BlessedCreator

The reason people believe the things as you state is because they cherry pick verses that suits them, the read out of context, or they believe wrong teaching or preaching.

You quoted John 3:3 and rightfully so.

But many read John 3:16 once called the Gospel in miniature, on it's own it gives the right picture of God's love but a wrong picture of salvation.There are many other examples in scripture as we know.

When quoting John 3 I never quote less than John 3:1-21, why, because it gives the full information, to be read together in context.

Three times Jesus emphasised to Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, a teacher of Law in Israel, and to all from that day on. Unless we are born again we will Not see the Kingdom of Heaven, we should not be surprised Jesus tells us we must be born again because He says we must be born again. V3,5 and 7.

Then we are told about God's incredible love in v16 and 17, before receiving the concluding part many don't read at all, but sums everything up so as to be totally clear to all who read it or have it read to them.

Bless you

 

[Reba1]

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Be careful Dave do you ware sandals
Mar 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

[Reba1]

Be careful Dave do you ware sandals
Mar 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

When quoting Scripture the reference numbers are posted so the verses can easily be read in context.

 

[BlessedCreator]

A Christian is not someone who only believe in Jesus Christ and His teachings but a Christian is someone who obeys them.

Why do you think Jesus warned us in Matthew 25:30 that the unprofitable servant will be cast out?
or when Jesus said he that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Do you live for and obey God or do you live for yourself, pleasing your flesh and carnal mind.

Romans 8:6-7 KJB
"
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

"

 

[Reba1]

@BlessedCreator do you ware sandals ?

 

[BlessedCreator]

What exactly do you mean by wearing sandals @Reba1?

 

[Reba1]

A Christian is not someone who only believe in Jesus Christ and His teachings but a Christian is someone who obeys them.

Why do you think Jesus warned us in Matthew 25:30 that the unprofitable servant will be cast out?
or when Jesus said he that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Do you live for and obey God or do you live for yourself, pleasing your flesh and carnal mind.

Romans 8:6-7 KJB
"
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

"

A Christian is not someone who only believe in Jesus Christ and His teachings but a Christian is someone who obeys them.

When folks talk about obedience to the Lord, His Word, ETC. Often they forget there are levels or degrees of obedience.

Mar 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
In our world today most men do not wear sandals so we justify this ever so slight lack of obedience. We say well it means this or that . This verse is a simple example of why we need be careful of judging another's obedience.

1Co_14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

How often do we justify disobedience to this above peace of the Word of God ?

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Should we do our best to obey ? YES

 

[BlessedCreator]

Faith means to have trust/confidence in God.
You can't have trust in God without having a good conscience toward God.
You can't have a good conscious toward God without obeying Him.
Believing in Jesus is the first commandment of God we are told to obey.
There are many other commandments we must live in obedience unto if we desire to be saved.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJB
"9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

We see just from those 2 verses alone that there is a standard of righteous and holy living that God requires of us if we are to be counted worthy.
That is what is being spoken of in James 2:26 where it says faith without works is dead.

The works are not any righteous or holy works of our own, but of God. The works are the will of God, told to us through the commandments and precepts taught in the Holy Bible.

Without obedience unto God's will, your faith is dead, you are not living a holy life, and you will not see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14 KJB
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: "

 

[BlessedCreator]

If I could I would update the original post and remove the part about 1 Peter 3:21 concerning baptism and having a good conscience toward God. My interpretation of that verse was off. But we do still need to continue in obedience to God and His will to have a good conscience toward Him. Also here is the page which can take you to the complete KJB in PDF format: KJB PDF Download

 

[Sue D.]

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that, not of yourselves, it is a gift from God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

[Hekuran]

I think the OP gets off to a bad start with the 'requirements' language. At different times in his ministry Jesus spoke of salvation as completely free 'come to me all who are heavy burdened' and as costing everything 'foxes have holes...'

One metaphor the Bible uses is adoption.

Imagine a couple wants to adopt. They are matched with a child. The child asks 'what must I do to be adopted, what are the requirements?'

'None' is the answer. All you have to do is agree to join the family.

But joining the family also means agreeing to live as part of the family. Accepting a new way of life, values, loyalties, and obligations.