2. How does one achieve eternal life?
It really makes me sad when people believe in the lies others promote about how to be eternally saved. If people were familiar with the Bible, they would be wise and not buy the rot that they are being fed. The Bible says that we are saved when we believe on Jesus Christ as the Messiah, Son of God, and deliverer of the world. Period. Now, there are two extremes to this. One is the side that says it is not enough to believe, and other things must be added in. These things include baptism, good works, special prayers or masses, serving the local church, and many others. I used to believe there was more required, too. I hadn't read through the Bible and understood what it said- I was taking the word of those who taught in the church!!!!!!!!! Here is what the Bible says about obtaining salvation:
We are saved through Jesus Christ alone. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:9
We are saved when we call on Jesus for salvation. "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21, "And they said, Believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
We must believe that Jesus is who he said He is- the Son of God, and not that he was a prophet or nice man. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9
We are saved through faith and nothing that we do, or we would think we were saving ourselves. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Our works will determine our rewards, not our salvation. "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27
Our works are evidence of what we believe, not the way we are saved. "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith BY my works." James 2:18
Even doing good things in the name of Christ is not enough if we do not fully trust in him alone for salvation. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22-23
The other extreme is that anyone who believes in Jesus intellectually will be saved, and therefore those who say they know who he is are safe. This belief in him must be from the heart and not the head. And the good works, baptism, and serving the local church are FRUITS of the joy of knowing we are eternally secure. They are our outward demonstrations of the inward transformation. So we can wonder about someone who claims to be in Christ and yet does nothing to show it, whether they are truly born again. If a diabetic said he believed in the power of insulin to keep him alive, yet never took it, we would wonder if he really believed in it. It's not enough to believe in it mentally. He needs to show that faith by taking it. Those who say they believe in Jesus but do nothing to try and follow him or do His will are not demonstrating faith in Him at all.
We are saved by believing ON the Lord, not just be believing IN Him. Even the devil believes in who he is! "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19
True faith is not ashamed to proclaim itself. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33, "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:11
Faith is demonstrated through obedience. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." John 14:21
Go to part III
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4 comments:
Reading this came at the right time today as i was talking with my husband about him being saved. He says "How do you get saved and how do you know if you are?
It can be a hard question to answer because we've heard so many different things. Some people say you are saved after you say the sinner's prayer, but if you are doing it 'just in case' instead of out of true conviction of sin, it's nothing. I do believe there has to be a visible difference in a person in order for them to be born again. The entire nature of the teaching requires a change.
Thanks for the feedback! :)
Here is a great article about repentance.... that biblical repentance does not mean "turn form sin" but rather "change your mind"
http://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html
Once I remember what true repentance is, I always forget.. it's in human nature to think that we much "turn from sin", of course this should be the goal, but all fall short of the Glory of God.
By the way, great post!
Thanks for the great link! And great explaination- we cannot 'turn from sin' on our own. We need to instead agree with God on the way He sees it.
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