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NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Bible Question: What should a person do to please God so that God will allow that person's soul to go to heaven (have eternal life) as opposed to sending that soul to hell (eternal death)? |
Bible Answer: Scripture teaches clearly that there is absolutely nothing man can do, of himself, i.e., by his own works, to inherit eternal life. Salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood on the Cross, and not on the basis of human merit or works. Jesus told the Pharisee Nicodemus that "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." [John 3:3]. Being "born again" is called regeneration, a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and the divine life are given [Read John 3:3-8 and Titus 3:5.] It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the word of God [John 5:24] when the repentent sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision (God's plan of) salvation. Good works will be the proper evidence of salvation but they do not save. We are justified (saved) by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We are sanctified (being increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ) through obedience. This conformity is climaxed in the believer's glorification at Christ's coming. Here are some additional passages that you may wish to read from your Bible: John 1:12; Eph.1:4-7 and 2:8-10; 1 Pet.1:18,19; 1 Cor.6:19,20; Eph. 5:17-21; Col.3:12-17; 2 Pet.1:4-11; 2 Cor.3:18; Rom.8:16-17. Other major world religions teach salvation by works. The human tendency is to assume that man must somehow earn his way to heaven. The Bible teaches that man is saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Eph. 2:8,9) Unlike members of other religions, we Christians have a Savior, Christ Jesus, who suffered, bled and died on the Cross for our redemption from sin. We have a Savior who rose again and ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. We have a Savior who lives! --Hank |