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NASB | Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation]." |
Subject: Does Christ stand alone for salvation?? |
Bible Note: Paul Thank you for your response: I agree that the demons believe and tremble. I believe they tremble because they know that they will be judged by God. Believing in Christ as presented in John 3:16 is a message given to lost human sinners. When we believe on him, we place our faith, our trust, ourselves totally upon his worth and work upon the cross. In John 3 you have mentioned "should not perish" implies conditional. This does not fit with the rest of the chapter, in fact at the end of v.16 we read "but have everlasting life" This is a present possession which we receive upon believing. Everlasting and eternal life is exactly that, it cannot ever be conditional or temporary. According to John 3:36 "they who disobey will incurr the wrath of God". V. 36 shows that there are those who believe and have eternal life and there are those who disobey or believe not and that the "wrath of God abideth on them" This is supported in V. 17 -18 of John 3 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." In our natural state were born dead in tresspasses and in sins and are condemned already in the sight of God. In John 3 we read of our condition, but we also read of God's great provision which is in his Son Jesus Christ. He bore the wrath of God upon himself for our sin on the cross. When we accept our condition and his provision by faith we are forgiven, made alive in him and no longer under the condemnation of God. Hebrews5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" This is a wonderful all encompassing verse. The book of Hebrews speaks of those who before the cross, obeyed God by faith in that they obeyed his word and in Heb.11 those to whom God imputed righteousness. They acted or obeyed God within the light which he had given them and only saw the promise of a coming redeemer in types and shadows. When Christ came into the world, the types and shadows ceased, and we find in his sayings that salvation is in him alone by faith. In Phil. 2:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Paul is writing to Christians who are in Christ and he is looking for obedience from them in the things of God. They are asked to "Work" on that which they have already received. Not only are we saved eternally, we are preserved by the Spirit of God day by day in our lives. If we are willing to obey God's word as revealled to us by his Spirit, he will give us power daily to overcome this sinful world. On the other hand if a Christian is disobedient, we will suffer consequences for our actions. We read that God chastens or punishes sons whom he loves for unjudged sin in their lives. The motive of works after we are saved is that we might bring glory to God and live for him. We also know that in a future day our works will be judged and we will suffer gain or loss. 1 Cor.3:12-15 The gospel of Christ sees us as dead spiritually to God. We cannot use good works in any way to merit his free gift of eternal life. In fact it is an insult to God for me as a lost sinner to try and offer something in addition to the work of Christ on the cross for my salvation. I agree with the first part of your last statement "If all we must do is accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour" However, I believe that we must believe in more than "in his existance. There have been and are many people who believe in a historical Jesus, would cite him as a good example and they claim to believe in God. They are moved when they read of his sufferings on the cross and even believe that this event ocurred in history. Sadly, such a belief does not make them right within. We must be willing to acknowledge and agree with what God has said regarding our lost, sinful condition, we must be willing to accept by faith Jesus Christ as our Savior, as the one who was our subsitute on the cross and turn ourselves completely to him as the Lord of our lives. When God by his Spirit reveals to us that the sacrifice of Christ has satisfied his holy claims against us, the Holy Spirit enters and we are born from above. This birth places us in the family of God by adoption, we are placed as sons. Christians must fear God, not with a fear for our eternal salvation, but a deep respect, that he looks for obedience by those who know him. Jesus said "my sheep hear my voice and they follow me" May God bless you Robert |