Subject: What exactly must a person to be saved? |
Bible Note: ' "With all due respect?" Have I not discussed the Bible? Have I not referenced Bible?' You have mentioned Romans 10:9. You have mentioned Philippians 2:13. You have mentioned Ephesians 2:8-9. You came to conclusions about those passages which do not fit with the passages I have given in our discussion. You have not taken a single one of them and explained how the passages telling Christians to obey aren't REALLY telling Christians to obey. 'You did not answer my question "Abraham got righteousness by faith alone. Where are the works there?" by saying "Resulting from his saving faith". That means nothing to me, maybe you can explain it better.' Okay, I will try: One wrong approach is: faith plus works results in justification Another wrong approach is: faith results in justification and no works The biblical approach is: faith results in justification AND works "You cannot tell me that I'm saved without a work from first to last and then start telling me it's all about works." When did I say it is ALL about works? To say that you are wrong in asserting the Christian life is a life without obedience is not to say that it is all about works. "If you now expect a disciple to obey then you expect works." And God expects works! What did Jesus say to His own disciples? "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." --John 14:15 'And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."' --Matthew 28:18-20 So what are disciples supposed to do? OBEY God's commandments. How can we do that? By FAITH and by the power of God's Spirit working in us. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to DO something besides sitting around and thinking to themselves, "I believe; I really do!" If you do not obey Jesus, you do not love him as you should. "My understanding of Romans is that salvation is by faith only until death. I don't think you mean to suggest different." No, I do not mean to suggest anything different. What I mean to say is that true faith in Christ results in our obedience to him. It is the God-honoring EVIDENCE that we are truly His. Lack of obedience to Christ is an indcator that someone does not have faith in Christ. --Joe! |