Subject: Saved by belief or belief and baptism? |
Bible Note: I see it this way... wisdom is to knowledge as faith is to belief... You can know rocket science, but if you don't have the wisdom on how to apply that knowledge, then your rocket blows up. Proverbs 1:4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young -- 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and discipline. ... 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, 30 since they would not accept my advise and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit fo their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. Proverbs 2:6 for the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ... 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasent to your soul. 11 Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. 12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men... Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. NIV You can believe in the Bible, you can see it, you can touch it, you can read it. But, in order to be saved you must have faith in Jesus. Have faith that he died on the cross for your salvation. Faith in the Blood of Christ for redemption. For instance... Did Able beleive in God? You bet he did, but Abel by faith offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. Hebrews 11:4 Did Noah beleive in God? You bet he did, but he had faith to beleive what God told him and build the ark (Genesis 6 thru 9) and therefore saving himself and his family from the flood. Did Abraham beleive in God? You bet he did, but he had faith that God would supply a sacrifice in place of his only son Isaac. (Genesis 22) Did Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego beleive in God? You bet they did, but they had faith in God and therefore they escaped the firey furnace. (Daniel 3) And there are many many more examples in the bible. Job, David vs. Goliath, Daniel in the lions den. The centurion's faith that Jesus would heal his son (Matthew 8:5-13). The list goes on and on and on. You can beleive in a lot of things, but you must have faith in God in order to be fully saved. |