Subject: MARK 16:16: Was it perverted? |
Bible Note: Greetings AO! Thanks for the response my friend! To me, there is a principle called the 'lowest common denominator' when it comes to Scripture. :-) What I mean by that is simply this: If Scripture says to simply believe, but more is actually needed, then Scripture taught a lie. So, the 'lowest common denominator' must be all that is really needed for salvation. :-) With that in mind, let's address your comments. 1) Acts 2:21 actually says that all who 'call' on the name of the Lord will be saved. No other requirement is listed. 2) Acts 16:31 is explicit, because it is a direct response to a direct question. The question was: "What must I do to be saved?" The answer: "Believe!" Now, if Peter left something out that was necessary for salvation, his response would have been a lie. 3) Rom. 10:9 does not contradict the two passages you cite. John 3:36 does call for obedience, but John 6:29 tells us what 'work' it is that God expects us to obey: "Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'" And, James 2:19 talks about the evidence of a geninue faith, not the basis for salvation. Concerning your last paragraph, let's see what Scripture says. You wrote: "It seems the logical conclusion would be that these verses do not negate the importance of work, but merely state some of the elements necessary to obtain God's reward." Yet, Scripture specifically says that we are not saved by our works. Eph. 2:8-9, The entire chapter of Rom. 4, Rom. 11:6. So, Scripture is quite clear on the fact that 'works' play no part in our salvation. Now, if that is the case, then we have the answer to the second part of your last paragraph. If we are not saved by what we do, then 'obedience' is not a 'requirement' of salvation, but a result of it. I pray that people would really come to understand the grace of God. We don't have to 'worry' about salvation. We don't have to go through life 'wondering' if we are really saved or not. We don't have to be constantly concerned that at some moment, we might slip up or fail God in someway and 'lose' our salvation. Why? Because our salvation is not based upon anything that we did or will do. It is based entirely upon what He did on the cross. Now, does that mean that we can go out and do whatever we want after we have accepted Christ? No! After we accept Christ, we will 'do' good works. But, they are the result of salvation, not the grounds for salvation. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |