Posted by:
nli
(
)
Date: February 18, 2018 11:03AM
...in the Bible on the subject. Here is what the Bible says about how to gain salvation. Just pick the ones you like and ignore the rest:
Moses and the prophets are sufficient for salvation (Luke 16:29-31). BUT It is only through Jesus, and not through the Law of Mose (Acts 4:12, 13:39, which means that all those who died before his time, or who do not hear his gospel, are excluded).
Salvation is:
By Faith (belief) only (Luke 7:50, John 3:14-16, 18, 36, 5:24, 6:29, 35, 40, 47, 70, 10:25-28, Acts 13:39, 16:31, Rom 1:16, 3:20-26, Rom 4, 9:32, Gal 2:16, 3:11, 14, Eph 1:13, 2:8-9, 1 Tim 1:16, 2 Tim 3:14-15, 1 Pet 1:9, Heb 10:38-39, and 11:17, where Paul gives as an example Abraham offering Isaac). But mercy can substitute for unbelief (1 Tim 1:13).
By Works only (including obedience to commandments)
("do the will" of God, Matt 7:21, "keep the commandments," 19:16-20, Luke 10:36-37, 12:47-48, 19:8-9, John 14:15; also Lev 18:5, Psalms 65:12, 103:17-20). Paul also says works ("law") (Rom 2:5-6, 13, 2 Cor 5:10), and says we must "work out" our own salvation (Php 2:12).
James also says works, giving the example of Abraham offering Isaac (James 2:20-24). James also says "faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26), and "be doers of the word," which you must also know (so that knowledge is also required; James 1:22-27). Also Ezek 18:1- 22, 30, Rev 20:12-15 ("judged according to their works"), 22:12-14, 2 Pet 1:10, 1 John 2:3-5, Psalms 62:12, Jer 17:10, 2 Tim 3:17, Heb 5:9 (obedience). Paul says charity is more important than faith (1 Cor 13:2, 13).
Those who do not help the needy are condemned (Matt 25:34-46).
By Grace only, i.e., it is a "gift" (John 6:44, 65, Isa 43:25, Jer 30:21, Acts 15:11, 22:14, Rom 3:24, 5:15-21 (a "free gift"), 6:23, 9:16, 11:5-6, Eph 2:5-9, 1 Pet 1:10, 2 Tim 1:9, Tit 2:11, 3:5-7).
By confession of sin (Psalms 32:1-5).
By Repentance (Isa 55:6-7, Matt 3:1-6, 4:17, 9:10-13, Luke 13:1-5, Acts 17:30, Rom 6:23, James 4:7-10, 2 Pet 3:9, Rev 3:19-21).
By repentance plus baptism (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:37-38, 22:16).
By Baptism (Matt 3:1-17, 28:19-20, Luke 7:28-30, John 3:5, Acts 10:47-48, 16:25-33, 22:10-16, Gal 3:27, Heb 6:1-2, 1 Pet 3:21).
By Belief and baptism (Mark 16:16).
By repentance, faith, baptism, and laying on of hands (Heb 6:1-2).
By Calling on the Lord's (or Jesus') name (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Rom 10:13; but Matt 7:21 says "not everyone that saith Lord, Lord shall enter;" also Luke 13:25).
By stating aloud a belief in Jesus and his resurrection (Rom 10:9).
By Enduring to the end (Matt 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13).
By Poverty (Matt 19:21-24, Mark 10:21-24, Luke 18:24-25, Luke 19:8-9).
By losing our life for Jesus (Matt 16:25).
By eating Jesus' flesh (John 6:48-58) and/or by
being "born again" (John 3:3).
By justice, mercy, humility only (Micah 6:8).
But God decides, regardless of what we do (Matt 20:23, John 6:44, 65, 17:2, 6, 9, Acts 2:39, 47, 4:28, 13:48, Eph 1:4-5, 11, 2:10, Psalms 133:3, 139:16, 1 Thess 5:9, 2 Thess 2:11-14, Pr 16:4, 9, Job 23:14, Joel 2:32, Rom 2:4, 8:29-30, 9:11-18, Cor 12:18, Php 2:13, 2 Tim 1:9, 1 Pet 2:8, 5:10, Rev 17:8).
Are we really free to determine our own fate, or is it pre- determined from the beginning?
We have free will (Josh 14:15 "choose you this day whom ye will serve;" Josh 24:22 "ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him;" Deut 11:26-28, 30:19, choose life rather than death; Psalms 16:9 "a man's heart deviseth his way;" Rev 22:17 "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"; "law of liberty allows us to do good work," James 1:25; "He that hath power over his own will..," 1 Cor 7:37, John 5:38-47, 8:32, 36, Gal 5:1).
Our fate is predetermined (Eph 1:4-5, 11, "he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world...having predestinated us... according to his good pleasure;" Rom 8:29-30 "whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate;" also Acts 2:39, 47, 4:28, 13:48, Eph 1:11, 2:10, Psalms 139:16, 1 Thess 5:9, 2 Thess 2:13-14, Pr 16:4, 9, Job 23:14, Matt 20:23, John 6:44, Rom 9:11-18, 29-30,Rev 17:8, 2 Tim 1:9, 1 Pet 1:2, 20, 2:8, 5:10, Jude 4; also verses with the theme that "man proposes, God disposes": Pr 19:21, 16:33, Psalms 37:23, Job 14:5, Acts 17:26).