How Many in the World are "Saved"?

What has been said somewhere I believe is true: "We are saved by grace through faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." The devil has faith, but what does he work?
I think it is well to note just who wrote the Epistle of James. It is generrally conceded that this James is none other than, "The brother of the Lord." Well, consider Who he grew up with. He, and his other siblings, might have done things in their life that they shouldn't have done, dispite the fact that this whole family, no doubt, had great faith. Ah, but this one Brother
continually and consistantly only did what was pleasing to God. While the Gospels do proclaim that, "Neither did His brethren believe in Him," the example of this Brother, The Lord Jesus Christ, had to have had a lasting affect. Yes, James and the others had faith, but sometimes it failed to show in their actions (That's where we are, imperfect.) But this one Brother consistantly demonstrated His faith in His actions. Hence, his Epistle.

 

They believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and they believe that he died and was risen from the dead. That's what the core of salvation is. If a person does these two things, he or she is saved, irregardless of the type of baptism or eucharist. Some people "add" to their salvation by saying works are a prerequistie, others say believe in baptismal regeneration to be saved. The facts are that the gospel is clear about what it takes for a person to be saved.

They do not believe in Jesus Christ as their redemption, so they are not saved.

They have never placed Jesus Christ as Lord of their life - Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.

I cannot speak to the salvation of Mormons and JW's. I don't know enough of them to say one way or another, and I have heard convincing cases by evangelical Christians both ways. However, that is God who is in control there.

A couple of Wednesdays ago, I was discouraged because we didn't have any visitors for our youth service. We usually average about 60-70 kids with anywhere from 5-15 visitors. We are down for the summer, so we had about 30, with no visitors. All thirty are members of the church, have been baptized, and profess to be Christians. Guess what - I preached the gospel anyway. We NEVER know the true hearts of men and when a person who has played the Christianity game wakens to the drawing power of the Spirit.

I even regularly go to my most faithful students and ask them their assurance of salvation. In the springtime, I asked one of them - he was one of the leaders of our group - and he said "yes." A little over a month ago, he came back to me and said that he lied to me - that he was not sure of his salvation. Through prayer, conversation, and the conviction of the Spirit, he realized that he had never placed Christ as Lord of his life, chose to accept Christ, and was saved right then and there. We never know who among our congregation and among the people of the world who is saved or not. Only God knows. THAT is why we should preach the gospel, no matter who the listener is.

 

IMO, There are different aspects of salvation which make it proper to say : We are saved by grace or by faith.

Grace is the cause, it comes out of the sovereignty of God.

Faith is the effect or result of that grace in the life of the individual, the human aspect.

Jesus Christ and His redemptive work is the object of our faith.

True faith will have certain characteristics about it; one of them is the bearing of proper fruit (deeds and doctrine) in due season. This is our post-faith sanctification, a cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

HankD

 

Hi ScottEmerson. You said; " This may be why many do not believe "faith alone," but that works must precede faith." . Actually, it's the other way around (Eph. 2: 8-9). Grace must precede works (Titus 3: 5, 2 Tim. 1: 9).

A works first concept is shown to have negative consequences (Matt. 7: 22-23). Practicing "works first" in order to obtain "grace" is a doomed strategy. Thanks! latterrain77

 

I'm sorry! The word I meant to use was "follow." I thought I had gone back and edited that! I in no way believe that works can save a person!

 

Hi Scott. Thanks for the reply. Terrific! I'm glad that you knew it. Thanks! latterrain77

 

Ah, and one also has to place Him as Lord of their life. That and belief in the death and resurrection of Christ are the prerequisites for salvation.

That is still better than your previous number of 98 out of 100 people going to Hell.

 

The book of James talks about the difference between a creedal faith and a genuine faith. The Jews had a creedal faith and not a genuine faith in Jesus. Certainly works will follow a genuine faith. There wil be evidence of salvation in a person's life. Works do not produce faith. Real faith produces works in accordance with real faith.

The word for belief is most often a verb in the Greek. True belief is accompanied by an action that demonstrates the realness of the belief. In James it talks about an intellectual belief when it talks about "the demons believe and shudder."

When it talks about baptism in Acts 2:38, "Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." it means that those who demonstrate their belief by being baptized will be saved. But those who were baptized could lose their life because they were now publically changing their allegiance from the emperor to Jesus Christ. By being baptized they now named Christ and their Lord thereby renouncing the emperor as their lord.

It's much like saying that those who are willing to lose their life for Jesus Christ will be saved. That is certainly evidence of a genuine faith.

 

Not just works follow biblical faith but correct doctrine as well.

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

 

But what, specifically, is the doctrine of Christ? Is it the infallibility of the Scriptures? I don't think so. Is it once saved/always saved? No, I don't think that, either. Is it the virgin birth? Not that either, I don't think. What about homosexuality as sin? Nah, not that either.

The doctrine of Christ would appear to me to be that he was the Son of God, that he was crucified and rose from the dead, and that he is to be Lord of the saved person's life.

 

John 10:34 … the scripture cannot be broken;

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

 

John 10:34 … the scripture cannot be broken;</font>[/QUOTE]This is the OT that he is talking of. He never mentions the NT.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.</font>[/QUOTE]REad the parable of the unforgiving servant. The guy is forgiven by the King and then because of his actions he is tortured until he can pay back the debt that was previously cancelled. Are you saying that no Arminian is saved because he believes that a person can lose his salvation?

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.</font>[/QUOTE]And this relates...how? Surely you know that Paul never refers to the Virgin Birth. Only two books in the Bible do (Three if you count Isaiah, which many don't because of the betulah/almah issue).

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. </font>[/QUOTE][/quote]

It's not a matter about sin. It's a matter about whether homosexuality IS sin.

 

Dear Scott,

It is evident that we are not "on the same page".

HankD

 

So, if we are not on the same page about the doctrine of Christ, which one of us isn't saved?

(BTW, I believer in the inerrancy of the originals, although there are certain parts that fundamentalists real literally, while I understand them as alleghory; I believe in the vigin birth; I believe once saved, always saved; and I believe that homosexuality is a sin. However, the burden of proof is on you to show how all these are required theological tenets for someone to be saved.)

 

Good post, Dr. Bob!

The only thing I would add is, IMO, if we believe what Jesus taught, those numbers are probably a lot lower about who is born again.

Matthew 7:13-14

Joseph Botwinick

 

Justification by faith ALONE is taught throughout the Scriptures. Here is one place:

Here we have a statement in Scripture that specifically says that God justifies the person who does not work. God declares a guilty sinner righteous when he exercises saving faith alone.

Andy </font>[/QUOTE]And still many Christians believe that faith without works is dead. This may be why many do not believe "faith alone," but that works must precede faith. </font>[/QUOTE]True faith leads to salvation, not the works. True faith that leads to salvation produces the fruits of the spirit (works). Read the rest of that passage. Don't stop with verse 17. Go on to verse 18:

"But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

Joseph Botwinick

 

They believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and they believe that he died and was risen from the dead. That's what the core of salvation is. If a person does these two things, he or she is saved, irregardless of the type of baptism or eucharist. Some people "add" to their salvation by saying works are a prerequistie, others say believe in baptismal regeneration to be saved. The facts are that the gospel is clear about what it takes for a person to be saved. </font>[/QUOTE]These people who try to add to what Jesus has done are wrong and are preaching a false Gospel.

Joseph Botwinick

 

But what, specifically, is the doctrine of Christ? Is it the infallibility of the Scriptures? I don't think so. Is it once saved/always saved? No, I don't think that, either. Is it the virgin birth? Not that either, I don't think. What about homosexuality as sin? Nah, not that either.

The doctrine of Christ would appear to me to be that he was the Son of God, that he was crucified and rose from the dead, and that he is to be Lord of the saved person's life. </font>[/QUOTE]Since Christ is God, and he inspired all scriptures, I would say that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I, therefore, would say that all scripture contains the doctrine of God.

Joseph Botwinick