I suggest the written Word of God is what has settled it, as a couple have stated, by more or less quoting Acts 16:31. And since Acts 16:31 is given as a direct answer to the question, that I likewise gave as a quote, then that is what I believe, as well.
Allen's comment of "(1)Hear, (2)believe, (3)live." give rise to another question. (Actually a question and a different comment.)
Would one agree that it is necessary for one to physically 'hear', verbally? I'd say "No!" to this, although that is probably the most usual way for one to become aware of this message. Would 'reading' a sermon or a testimony be equivalent in this to 'hearing' one? Just wonderin'.
The second thing is the comment, as I am going to comment on " (3)live."
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading
of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “
‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[
a] and
‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[
b]
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly;
do this and you will live.”
29 But he,
wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Lk. 10:25-29 - NKJV, my emphasis )
And as Jesus gave the account of 'The Good Samaritan', here, I would guess that most of us know "The Rest of the Story", fairly well.
My question/comment is do we really know the 'First of the Story' as well as we know the 'Rest of the Story'? Do we really notice that Jesus did
NOT promise or say that this would get one "
eternal life", rather "this do and thou shalt
live" (KJV). The lawyer was also asking what to "
do to
inherit eternal life", also missing the point that it was/is a gift (and not something that is earned) as stated in John 5:24, which Allan quoted. "The Law" does not, to my knowledge, have
any promise of "
eternal life" contained in it in any way, although it does contain plenty of 'curses' including (physical) death for
not keeping many of the precepts. And I believe Scripture speaks on what 'The Law" was for and could and could not do, many times, including that it could not give life. (Galatians 3)
Lastly I would note that the lawyer was really not 'wanting to know' but interested in two things - (a.) 'testing Jesus' (Lk. 10:25). and (b.) "wanting to justify himself", or as the YLT phrases it, " willing to declare
himself righteous" (Lk. 10:29).
A common affliction, NO?? :laugh:
Ed