What do you believe is required for Salvation?

[Thinkingstuff]

I sometimes have whistful thinking days and something came up. I was considering the age old sermon which states that we must believe upon Jesus and surrender our lives to him to be saved. However, as I discuss issues such as Justification. The all sufficiency of the Bible. God's inerrant word. The workings of the Holy Spirit. And the such. I wonder how true that statement actually is or if we really believe it. I mean I've seen people called heretics for just about anything on this site and wonder if those "Heretics" will ever access the heavenly goal? What do you think?

 

[Dr. Walter]

I sometimes have whistful thinking days and something came up. I was considering the age old sermon which states that we must believe upon Jesus and surrender our lives to him to be saved. However, as I discuss issues such as Justification. The all sufficiency of the Bible. God's inerrant word. The workings of the Holy Spirit. And the such. I wonder how true that statement actually is or if we really believe it. I mean I've seen people called heretics for just about anything on this site and wonder if those "Heretics" will ever access the heavenly goal? What do you think?

I think that salvation is simple in one sense and complicated in another sense. The simplicity of the Gospel of salvation is to recognize yourself as guilty of sin and under the wrath of the Biblical God and receive the "good news" of God's provision for salvation by faith. In other words you don't need to be a theologion to be saved. You must be cognant of your need and God's provision to meet your need. I am in need to be saved and God's provision for salvation is sufficient to save me.

The more complicated aspect is theologically dissecting and discerning God's multi-aspect (election, reprsentation, imputation, justification, regeneration, sanctification, glorification, rewards, etc.) purpose of Salvation from A to Z.

God saves people in nearly all denominations by the simplicity of the gospel even though the theologues may distort and pervert the Gospel by their more complicated explanations and mentally lead truly saved persons astray by their philosopical explanations.

I do beleive there are truly saved persons who have been theologically led astray into mental gymnastics and theologically and philosophically wrong thinking.

 

[glfredrick]

I think that salvation is simple in one sense and complicated in another sense. The simplicity of the Gospel of salvation is to recognize yourself as guilty of sin and under the wrath of the Biblical God and receive the "good news" of God's provision for salvation by faith. In other words you don't need to be a theologion to be saved. You must be cognant of your need and God's provision to meet your need. I am in need to be saved and God's provision for salvation is sufficient to save me.

The more complicated aspect is theologically dissecting and discerning God's multi-aspect (election, reprsentation, imputation, justification, regeneration, sanctification, glorification, rewards, etc.) purpose of Salvation from A to Z.

God saves people in nearly all denominations by the simplicity of the gospel even though the theologues may distort and pervert the Gospel by their more complicated explanations and mentally lead truly saved persons astray by their philosopical explanations.

I do beleive there are truly saved persons who have been theologically led astray into mental gymnastics and theologically and philosophically wrong thinking.

Well said... I was going to respond the same way.

Christ did all the work of salvation. We respond when He calls (even if we don't realize that it is Him calling and think it is our own response). God regenerates and justifies, adopts and begins sanctification. We praise Him for what He has done, and tell others.

Take that apart theologically, and you have volume upon volume of writing just to begin the process of understanding and even then you will never be certain that you truly grasp all the implications of an infinite God doing what only He can do.

 

[webdog]

I was considering the age old sermon which states that we must believe upon Jesus and surrender our lives to him to be saved.

Half true. The first part represents faith, which is not a work...and surrendering our lives is a result of being saved and is a work.

 

[billwald]

Nothing is required for salvation. Since Jesus died for the sins of the world "saved" is the null condition.

 

[glfredrick]

Nothing is required for salvation. Since Jesus died for the sins of the world "saved" is the null condition.

Not according to Jesus...

Are you a universalist?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

I think that salvation is simple in one sense and complicated in another sense. The simplicity of the Gospel of salvation is to recognize yourself as guilty of sin and under the wrath of the Biblical God and receive the "good news" of God's provision for salvation by faith. In other words you don't need to be a theologion to be saved. You must be cognant of your need and God's provision to meet your need. I am in need to be saved and God's provision for salvation is sufficient to save me.

The more complicated aspect is theologically dissecting and discerning God's multi-aspect (election, reprsentation, imputation, justification, regeneration, sanctification, glorification, rewards, etc.) purpose of Salvation from A to Z.

God saves people in nearly all denominations by the simplicity of the gospel even though the theologues may distort and pervert the Gospel by their more complicated explanations and mentally lead truly saved persons astray by their philosopical explanations.

I do beleive there are truly saved persons who have been theologically led astray into mental gymnastics and theologically and philosophically wrong thinking.

So by your statement which seems uncommonly fair. Many of the people called heretics are not necissarily so but are actually saved individuals and have equal access to heaven as any other saved person? Why Call them Heretics?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Half true. The first part represents faith, which is not a work...and surrendering our lives is a result of being saved and is a work.

This is interesting can you explain further?

 

[RAdam]

A heretic isn't necessarily an unsaved individual. Some heretics are God's people who've gone off the deep end and lead others astray. They'll be in heaven as sure as you and I because Jesus died for them. Why call them heretics? Well, because they are heretics and their false teaching is dangerous and the bible said to separate from them after the first and second admonition.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

A heretic isn't necessarily an unsaved individual. Some heretics are God's people who've gone off the deep end and lead others astray. They'll be in heaven as sure as you and I because Jesus died for them. Why call them heretics? Well, because they are heretics and their false teaching is dangerous and the bible said to separate from them after the first and second admonition.

Under what conditions is one a heretic. For instance there are many approaches to understanding scripture among the different denominations what authoritative body has the right to call another a heretic? Or what prescriptions are used to call someone a heretic?

And if this is the case as you've stated it. How big is the small road?

 

[Matt Black]

The answer to the OP: Jesus

 

[Thinkingstuff]

The answer to the OP: Jesus

Matt I expected less vagueness from you. You are a laywer and I've forgiven you for that occupation however your not writing legislation you're commenting on salvation. So Jesus saves is cool but what does that mean and what does it entail?

 

[annsni]

My husband was going to be going to a company reunion last night but it was cancelled because one of the men had a heart attack on Sunday and was in a coma. No one wanted to celebrate while Jeff was fighting for his life. DH has continued to work with this man in his web hosting business (Jeff would cover for Bob when we went away - taking care of any issues that might crop up where we couldn't take care of it because of lack of internet access) so he's decent friends with him.

Hubby heard that his wife wanted no visitors but he really wanted to go to Jeff so he called Jeff's wife and she said "Please come." so he did. He was there last night alone - his family had gone out to get a bite to eat. Bob had an hour or so alone with Jeff who is unresponsive in a coma. They know he has brain activity but they are not sure of the outcome.

So Bob went into the room and started speaking to Jeff. He prayed with him, read Scriptures to him then gave him the Gospel. He sat on the bed and told Jeff "I really would love for you to know Jesus as your Savior. Do you want this Jeff?" and Jeff opened his eye and looked right at Bob. No other response. Bob continued to present the Gospel and told him that there was nothing any of us could do to earn the grace of God and all we needed was to believe on Jesus Christ and put our faith in His death and resurrection for our salvation. Jeff opened his other eye and continued to look at Bob. My husband prayed with him and told him that he would continue to pray for him. Jeff closed his eyes.

Jeff has nothing more to do than to trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior. There is nothing more for ANY of us to do than that. God calls us, we respond. What comes after that is a result of the new life. A child breathes, eats, grows, learns, progresses and matures BECAUSE of his new life, not to earn his life.

 

[webdog]

This is interesting can you explain further?

An unregenerated person has no idea what surrendering to Christ means. That can only come once we are in union with Christ through faith. I know many say we must turn from our sins in order to receive salvation, but that is not the biblical definition of repentance, it is turning to Christ for salvation. Once we are saved by God's grace through faith we can surrender our life to Him...and it's not a one time event, it is a lifelong change in being transformed into Christ's image. A new believer is referred to as a spiritual infant who can only take in milk. A baby does not know how to change their entire direction in life upon birth, they grow into it. Same principal applied to new believers.

 

[Tom Bryant]

My husband was going to be going to a company reunion last night but it was cancelled because one of the men had a heart attack on Sunday and was in a coma. No one wanted to celebrate while Jeff was fighting for his life. DH has continued to work with this man in his web hosting business (Jeff would cover for Bob when we went away - taking care of any issues that might crop up where we couldn't take care of it because of lack of internet access) so he's decent friends with him.

Hubby heard that his wife wanted no visitors but he really wanted to go to Jeff so he called Jeff's wife and she said "Please come." so he did. He was there last night alone - his family had gone out to get a bite to eat. Bob had an hour or so alone with Jeff who is unresponsive in a coma. They know he has brain activity but they are not sure of the outcome.

So Bob went into the room and started speaking to Jeff. He prayed with him, read Scriptures to him then gave him the Gospel. He sat on the bed and told Jeff "I really would love for you to know Jesus as your Savior. Do you want this Jeff?" and Jeff opened his eye and looked right at Bob. No other response. Bob continued to present the Gospel and told him that there was nothing any of us could do to earn the grace of God and all we needed was to believe on Jesus Christ and put our faith in His death and resurrection for our salvation. Jeff opened his other eye and continued to look at Bob. My husband prayed with him and told him that he would continue to pray for him. Jeff closed his eyes.

Jeff has nothing more to do than to trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior. There is nothing more for ANY of us to do than that. God calls us, we respond. What comes after that is a result of the new life. A child breathes, eats, grows, learns, progresses and matures BECAUSE of his new life, not to earn his life.

Very Cool!!! And you're right.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

An unregenerated person has no idea what surrendering to Christ means. That can only come once we are in union with Christ through faith. I know many say we must turn from our sins in order to receive salvation, but that is not the biblical definition of repentance, it is turning to Christ for salvation. Once we are saved by God's grace through faith we can surrender our life to Him...and it's not a one time event, it is a lifelong change in being transformed into Christ's image. A new believer is referred to as a spiritual infant who can only take in milk. A baby does not know how to change their entire direction in life upon birth, they grow into it. Same principal applied to new believers.

So question. Are you saying that as you know more you're responsible for more? And If you don't progress with gained insite you're able to loose your salvation?

 

[webdog]

So question. Are you saying that as you know more you're responsible for more? And If you don't progress with gained insite you're able to loose your salvation?

No, it has nothing to do with losing your salvation. Surrendering your life to Christ is about sanctification, not justification.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

No, it has nothing to do with losing your salvation. Surrendering your life to Christ is about sanctification, not justification.

So in your mind Justification doesn't work jointly with Sanctification? And what happens to the person who although knows more refuses to advance?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Nothing is required for salvation. Since Jesus died for the sins of the world "saved" is the null condition.

I concur :thumbs:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Matt I expected less vagueness from you. You are a laywer and I've forgiven you for that occupation however your not writing legislation you're commenting on salvation. So Jesus saves is cool but what does that mean and what does it entail?

TS.... and Ive almost forgiven you for being a Government Employee Yank but I am surprised that you do not understand Jesus Saves. Obviously your theological studies never taught you this....this is disheartening.

Are you aware of all the things did for you on the cross? Perhaps you should make a list of all that Christ accomplished on the cross for you & back it up with scripture before we proceed any further.