WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

[Mercy Shown]

The repentant thief had his sins forgiven by Christ so died sinless. After the resurrection we receive that same forgiveness through baptism, just as Peter said:

Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

That has been the Christian faith from the beginning.

And what are Christ's teachings on salvation and forgiveness? Many who were baptized will never see inside the gates of heaven. Certainly, baptism has its place, but it is not salvific.

 

[HTacianas]

And what are Christ's teachings on salvation and forgiveness? Many who were baptized will never see inside the gates of heaven. Certainly, baptism has its place, but it is not salvific.

So if the stakes are so high here why throw in something that doesn't matter?

And Christ's teachings are fairly straightforward. Repent, baptism, Chrismation are the starting points and doing good for others is what we will be judged on. That is attested to by the new testament and the entire history of Christianity.

 

[David Lamb]

He went through all of those things because all of those things were necessary.

Necessary, yes, but not necessary in order to be saved, or the apostles would have answered the jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, be baptized, and learn more about the gospel, and you will be saved." It would also mean that the repentant thief on the cross beside Jesus couldn't be saved, Yet Jesus told him he was going to heaven.

 

[David Lamb]

The repentant thief had his sins forgiven by Christ so died sinless. After the resurrection we receive that same forgiveness through baptism, just as Peter said:

Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

That has been the Christian faith from the beginning.

Not just the repentant thief, but every Christian has his sins forgiven by Christ. The word "for" in Acts 2:38 doesn't mean "in order to achieve". I've seen it explained this way: ""For" (as used in Ac 2:38 "for the forgiveness … ") could have two meanings. If you saw a poster saying "Jesse James wanted for robbery," "for" could mean Jesse is wanted so he can commit a robbery, or is wanted because he has committed a robbery. The later sense is the correct one. So too in this passage, the word "for" signifies an action in the past. Otherwise, it would violate the entire tenor of the NT teaching on salvation by grace and not by works." In other word, "Be baptized because your sins have been remitted."

 

[Danthemailman]

Actually you're right that faith alone saves. But there's a saving faith and there's an empty faith. There are people out there who claim Jesus as their Savior who are not even remotely saved. You can tell by their outward actions that they do not belong to Christ at all. Jesus said that these people have no root.

So yes, faith alone saves but a faith that saves is NEVER alone.

Amen! In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims he has faith but has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine.

It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24-28; 4:5-6; 5:1) yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-24)

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Let's face it. Some believers are just really stingy about "ways and means" of salvation. Miserly even.

Is this salvation?

• Matthew 10:42
  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
• Mark 9:41
  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Years ago I did a study with several dozens of believers online to find how many ways there are to be saved. The list quickly arrived at more than 50 specific scripturally stated items. So, were all of these necessary or just one, such as in the above?

Jesus rebuked the religious hypocrites for putting up blockades to heaven if you recall. On that basis alone I would not be overly picky about the subject.

Why in the world would any of us try to keep someone else out? That just seems very very wrong, ill headed and even hypocritical or unnecessarily hyper critical

 

[HTacianas]

Not just the repentant thief, but every Christian has his sins forgiven by Christ. The word "for" in Acts 2:38 doesn't mean "in order to achieve". I've seen it explained this way: ""For" (as used in Ac 2:38 "for the forgiveness … ") could have two meanings. If you saw a poster saying "Jesse James wanted for robbery," "for" could mean Jesse is wanted so he can commit a robbery, or is wanted because he has committed a robbery. The later sense is the correct one. So too in this passage, the word "for" signifies an action in the past. Otherwise, it would violate the entire tenor of the NT teaching on salvation by grace and not by works." In other word, "Be baptized because your sins have been remitted."

Or it could be what Christianity has taught throughout its entire history.

 

[Mercy Shown]

So if the stakes are so high here why throw in something that doesn't matter?

And Christ's teachings are fairly straightforward. Repent, baptism, Chrismation are the starting points and doing good for others is what we will be judged on. That is attested to by the new testament and the entire history of Christianity.

In general, Jesus mentioned baptism a very little. Jesus main theme was to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you should be saved.

I think it is pretty obvious that salvation it’s not accomplished by baptism. Baptism is an outward symbol of what has already occurred, and that is that the individual has died and been buried with Christ and resurrected by the same power as Christ was resurrected.

Even when asked what one must do to do the works of God Jesus never mentioned baptism he simply said, believe on the one whom God sent.

Many people, when they are reading, this will jump to the conclusion that I’m saying baptism isn’t important. But that is far from the truth for if one has been saved and regenerated by Jesus Christ why would they balk at the idea of performing this outward symbolic gesture?

The thrust of the point I am making is that salvation is not dependent upon baptism, and in fact occurs before baptism.

 

[HTacianas]

In general, Jesus mentioned baptism a very little. Jesus main theme was to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you should be saved.

I think it is pretty obvious that salvation it’s not accomplished by baptism. Baptism is an outward symbol of what has already occurred, and that is that the individual has died and been buried with Christ and resurrected by the same power as Christ was resurrected.

Even when asked what one must do to do the works of God Jesus never mentioned baptism he simply said, believe on the one whom God sent.

Many people, when they are reading, this will jump to the conclusion that I’m saying baptism isn’t important. But that is far from the truth for if one has been saved and regenerated by Jesus Christ why would they balk at the idea of performing this outward symbolic gesture?

The thrust of the point I am making is that salvation is not dependent upon baptism, and in fact occurs before baptism.

What I'm hearing from you is your opinion. And you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but your opinion disagrees with the bible and the teachings of Christianity. Jesus said, "he that believes and is baptized shall be saved", Mark 16:16, Peter said baptism was for the remission of sin, Acts 2:38, and the writer of 1 Peter says that baptism saves us, see 1 Peter 3:21. And there are no examples of anyone at all being saved in the new testament that wasn't baptized. Now, telling people there is no need to be baptized or inventing some idea that baptism is some "outward symbol" of something or another isn't doing anyone any good. You are undoing two thousand years of Christian teaching.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

What I'm hearing from you is your opinion. And you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but your opinion disagrees with the bible and the teachings of Christianity. Jesus said, "he that believes and is baptized shall be saved", Mark 16:16, Peter said baptism was for the remission of sin, Acts 2:38, and the writer of 1 Peter says that baptism saves us, see 1 Peter 3:21. And there are no examples of anyone at all being saved in the new testament that wasn't baptized. Now, telling people there is no need to be baptized or inventing some idea that baptism is some "outward symbol" of something or another isn't doing anyone any good. You are undoing two thousand years of Christian teaching.

Which baptism(s)?

There are several referenced in scripture, 3-9 depending on who's counting

 

[Mercy Shown]

What I'm hearing from you is your opinion.

No it is a fact. Jesus did not tell the repentant thief, the rich young ruler, the domoniac, the man at the pool of Siloam, the phonician woman, the lady with the bloody issue, the woman caught in adultery, the ten lepers and many more to get batized . He failed to mention it in His sermon on the mount.

He was baptized himself and in his commissions he mentioned it. But it was never a central salfvific doctrine that He taught.

And you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but your opinion disagrees with the bible and the teachings of Christianity. Jesus said, "he that believes and is baptized shall be saved", Mark 16:16, Peter said baptism was for the remission of sin, Acts 2:38, and the writer of 1 Peter says that baptism saves us, see 1 Peter 3:21. And there are no examples of anyone at all being saved in the new testament that wasn't baptized.

The repentant thief was never baptized, the demoniac has no record of being baptized. The man lowered through Peter’s roof had no baptism. I could go on.

1. Luke 7:50
   Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has savedyou; go in peace.”
2. Acts 15:11
   No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
3. Acts 16:31
   They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
4. Romans 10:9
   If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
5. 2 Timothy 1:9
   He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Now, telling people there is no need to be baptized or inventing some idea that baptism is some "outward symbol" of something or another isn't doing anyone any good. You are undoing two thousand years of Christian teaching.

So to be clear, your position is that baptism saves us?

We are saved by Grace through faith alone. Then comes baptism.

 

[HTacianas]

Which baptism(s)?

There are several referenced in scripture, 3-9 depending on who's counting

So we have nine different baptisms? Why has no one ever mentioned that before?

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

So we have nine different baptisms? Why has no one ever mentioned that before?

Yup. Tis a scriptural fact. Not all may be directly applicable to us. Depends on who's doing the dissections

 

[HTacianas]

Yup. Tis a scriptural fact. Not all may be directly applicable to us. Depends on who's doing the dissections

Why don't you tell us what a few of them are.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Why don't you tell us what a few of them are.

A few Google clicks will yield abundant scripture quotes and analysis

I cited a scripture earlier, about not losing a reward for providing a cold cup of water. How would you spin that statement of Jesus?

Many years ago I determined that Jesus is not paying or rewarding me to keep people out of heaven by excessive and often ridiculous rules. So here is the lowest barrier to entry that I use, and I've employed it virtually hundreds of times now to just about everyone I've met. Just assume people in and our own heart is the better for it:

1 John 4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

And guess what? I actually believe this is the case. Using this measure I can't think of a single person who won't make it

 

[BibleBeliever1611]

Actually you're right that faith alone saves. But there's a saving faith and there's an empty faith. There are people out there who claim Jesus as their Savior who are not even remotely saved. You can tell by their outward actions that they do not belong to Christ at all. Jesus said that these people have no root.

So yes, faith alone saves but a faith that saves is NEVER alone.

So you are saying that there are people who truly have faith in Jesus but yet they are not saved? You're denying so many Bible verses, including the most famous verse John 3:16

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

No it is a fact. Jesus did not tell the repentant thief, the rich young ruler, the domoniac, the man at the pool of Siloam, the phonician woman, the lady with the bloody issue, the woman caught in adultery, the ten lepers and many more to get batized . He failed to mention it in His sermon on the mount.

The repentant thief was never baptized, the demoniac has no record of being baptized. The man lowered through Peter’s roof had no baptism. I could go on.

Christian baptism was instituted by Christ AFTER his resurrection and BEFORE his ascension. The FIRST Christian baptism(s) occurred on the Day of Pentecost some 53 days AFTER the thief died. Of course the Thief on the cross wasn't baptized! An elementary understanding of basic chronological facts of NT reveals this.

 

[Mercy Shown]

Christian baptism was instituted by Christ AFTER his resurrection and BEFORE his ascension. The FIRST Christian baptism(s) occurred on the Day of Pentecost some 53 days AFTER the thief died. Of course the Thief on the cross wasn't baptized! An elementary understanding of basic chronological facts of NT reveals this.

I would argue otherwise. I would say that Christian Baptism was instituted when Christ was baptized. Jesus' disciples also baptized people John 4:2

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

John's baptism is not Christian baptism. Lack's the triune formula. John's disciples in Acts 19 never heard of the HS.

Christian baptism is at least three things: 1)Water applied to the human body 2) In the name of the Triune God 3) Another Christian baptizing the recipient. Christians have used this definition for 2,000 years until YOU came along.

 

[fhansen]

If you have never been saved, how do you know how you should feel? You don’t understand how a saved man feels. If you depend on your feelings, you will never know whether you are saved, for you will never be sure you have the right feeling. You may think you are saved all right and then have your feelings give way and leave you more uncertain than ever. Our feelings are constantly changing.

Exactly. It's by their love and by their fruit that we shall know them. And that's the best evidence for ourselves, as well. Change in us-the love of God in us- that produces good fruit. Everything else is pretty much just talk.