This question came to me from another thread where I asked what Jesus meant when he said "If you love me you will keep my commandments" in John 14:15. This got me to thinking "If obeying God's commandments proves our love for him then is obeying God's commandments a requirement for salvation?"
Yes. While we are initially and ultimately saved by God's grace, we are also saved (enter into life by keeping God's commandments, too). How so?
Jesus says, ""...but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19:17).
You said:
Ephesians 2:8-9 says:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 is talking about "Initial Salvation" and not "Continued Salvation."
#1. Ephesians 2:1 says, "you hath he quickened" and Ephesians 2:5 says, "quickened us together with Christ."
#2. Ephesians 2:18 says, "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."
#3. Ephesians 3:6-7 says, "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."
You said:
The bible is clear by this verse and many others like it like John 3:16
No, John 3:16 needs to be read alongside the following verses that talks about the "Condemnation."
For it says,
19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:19-21).
Did you catch that? It says in verse 20 that everyone who does evil hates the light lest (unless) his deeds should be reproved. In other words, a person needs to repent. They need to confess their sins and forsake them. If they haven't done so, then they have not truly repented.
You said:
Verse 39 says "Should" in relation to losing nothing.
Verse 40 says "may" in relation to having everlasting life.
The words "should" and "may" do not suggest a guarantee here.
For example: If I said to you,
“I should be at your house tomorrow, but I am really busy,”
You would not take that as a guarantee.
You said:
We ARE saved by grace THROUGH faith in Jesus's death,burial, and resurrection.
Yes, this is true; But Sanctification is the next step or phase in the salvation process. Also, works are a part of your faith. James says so himself. He says we are justified by works (James 2:24), and he says he will show you his faith by his works (James 2:18); James says faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
You said:
But there were a few statements by Jesus that are alarming to say the least. For instance, when Jesus said in Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." This statement can be alarming because to forgive others is a difficult task to do. Especially if somebody murdered your child, you would be commanded by God to forgive that person. And maybe by Jesus's statement in Matthew 6:15 it means that if we do not forgive others, we cannot and will not be saved.
As difficult as that would be to forgive in that scenario, we are still commanded to forgive in order to be forgiven. Our love for God comes before our child. Remember Abraham and what God asked of him concerning his son Isaac?
Do you remember the following words by Jesus?
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37).
You said:
But what about keeping the commandments of Christ? Obedience must play some role in our salvation because, if we do not obey the gospel.
Yes, there are consequences in not obeying the gospel.
“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
Actually, most (and possibly not all) Eternal Security proponents only believe in a half gospel or a milk type only gospel (i.e. The gospel's initial portion that tells them to believe in His death and resurrection - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This is the milk of the Word that the Corinthians could only accept. It was the only message they could bear because they were still yet carnal (See 1 Corinthians 3:2-3). It's why Paul said he came not to know anything among the Corinthians accept Jesus and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2) because they would not be able to bear the second half of the message of the gospel (i.e. the meat of the Word).
The majority of Eternal Security proponents do not believe in the Bible's full or complete gospel (i.e. the meat of the Word). The second half or truth of the gospel is that Christ died so as to redeem us from all iniquity and so as to live holy and be zealous of good works.
Ephesians 5:25-27
25 “even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Titus 2:14
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
13 "...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, "
Romans 15:18-19
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient —
19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. NKJV
Romans 1:16-18
16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
Hebrews 5:9
"And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, NKJV
Romans 1:16-17 says,
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." NKJV
Did you catch verse 17? It says the just shall LIVE by faith. If one lives by faith they will have works as James says. For faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
You said:
So obviously, that much obedience IS required for salvation. But, I'm stumped as to what other obedience is required for salvation.
Obviously, a person who really loved God and truly wished to be saved would not take any chances and would want to keep Christ's every word. But can people who do not keep Christ's every word be saved? Is this optional? Will we be rewarded in the next life for keeping God's laws?
1 John 5:16-17 says there are sins unto death and sins not unto death. Meaning, not all sin leads to the second death (i.e. the Lake of Fire). Sins that lead unto death are unconfessed sins such as murder, coveting, stealing, adultery, etc. (Which is not loving your neighbor - See Romans 13:8-10). Who is our neighbor? Everyone. Especially the poor. How so? Well, a certain lawyer asked Jesus,
“...who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:29).
This is where Jesus answers this man’s question by telling him about the Parable of the Good Samaritan (See Luke 10:30-37).
But what is even more ironic is that the verses before it, Jesus says something that Eternal Security Proponents don’t want to hear these days. Jesus says,
25 “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”
(Luke 10:25-28).
Notice above do we see Jesus give the standard pre-recorded Eternal Security response by saying we are saved exclusively by Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection alone. Nowhere does Jesus say that here; And nor does anyone else. Jesus asks this lawyer what must he do to enter eternal life and the lawyer answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and they neighbour as thyself.” Then Jesus replied, “Do this and you shall live.” This is confirmed in Matthew 19:17 when Jesus is asked by the rich young ruler what he must do to enter eternal life, Jesus replies with, if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. This is loving God and loving your neighbor. In Matthew 25 we learn that loving the poor by helping them is the equivalent of doing the same for Jesus; And the believer who refuses to help the poor in this life will not make it into the Kingdom of God.
Side Note:
What is the "Sin
Not Unto Death" in 1 John 5:16-17?
In context, 1 John 5 is talking about serious sins that are confessed. However, the "Sin Not Unto Death" also extends to not being baptized (1 Peter 3:21), and hidden or secret faults (Psalms 19:12) (This is sort of like going over the speed limit a little or not taking out the trash last night like you knew you should have, etc.).
) That reminds of "15For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life
