Does God require anything of us in order to be saved?

  • Yes He does.

    Votes: 8 72.7%
  • I'm not sure.

    Votes: 1 9.1%
  • No He doesn't.

    Votes: 2 18.2%

  • Total voters
    11

John the Ex-Baptist

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Obviously this question is a fundamental question that every Christian should contemplate, but one that is also likely to draw out pat answers that are passed along without thinking much about it.

I would like to respectfully ask that those who participate on this thread, first of all cast their vote on the poll attached, and then briefly explain their reasoning, preferably from a Scriptural basis. The poll has been set to only one vote per person, but that vote may be changed at any time a person wishes.

Looking forward to your participation.

John :angel:
 

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Yes. God requires something of us. We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
 
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devin553344

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Obviously this question is a fundamental question that every Christian should contemplate, but one that is also likely to draw out pat answers that are passed along without thinking much about it.

I would like to respectfully ask that those who participate on this thread, first of all cast their vote on the poll attached, and then briefly explain their reasoning, preferably from a Scriptural basis. The poll has been set to only one vote per person, but that vote may be changed at any time a person wishes.

Looking forward to your participation.

John :angel:

Love of God is a priority and then love your neighbor: Matthew 22:36-40. Luke 16:13 indicates that you might fall into the wrong masters domain if you don't feel love for God. And perhaps love of God is a good indicator of how well you're doing spiritually.

And maybe in today's society many fall into the other masters domain, and love evil things.
 
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John the Ex-Baptist

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No, salvation is God's responsibility and God's work.
What about believing and trusting in His work, isn't that necessary on our part?

John 6:28–29 (ESV)

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 3:18 (ESV)

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
 
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Handmaid for Jesus

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No, salvation is God's responsibility and God's work.
I must be misunderstanding what you are saying. Are you saying it is not necessary for one to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in order to receive salvation?
 
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John the Ex-Baptist

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Love of God is a priority and then love your neighbor: Matthew 22:36-40. Luke 16:13 indicates that you might fall into the wrong masters domain if you don't feel love for God. And perhaps love of God is a good indicator of how well you're doing spiritually.

And maybe in today's society many fall into the other masters domain, and love evil things.
Thanks @devin553344 for your reply. While I would agree that how we view the Law of God is a good indicator of our spiritual condition, none of us are able attain salvation by how we fulfill the Law ourselves.

In Lutheran and Reformed theology, there are three acknowledged uses of the Law, two of which are crucial to Christians. One is that the Law is held before us as a mirror that exposes our sin for what it is, driving us to the forgiveness of God in Christ found in the Gospel. And the second being that which Christians can look to as God's children, not trying to fulfill it out of fear of His wrath, but out of a desire to live our lives out in a manner pleasing to Him.

In summary, I would agree with you that the fruit of righteousness is inevitably displayed in varying degrees in all Christian believers, by the power of the Holy Spirit. However these works are not that which results in us being saved, but flows out of us being saved already.
 
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John the Ex-Baptist

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I think more like God requires things of us because we are saved. I think of verses like Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Thanks for the reply @Lazarus Short. I've just replied to a virtually identical comment which you can read just a few posts down the thread. What I'm trying to get us to think about though, is whether or not the actual text of the Bible places any conditions on those being saved through the Gospel?
 
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nonaeroterraqueous

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"...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 20:9 ESV)

The essence of it is that I don't think there's any such thing as a secret conversion. A decision that never makes it to the lips is not finalized. It's also why I don't believe in silent prayers. That's the aletheuo of it, as far as I'm concerned.
 
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John the Ex-Baptist

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This may make no sense whatsoever to most reading this thread, if not everyone, but @nonaeroterraqueous is that you Mark? I so hope it is!!:pray: The username and quoting the word "aletheuo" makes it virtually impossible to be anyone else I reckon!
 
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devin553344

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Thanks @devin553344 for your reply. While I would agree that how we view the Law of God is a good indicator of our spiritual condition, none of us are able attain salvation by how we fulfill the Law ourselves.

In Lutheran and Reformed theology, there are three acknowledged uses of the Law, two of which are crucial to Christians. One is that the Law is held before us as a mirror that exposes our sin for what it is, driving us to the forgiveness of God in Christ found in the Gospel. And the second being that which Christians can look to as God's children, not trying to fulfill it out of fear of His wrath, but out of a desire to live our lives out in a manner pleasing to Him.

In summary, I would agree with you that the fruit of righteousness is inevitably displayed in varying degrees in all Christian believers, by the power of the Holy Spirit. However these works are not that which results in us being saved, but flows out of us being saved already.

Sure unless your worried about judgement: Revelation 20:13, how does that fit into your beliefs? I think I would like to be well on judgement day. What is judgement, and where will it send us? To heaven or hell? These are things to consider. Did I get something wrong? Thanks for your reply :)
 
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Obviously this question is a fundamental question that every ...

My answer is, He doesn’t require anything. Reason is, forgiveness is declared freely. And forgiveness saves from the judgment that would come because of sin. But obviously, if you don’t receive it, then it is not useful. Also, if after sins are forgiven, you continue in sin and don’t become righteous, it is not very useful.

Forgiveness saves from the judgment and gives a new start, but after it people should repent and reject sin and become righteous. And those who are righteous, will get eternal life as a gift.

"Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
Matt. 4:17

"Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."
John 8:11

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46


For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23
 
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Faith alone is not scriptural. Look at these passages:
1 John 2:3-4 The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Romans 2:6-10 ...who will repay everyone according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, 8 but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. 9 Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. 10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek.

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?

Matthew 19:16-21 Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

John 5:29 ... those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.

Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

Revelation 20:12 I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls.

Matthew 25:31-46 1 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ 44 Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ 45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ 46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Galatians 6:7-10 "Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, 8 because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. 9 Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. 10 So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.
 
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nonaeroterraqueous

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This may make no sense whatsoever to most reading this thread, if not everyone, but @nonaeroterraqueous is that you Mark? I so hope it is!!:pray: The username and quoting the word "aletheuo" makes it virtually impossible to be anyone else I reckon!

Yeah, it's me, old buddy! I've been hanging out here waiting to see if you'd find this place. I thought that word would get your attention.
 
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