What must I do to be saved?

Bible Highlighter said:

False accusations does not make your belief true. I don't believe I do any good works. I believe any good work I do it is God doing the good work through me. I am nothing in and of myself alone. God alone is good.

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Yet you preach, those who dont have works will not have grace. When works negate grace.

Galatians 2:21
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

GraceInChrist said:

By his blood alone we are clean.

Hebrews 9
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:


14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?


15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Revelation 5:9

King James Version

9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

we are redeemed by his blood. Not our works that are dead in trespasses.

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1 John 1:7 says if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

What is walking in the light mean?

Walking in the light is loving your brother according to the indirect wording in 1 John 2:9-11.

So 1 John 1:7 is saying that if we love our brother the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
This lines up with 1 John 3:10 that says that he that loves not his brother is not of God.

GraceInChrist said:

If love your neighbor, wouldnt you be marvel in Gods grace how he saved him even if he is not as "righteous as you think you are". But no. You wish to boast your works instead of asking for grace and forgiveness.

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I do not believe in Works Alone Salvationism. No man can save themselves by their works alone without God's grace. A person is first saved by God's grace and by believing the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Nobody can put the cart before the horse. This is why I am strongly against the church of Christ because they believe you have to be water baptized in order to be saved. They are making a work of water baptism a means of salvation instead of God's grace alone when we first come to the Lord. We are initially and foundationally saved by God's grace. But after we are saved by God's grace, we enter into the next step or phase in the salvation process by entrance into the Sanctification of the Spirit (i.e. to put away, sin, do good works by God working through us, and to live holy lives by God's power). For 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 teaches us that the gospel call is.... God has chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and a belief of the truth.

Bible Highlighter said:

1 John 1:7 says if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

What is walking in the light mean?

Walking in the light is loving your brother according to the indirect wording in 1 John 2:9-11.

So 1 John 1:7 is saying that if we love our brother the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
This lines up with 1 John 3:10 that says that he that loves not his brother is not of God.

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1 Jhon 3
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sounds like you are still under law.

GraceInChrist said:

Yet you preach, those who dont have works will not have grace. When works negate grace.

Galatians 2:21
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

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Paul is talking about the Old Testament Law of Moses here. Just read the context. He is not referring to the commands of Jesus and His followers, but the 613 Laws of Moses given to Israel.

Bible Highlighter said:

I do not believe in Works Alone Salvationism. No man can save themselves by their works alone without God's grace. A person is first saved by God's grace and by believing the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Nobody can put the cart before the horse. This is why I am strongly against the church of Christ because they believe you have to be water baptized in order to be saved. They are making a work of water baptism a means of God's grace when this is not the case. We are initially and foundationally saved by God's grace. But after we are saved by God's grace, we enter into the next step or phase in the salvation process by entrance into the Sanctification of the Spirit (i.e. to put away, sin, do good works by God working through us, and to live holy lives by God's power). For 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 teaches us that the gospel call is.... God has chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and a belief of the truth.

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This is were I disagree. He who doesnt obey the law is chastised, God doesnt abandone his children. When someone persists in evil, God rebukes but never takes his spirit of us. We have two natures, one of the body and one which is perfect and is of the spirit.

Romans 7:14-25

King James Version

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.


Is Paul of the devil because he sins?

Bible Highlighter said:

Paul is talking about the Old Testament Law of Moses here. Just read the context. He is not referring to the commands of Jesus and His followers, but the 613 Laws of Moses given to Israel.

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Those are the same laws, the were given to guide the unrighteous into a life that pleases God.
Or when it says do not murder, is it not an act of love?

GraceInChrist said:

1 Jhon 3
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sounds like you are still under law.

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So you are not under the following Law salvation wise that says this?

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23).

Are you saying that believing in Jesus is not a part of salvation?
Well, it's a commandment (i.e. a law).

Are you not under the following Law?

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free....” (Romans 8:2).
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is defined for us in Romans 8:1 that says this:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).

There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who walk NOT AFTER THE FLESH (sin), but who walk after the Spirit. In fact, Galatians 5:16 says,

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).

How exactly do you believe verses like Galatians 5:16 and 2 Corinthians 7:1?

I don't see how you can if you believe the way you do, my friend. Belief Alone-ism or a sin and still be saved type belief does not exist for God's people in the Scriptures.

Bible Highlighter said:

So you are not under the following Law salvation wise that says this?

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23).

Are you saying that believing in Jesus is not a part of salvation?
Well, it's a commandment (i.e. a law).

Are you not under the following Law?

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free....” (Romans 8:2).
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is defined for us in Romans 8:1 that says this:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).

There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who walk NOT AFTER THE FLESH (sin), but who walk after the Spirit. In fact, Galatians 5:16 says,

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).

How exactly do you believe verses like Galatians 5:16 and 2 Corinthians 7:1?

I don't see how you can if you believe the way you do, my friend. Belief Alone-ism or a sin and still be saved type belief does not exist for God's people in the Scriptures.

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My inner man is perfect, it was made perfect by faith the moment I believed in the logos of God, I was washed by his blood and sanctified by it alone. Nevetheless the way my flesh walks has nothing to do with it.
Or do you really believe God will let us pass to his kingdom being forever less than perfect. It is a supernatural birth, in which there are two of us. One sanctified in the circumcision of the heart in which the holy ghost recides and we are the temple. And the other is the mortal and sinful man, in which it will perish with the flesh.

GraceInChrist said:

This is were I disagree. He who doesnt obey the law is chastised, God doesnt abandone his children. When someone persists in evil, God rebukes but never takes his spirit of us. We have two natures, one of the body and one which is perfect and is of the spirit.

Romans 7:14-25

King James Version

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.


Is Paul of the devil because he sins?

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The two nature view is false. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:1, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

As for chastisement:

Chastisement only works if the person is actually corrected from their wrong behavior. A dog is chastised for pooping on the carpet with the intended goal of getting the animal to stop pooping on the carpet. But most Belief Alone Proponents believe they will always commit grievous sin this side of heaven. Thus, chastisement does not make any sense in their worldview. It would be like kicking a dog who has an uncontrollable pooping problem. No change and yet they are corrected or chastised? For what end goal or purpose? If they continue in sin, they are still saved. Chastisement is really not an effective deterrent because they know they can just sin and still be saved anyways. So chastisement only works if a believer knows they can lose their salvation if they justify sin in some way.

As for Romans 7:14-24:

Paul is speaking from his experience of when he was a Pharisee while he was trying to follow the false Pharisee religion that made salvation primarily a system of Works Alone Salvationism without God's grace. We know Paul is not in favor of sinning while under God's grace because he says,

“...Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” (Romans 6:1-2).

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14).

GraceInChrist said:

My inner man is perfect, it was made perfect by faith the moment I believed in the logos of God, I was washed by his blood and sanctified by it alone. Nevetheless the way my flesh walks has nothing to do with it.
Or do you really believe God will let us pass to his kingdom being forever less than perfect. It is a supernatural birth, in which there are two of us. One sanctified in the circumcision of the heart in which the holy ghost recides and we are the temple. And the other is the mortal and sinful man, in which it will perish with the flesh.

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Again, you need to back up your claims with Scripture instead of making opinion based statements.

Bible Highlighter said:

Again, you need to back up your claims with Scripture instead of making opinion based statements.

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Colossians 2:11

King James Version

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Romans 2:25-29

King James Version

25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

GraceInChrist said:

Those are the same laws, the were given to guide the unrighteous into a life that pleases God.
Or when it says do not murder, is it not an act of love?

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Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed. So you have to look at the 613 Laws of Moses as being one contract given to Israel, and the laws (or commands) given to us by Jesus and His followers (in the New Covenant) is another contract. For Romans 7:6 says, "we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

Think of it like when a person may buy a house. They are offered a contract for buying that house. But if that person does not like the contract in certain places, they may request to have the contract changed. If the seller and real estate agent agree to the changes, they will draw up a new contract (with the new changes) so as to sell the house to him. For this guy who is buying the house, his idea of the purchase (according to the new contract) is more fulfilled and complete to his liking. So what do they do with the old contract? They discard it. Entirely? No. The new contract may have repeated many things in the old contract, but the new contract has changes in it that fulfill a better purpose or desire for the buyer.

We know that the New Covenant (New Contract) began officially with Christ's death (See Hebrews 9:16-17, Luke 22:20, Matthew 27:51). With the exception of a few instances like Christ endorsing animal sacrifices in Matthew 5:24, Jesus primarily was taught New Covenant teachings before the cross and not OT teachings. Jesus was preparing others for the way of the upcoming New Covenant or New Testament that would go into effect when he died upon the cross.

GraceInChrist said:

Colossians 2:11

King James Version

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

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Read the context. It's not talking about the Moral Law like: Do not murder, do not steal, do not covet, etc.; Colossians 2:11 is in context to ordinances that were nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14), and these ordinances are defined for us in Colossians 2:16 as sabbaths, holy days, dietary laws, etc.; In other words, the ceremonial laws like the Saturday Sabbath, circumcision, and animal sacrifices are no more. They have been nailed to the cross.

GraceInChrist said:

His blood is the one that clean us.
Galatians 5

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

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Again, if you believe it is his blood that cleanses you, then why don't you accept 1 John 1:7?
For it says if we walk in the light.... the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

Bible Highlighter said:

The two nature view is false. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:1, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

As for chastisement:

Chastisement only works if the person is actually corrected from their wrong behavior. A dog is chastised for pooping on the carpet with the intended goal of getting the animal to stop pooping on the carpet. But most Belief Alone Proponents believe they will always commit grievous sin this side of heaven. Thus, chastisement does not make any sense in their worldview. It would be like kicking a dog who has an uncontrollable pooping problem. No change and yet they are corrected or chastised? For what end goal or purpose? If they continue in sin, they are still saved. Chastisement is really not an effective deterrent because they know they can just sin and still be saved anyways. So chastisement only works if a believer knows they can lose their salvation if they justify sin in some way.

As for Romans 7:14-24:

Paul is speaking from his experience of when he was a Pharisee while he was trying to follow the false Pharisee religion that made salvation primarily a system of Works Alone Salvationism without God's grace. We know Paul is not in favor of sinning while under God's grace because he says,

“...Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” (Romans 6:1-2).

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14).

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Romans 8
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

GraceInChrist said:

His blood is the one that clean us.
Galatians 5

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

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Being justified by the Law is in reference to the 613 laws of Moses. How so?
Galatians 5:2 says if you seek to be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
Circumcision is a part of the laws given to Abraham and Moses and it is not a Law given to us by Jesus and His followers. So again, you have to rightly divide and look at what “law” Paul is referring to.

Bible Highlighter said:

Again, if you believe it is his blood that cleanses you, then why don't you accept 1 John 1:7?
For it says if we walk in the light.... the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

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Because my flesh cannot walk in the light. My spirit does. I trust in his grace alone.

GraceInChrist said:

Romans 8
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

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You have to keep reading.

Romans 8:13 says, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

Bible Highlighter said:

Being justified by the Law is in reference to the 613 laws of Moses. How so?
Galatians 5:2 says if you seek to be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
Circumcision is a part of the laws given to Abraham and Moses and it is not a Law given to us by Jesus and His followers. So again, you have to rightly divide and look at what “law” Paul is referring to.

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What part of those are laws dont you understand? If you wish to be in bondage with it, so be it.