Is it enought to just except Christ into your heart??

[nzguy]

(Eph 2:4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
(Eph 2:5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved
(Eph 2:6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
(Eph 2:7) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
(Eph 2:8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(Eph 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

[Greatfull]

There is no need to amend my comment because we are talking about two different things. I am talking about what a person needs to do to be granted salvation. According to The Strongest Exhaustive Concordance of the NIV "Repent" (metanoeo) means "to change any or all of the elements composing one's life, attitude, thoughts, behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living". Paraphrased "turn from your sinful ways" the requirement of John 3:16. The verse you quote speaks of one who has been taught who Jesus is and what God has done through Him and strives to live according to God's teachings. The belief and confession are what helps one to accomplish this "...right living...".

I don't believe that this right living is a requirement for Salvation. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves but "believe". I do believe that good works has it's place in a Christians life but not for Salvation. All of our righteousness are as filthy rags in God's sight. It is Christ's righteousness that God accepts not ours. We take away from Christ's sacrifice when we say we need to do more to attain or retain Salvation. My concern would be that if this person believes he needs to add to the finished work of Christ to attain or retain Salvation.......will they be saved. Is their conviction of Salvation the truth? My personal conviction of Salvation is that it is not. I also believe that it can only be God who will reveal this truth to people. Saved by Grace or saved by works? Everyone has to decide. It cannot be both.

 

[JasonX43]

I don't believe that this right living is a requirement for Salvation. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves but "believe". I do believe that good works has it's place in a Christians life but not for Salvation. All of our righteousness are as filthy rags in God's sight. It is Christ's righteousness that God accepts not ours. We take away from Christ's sacrifice when we say we need to do more to attain or retain Salvation. My concern would be that if this person believes he needs to add to the finished work of Christ to attain or retain Salvation.......will they be saved. Is their conviction of Salvation the truth? My personal conviction of Salvation is that it is not. I also believe that it can only be God who will reveal this truth to people. Saved by Grace or saved by works? Everyone has to decide. It cannot be both.

But James 2:17 says, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

I don't remember where it is, but it is also written that we are to spread the gospel through all the corners of the earth and that we are to make disciples of all nations.

 

[IisJustMe]

But James 2:17 says, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

I don't remember where it is, but it is also written that we are to spread the gospel through all the corners of the earth and that we are to make disciples of all nations.

Those are commandments to believers, not requirements for salvation.

 

[MarkEvan]

True, but even our patience and our self-control are fruits of the Spirit!

I agree that they are fruit of the Spirit, however I personally see it through the scriptures that we (you, I and everyone else) work these fruits out in our own lives, they are there given by God for us to use. You have to make the choice in each situation how to respond, Jesus does not make the choice for you but He does help when you make the right choice.

I don't sit on my butt all day either, but the good things I do are never the result of me trying, or even deciding, to do something good. They are always the result of simply looking on Christ. To be honest, I have my share of self-righteousness like everybody else; I still have a tendency to be "good" in order to get praise from others (including God) or to feel better about myself, or "because I should" - but that's not love and it won't benefit me anything (I still pray that it will benefit others anyway, though).

But the good things you do (while being of Christ) are as a aresult of you trying, you making the discision. When a test comes your way, it is you who desides how to respond, is it not? And there is nothing wrong with doing good things (out of the right motive) because you know that it pleases God....thats called love.

I think it's the saddest misunderstanding in the world that this admonition means that His grace isn't sufficient, but that we must add to it with our own performance. Most churches seem to believe that on some level. It's really hard to place ALL my trust in HIM, it's really hard to have to lay aside my pride day after day after day. To give up all my religion, all my morality, all my intentions, and honestly say to God that "it's all YOURS, Lord! ALL of it!"

I do believe that His grace is sufficient, but this verse seems to me to be saying that it is up to us who are born again to utilise that grace, God is graceful and provides the way out from all temptation, He doesn`t however push us through that way out.

The more I walk with Him, the greater He becomes, and the smaller I get. But even if I fail in all this pretty much ever day, I take comfort in the fact that He will remain faithful even when I am faithless. His grace is sufficient even when I'm being a legalist

God will remain faithfull to His promises, and even should you or I turn away and sin then His promise that He will save all who call on His name, still remains true. However if we cease to call on His name then surely we cease to meet the requirements for His promises?

Jesus was clear that He was sent only to the jews, but He didn't reject gentiles. In any case, any teaching on how to keep the law, or any instructions on what you must perform to get to heaven, obviously doesn't belong in the new covenant which is based on what HE has already DONE. I think Jesus clarified the purpose of the law, which was to make sin exceedingly sinful and make the whole world stand guilty.

It is true that that was the purpose of the law, yet when at the councel in Jerusalem, the disiples decided that there were aspects of the law which gentiles should uphold. Acts 15.




Mark