Salvation

[John The Gadarene]

If that's all we need to do to be saved, how would you answer the"Someone could be a horrible person but still believe in Jesus and therefore get saved" thing?

Being horrible qualifies us for redemption. An overwhelming, compelling desire for God allows Him to forgive

 

[-57]

What, in your opinion, is the least you have to do to get saved?

Can you answer the question without applying "There is more to Christianity than salvation" arguments?

Concerning your salvation....you have absolutly nothing to do with it.
Here's why....
1) The unsaved is...And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Eph 2:1

2) The saved were ....made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! Eph 2:5

People are dead in sin. They have to be made alive. (regenerated)...there is nothing you can do considering you're spiritually dead.

In fact:
3) Unless you are given the ability by God, you can't come to Jesus......Then Jesus said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him." John 6:65

4) Your salvation is determined before you are even born. Romans 9:11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls.

5) You don't choose Jesus...rather Jesus chooses you........John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

6) You can't earn salvation. Salvation is a gift. You can't earn a gift or else it wouldn't be a gift. Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not byworks, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life

 

[-57]

Be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and Love God, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Well we know this can't be the way to salvation. Who can really love your neighbor...100 %...the way the bible commands us to? One slip up...and your doomed.

Secondly if water baptism was a requirement for salvation John 3:16 would read like this....“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him and is baptized in water should not perish but have eternal life.

 

[-57]

Suit yourself. When asking questions, you have to start somewhere. I can't just regain my faith and start asking questions on end-times, for example.

People seem to forget, FAITH is a gift.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

...if you want more faith, ask God for more of the gift of faith.

James 1:5 speaks of wisdom....Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the One giving generously to all and not finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But, before you ask....read around the verses. Understand them in the proper context.

 

[David.c]

Repent of your sins through Jesus Christ as your savior and forgive the people who have caused you pain and suffering (Why should God forgive you if you do not forgive those around you?). I am surprised how many people here are risking their souls with interpretive @#@$ straying away from the truthful words of God. God is pure and unchanging so why should you interpret or use alternative versions of the Bible to better suit your lifestyle. Literally all you have to do is read the black and white version of the Bible. Like what is going on here:

Actually there is no long answer here. There is nothing you must do nor is there anything you can do for your salvation. It is a free gift of God and requires no payment or promise. There is literally no action that you can take that will save your soul. The sacrifice has already been done. The price has already been paid.

It is both accepting Jesus as Savior (dying to atone for our sins) and Lord (making Him Lord of your life; in essence becoming a disciple and following Him).

Yes you do have to accept him as a savior and Jesus is a gift from God to pay for our sins but you still must be sorry for your crimes by repenting, imagine someone doing the worst things you can think of - murdering, raping, molesting children... do you actually think that if someone did even just one of these crimes just one time and did not repent in their hearts that God would let them into heaven when a hell exists. Now I doubt anyone here has come close to such sins but God is so pure that a sin that seems so innocent by human standards such as a lie, disgusts him more than rape disgusts a common person. PLEASE do not make mistakes especially when you're dealing with eternity, if you shrug this off at least get scared if you are in imminent danger and quickly repent (what harm can it do).

 

[-57]

Yes you do have to accept him as a savior and Jesus is a gift from God to pay for our sins but you still must be sorry for your crimes by repenting,

Can you support what you said here with scripture or is it opinion?

 

[PropheticTimes]

That's correct.

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:21-23)



As just demonstrated by Christ Himself in the Scripture above, our repentance is required. It is precisely why the Gospel message was preceded by John with the exclamation "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near! (Matthew 3:2)" Then by Jesus, again, in Matthew 4:17. Do not let anyone tell you that preaching a message of repentance is another Gospel; a Gospel with no repentance is another Gospel, and it is one that will ensure your damnation.

While the patience, grace and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ are free gifts for the one who truly accepts them (Ephesians 2:8-9), they are given for something; that is, to accomplish something in the believer. Salvation does not end at justification, but merely begins there. Once we are saved from the just wrath of God, if our submission for Christ's salvation and Lordship is genuine, we are then saved from sin, to repentance towards Christ, for good works. As the Scriptures say: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10)." "Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance (Romans 2:4)?" "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17, see also Galatians 6:15)"

Jesus declared: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned (John 15:5-6)."

In Jesus' explanation of His parable of the sower, He designated that there are four kinds of seed (Matthew 13:19-23). Only one kind He mentions are those who immediately reject the Gospel, and one kind are those who accept it and become fruitful, up to thirty, sixty or a hundred times what was sown. But two kinds of these seeds are described as ostensible believers, those who at once appear to accept it with joy, but then shortly after fall away or get choked by the worries and pleasures of this life and become unfruitful (see also Matthew 7:21 and Jude 1:4). So again we see that there is a distinction between mere intellectual assent to the claims of the Gospel, and having a saving faith in Christ that is authenticated by the bearing of fruit. You can believe in God and that Jesus is His Son and still make yourself an enemy of God by your rejection of His sanctifying work in your life, as even the demons know these truths (Matthew 8:28-29, James 2:19).

So what does Christ mean by bearing fruit? What is this fruit that authenticates that I am remaining in the vine, whom is Jesus? Specific manifestations of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (who Christ does His sanctifying work through, John 16:7) are described in a few places in Scripture (Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:3-11), but, broadly, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is Christ-likeness. Above all, it is the ever-growing knowledge and love of God, and the consequent growing love for our neighbour.

If we are saved, we have inherited eternal life, and eternal life is to know God (John 17:3), and God is love (1 John 4:8). Thus, if we have come to know God, since Christ makes Him known, (John 1:18) we will love God, and "...this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3)." This is true; His commands are not burdensome to the one who has come to know God because all of this is the result of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, who effectuates God's work of saving us from the present power of sin so that we are no longer enslaved to it, but are freed to live for the glory of God. God accomplishes this by giving us an entirely new nature, so that not only do we despise sin, but we also find pleasure in doing the will of God because it is now the Holy Spirit that is at work in us, regenerating our spirit and putting to death the sinful inclinations of our flesh. As Paul admonishes in Galatians 5:16-17:

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

This will be gradual, but also eventual; there will be times of regress, but there will be recovery and continual growth, "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)."

In the words of John: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 John 2:1)."

Thus Christ calls to us saying: "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)."

Make no mistake: We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, but we are saved from the past penalty of sin and the present power of sin for repentance to Christ, who will begin His work of making us spotless and without blemish for the day of our glorification, the redemption of our bodies (Ephesians 5:27, Romans 8:23).

Beautifully said! To be saved, believe in Jesus, but that is the beginning of us being justified (a continual action). Like someone here said, you cannot commit sin knowingly and remain unrepentent ("It's ok if I do this, I'll be forgiven") and think you will set foot near the glory of God. Nor can you knowingly sin and ask forgiveness without your heart being in it, without true repentence (doing a 180, walking away from that sin and towards God) and be forgiven. God is not some genie in a bottle at your beck and call, to dispense stuff you want if you put a quarter in, He is God Most High and if not for His grace and mercy He would snap you like a twig. Once you really, truly realize all that Jesus did for us on Calvary, the more you will want to follow Him out of love and immense gratitude.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

Be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and Love God, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Jesus said if you follow these TWO commandments you fullfill them all.

Love thy GOD with ALL thy heart, thy soul, and mind.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

You forgot the first which is key to the second. You can't love your neighbor until you truly love GOD.

 

[PropheticTimes]

The idea that you can believe in Christ yet not be saved is opposed to a ton of scripture and a bunch of scripture's meanings.
1 John 4:15
1 John 5:10

If you believe in Christ, and you believe he is God's Son and the savior to humanity, you will be saved.

Even Satan believes that, pretty sure he's not saved because of it. Salvation is not a one time deal, it's a continual working in us by the Spirit.

14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is uselessd ? 21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. - James 2:14-22

 

[Brian Mcnamee]

What, in your opinion, is the least you have to do to get saved?

Can you answer the question without applying "There is more to Christianity than salvation" arguments?

In Corinthians speaking of the Resurrection it talks of us being now corruptible being likened to a seed which when it sprouts forth from the ground is now a plant and does not resemble the seed at all. In heaven you and me and your annoying relatives like the seed go into the ground full of corruption but what rises is incorruptible meaning we are raised sinless and only possess the nature of Christ. The environment is now different as well and the body now which faces fatigue and lives in a world under the curse is now set free where we no longer have in our DNA selfishness, pride ,anger, bitterness, meanness, and all other character elements that can cause pain. We are in a new environment in which righteousness dwells. Our capacities will be greater and our experiences with God and one another will all be free from any form of the nature of life today. The Lord Jesus has created us in Gods image and we all eternal beings. The destiny of heaven is not floating on a cloud with a harp but as Paul said glory inexpresible when he got a glimpse of it. We must remember God's purpose for us is to bring us to this destiny and that our metamorphosis is completed not in this life but now we have a dual nature. In heaven your unity with everyone will be complete and the joy and love we experience is eternally secure. The part of you that gets annoyed or has a grudge will be gone. This is why now we are told to walk in the spirit and told what the fruit of the spirit is so that in this life we can feed the nature of Christ in us now and in doing that we can live a more godly existence looking forward to the day we are translated into our new bodies.

 

[JohnLuna]

Romans 10:13 says "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." It's simply a matter of trusting in Christ's atoning sacrifice for your sins and accepting Him as your savior.

Exactly

 

[Cindy4HIM]

What, in your opinion, is the least you have to do to get saved?

Can you answer the question without applying "There is more to Christianity than salvation" arguments?

Must believe in Jesus Christ (not just "saying" the words but believing in your heart that Jesus is exactly who He says he is). You are saved by faith in Jesus as God's Son who came and died on cross for you sins and mine, and he rose again on the 3rd day. You must believe you are a sinner in need of a Savior, Jesus Christ and that He (and He alone) can save you. That's the bottom line.

 

[CrystalDragon]

People seem to forget, FAITH is a gift.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

...if you want more faith, ask God for more of the gift of faith.

James 1:5 speaks of wisdom....Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the One giving generously to all and not finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But, before you ask....read around the verses. Understand them in the proper context.

What about the people who earnestly ask for more of a gift of faith, don't seem to get it, and become atheist or agnostic?

 

[faroukfarouk]

I think the important thing is what the bible says about being saved. It's all a undeserved gift from him. It's not about us trying to frantically do good works to earn his favour, our works just don't cut it. The bible says that it's coming to the cross that's the only way to be saved and know God personally. Jesus is our salvation plan; our rescuer; our redeemer; the only way to know our sins forgiven and hope of heaven. It's the most extraordinary beautiful and generous gift anyone could ever give us. Jesus taking the awful burden of our sin so that we could be restored,healed, forgiven and adopted into his family.
Once we are saved our lives have to be characterised by good works... but not to save us, but to show Jesus how much we love him.

It's great that having come for help in your time of need, you are already helping someone else with careful thoughts about the principles of the Gospel.

 

[JacksBratt]

What about the people who earnestly ask for more of a gift of faith, don't seem to get it, and become atheist or agnostic?

Then they don't believe and are not able to be saved until they do believe.

If you don't believe based on what we are given, what is it that you want, in order to believe?

 

[CodyFaith]

decided to send it over PM instead.

 

[Left]

Got the PM. Thanks.

 

[SLB]

Have you noticed that FAITH is the one thing that is both a fruit of the Spirit and a gift of the Spirit.
In Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
That suggests that everyone has enough faith to believe in Jesus as Saviour and that's enough to be saved. But nothing in life is static and if you don't move forward in faith, you stagnate.

Then in 1 Corinthians 12:8,9 where some of the gifts of the Spirit are listed it says, For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. So faith is something that God can give you supernaturally. Do you think maybe when Elijah called down fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice and prove that God is who He says He is that it might have needed a supernatural faith?

Then in Galatians 5:22 we read, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Which says that faith, like fruit, is something that grows. You can build up muscles, but you need to exercise to do it. Growing in trusting God is like that. If you want to be able to trust God for big things, you need to start trusting him for a lot of little things all the time. Little by little, trusting God becomes second nature, until the big things don't seem big any more because you have full confidence that God has everything under control and He's working everything out for your good. It may not seem like it at the time. In fact things will probably get a whole lot worse before they get better.

Asking God to increase your faith is an invitation for God to let you get into a whole lot of trouble. How can He increase your trust in Him unless He let's you get into situations where you HAVE to trust Him. The trouble is, that at lot of people at that point, give up and think that God has abandoned them. Faith means that you don't give up, you just keep trusting your heavenly Father.

 

[paul becke]

What, in your opinion, is the least you have to do to get saved?

Can you answer the question without applying "There is more to Christianity than salvation" arguments?

I'm not being facetious, but the least we have to do to get saved is not to think in terms of the least we have to do to get saved. It's all about generosity of spirit, and cultivating it by our acts of the will under the action of God's grace, at just about every moment, even when we'd really rather not.

 

[John Hyperspace]

At the very least you have to be born.