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What are the verses in the NT that plainly describe what is needed to be saved?
What are the verses in the NT that plainly describe what is needed to be saved?
Hi James, while this you bolded is not the fundamental general thing we need to be saved, it is what this particular man needed desperately to do next, at this moment in time for him, because he had to choose whether or not he really believed.17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property
Mark 10:17-22
Hi James, while this you bolded is not the fundamental general thing we need to be saved, it is what this particular man needed desperately to do next, at this moment in time for him, because he had to choose whether or not he really believed.
--> When he would (as he does in the text) choose his wealth and luxuries above Christ, first, instead of Christ -- even though on some level he can feel/sense that following Christ is following God's way of faith ("he went away sorrowful") -- then from that bad choice of choosing mere luxuries as first in his life, he would lose what initial faith he had soon in time (unless he turned and repented and did finally begin to believe fully in Christ).
As Christ explains this:
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
If someone puts their material things above God, as their higher priority, then they aren't believing fully in God, who ultimately gives us all the best things, including crucially the best things of the soul and heart, things that are not merely material stuff like cars and houses and fine foods. With faith in God we will have the material things we need, but far better things also.
So, what happened to this rich man is in following the mere material pleasures of life as his main goal/purpose/way of life, he ended up literally here walking away from God (from God's way).
Not all Christians. Some do, yes. But many also put God first instead of material things or their politics or ideology or abstract doctrinal arguments. If we continue to put God first, by following Christ, following His way as He taught, then all things we need will come to us.Yes, it’s very difficult to follow Jesus. That’s why Christianity ignores Him and prefers to worship doctrine and money
What are the verses in the NT that plainly describe what is needed to be saved?