What must you do to inherit eternal life?

[Zenmaker]

The question in title of the OP "What must you do to inherit eternal life?" is answered by Jesus:

Matthew 19:17 (NLT)
"... you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments."

1 Cor. 7:19 (NLT)
For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God's commandments.

Rev. 12:17 (NLT)
Then the dragon became angry at the woman, and he declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God's commandments and confess that they belong to Jesus.


Pretty straight forward language.

Well I am confused. By this standard, Heaven (eternal life) would be empty?

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

(all have sinned, none have kept God's (law) commandments)

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully;

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Christ did not simply do away with the law, he ended or fulfilled it. Jesus is the substance of the shadows, the antitype of the types, and the very epitome of all the moral enunciations of the law. Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matt. 5: 17). Notice the next verse, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (vs. 18). Jesus fulfilled the law and inaugurated his system or testament (Lk. 24: 44, 47). Christ's system is not without law, but the onerous system of Moses was nailed to Jesus' cross (Gal. 6: 2, Col. 2: 14, see addendum). Jesus' apostles are "able ministers of the new testament" (2 Cor. 3: 6). The Law of Moses could not impart life (2 Cor. 3: 7-18). The law was only a "schoolmaster to bring us (Jew, dm) unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Gal. 3: 24). "But after that faith is come," Paul continued, "we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (vs. 25). Paul warned regarding any who would attempt justification by the Law of Moses. Hear him: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5: 4). One cannot be saved by a system of meritorious works that seek to earn salvation and by grace at the same time (Rom. 11: 6). John said, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (Jn. 1: 17).

In conclusion, Christ sustained a unique position to the Law of Moses. He promoted it and flawlessly kept its precepts. Of greater importance: Christ was the end of the law in that he fulfilled it. Jesus became the ultimate and perpetual sacrifice for the sins of the world (Heb. 7-9). Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth and we are to hear him (Matt. 28: 18; 17: 5). Jesus is to be heard over Moses and Elias (law and prophets, Matt. 17: 4, 5). "For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses…And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant…But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we…," argued the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 3: 3, 5, 6).

(quote from: bibletruths )

We shall inherit eternal life through Christ Jesus. Follow his lead, accept and trust him to lead you to Heaven. That's my game plan.

"If you were on a plane and you knew it was going to crash, and in the corner laid a parachute. Would you just believe in the parachute? Or would you put it on? We have to do the same thing with Jesus."

 

[LovesLife]

"If you were on a plane and you knew it was going to crash, and in the corner laid a parachute. Would you just believe in the parachute? Or would you put it on? We have to do the same thing with Jesus."

That is a good ilistration of the differance between intilectualyl acknolaging and truely relying on Christ.

 

[Sentry]

The verse does not say he voided the Law. It say's he voided the "enmity" and he repeats it in v 16 "having slain the enmity" not the Law. He abolished the racism that kept the Jews as a distinct people only.

You will not find anywhere in Scripture that Jesus voided the Law as you say.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the Law with its commandments and regulations. (Eph 2:15).

When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. (Heb 8:13).

 

[Zenmaker]

Yes, what I understand is that the Law is made for the unsaved. To take away their self-righteousness and leave them guilty in front of God. To show them the way to Christ, and their need of his forgiveness and Salvation.

Once they find that, the Law loses it's power.

Not that a Christian should ignore the Law. On the other hand, through their love of the Father, they will strive to keep the Law. Not out of fear, but out of love. Therefore, it lost it's power over them. The power over them is God himself, not the Law.

In other words, worship your Father in heaven... not his written Law.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the Law with its commandments and regulations. (Eph 2:15).

When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. (Heb 8:13).

What you are doing is highlighting out of context. The text reads that He abolished the Law concerning the regulations which kept Jews and Gentiles segregated. This is the "chel" which seperated the Jews from the court of Gentiles. He did not abolish "You shall have no other gods before me" or " You shall not murder" or "You shall not commit adultery" etc. Paul is saying that the Gentiles have equal access to God through Christ as the Jews and not that the Jews can practice idolatry, murder, adultery and immorality like the Gentiles now.

 

[mlqurgw]

Then can you explain how "Thou shall have no other God's before me" is now abolished or voided?

Of course you quoted me out of context. here is my whole post;

That which seperated the Jew from the Gentile, the law, He abolished. The law is no longer binding on the believer as a rule of life. Parse, twist and pervert as you will it doesn't change the truth. The law's whole purpose is to teach us our need of Christ. Gal.3:19-25

I didn't say that the Law has no use nor that it isn't binding on the unbeliever. There is a lawful use of the Law. Read 1Tim. 1:8-11. What I did say is that the Law has been abolished as a rule of life for the believer. When Paul says that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness he means end in all its connotations. End as in termination, as in object and purpose and end as the fulfillment. Other than Christ, no man has ever kept the Law and believers do not now put themselve back under its bondage.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

... What I did say is that the Law has been abolished as a rule of life for the believer. ...

Then you disagree with Martin Luther who wrote that the Law serves as a mirror, a curb, and a rule for Christians.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

...no man has ever kept the Law and believers do not now put themselve back under its bondage.

Men have always kept the Law in the OT even Gentiles. The bondage was not God's Law, the bondage was man's so-called second Torah of the Pharisees. The leven of the Pharisees was the bondage. Read the Bible dude and you will find when men kept God's Law they had freedom, prosperity, health, long life, good home life, many children. It is when they didn't keep God's Law they ended up in bondage to their neighbors. You, my good man have it backwards.

 

[mlqurgw]

Men have always kept the Law in the OT even Gentiles. The bondage was not God's Law, the bondage was man's so-called second Torah of the Pharisees. The leven of the Pharisees was the bondage. Read the Bible dude and you will find when men kept God's Law they had freedom, prosperity, health, long life, good home life, many children. It is when they didn't keep God's Law they ended up in bondage to their neighbors. You, my good man have it backwards.

Perhaps you should read what Paul says concerning the bondage that those who seek to keep the Law are in as pictured by Hagar in Gal. 4. He is talking about that which was given on Sinai.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Perhaps you should read what Paul says concerning the bondage that those who seek to keep the Law are in as pictured by Hagar in Gal. 4. He is talking about that which was given on Sinai.

Perhaps you should read what Paul says concerning the bondage that those who seek to keep the Law in Gal 4 and you will see he is talking about the ceremonial aspects of the Law only.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Jesus said,

"Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat: all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe:"-Mtt 23:1-3

Jesus never said there will come a time when you won't have to do what Moses said.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. (NKJV) 1 Cor 7:19

 

[mlqurgw]

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. (NKJV) 1 Cor 7:19

So you want to play dueling verses.

1Jo 3:23 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.

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

for keeping the commandments, then you will be sadly disappointed.

 

[LovesLife]

Ah but the point of this tread is how to inherit eternal life! Regardless of your view on keeping the law, it is still true that..
Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.


Regardless of your view on how much of the law is for us and such, It WON"T get you eternal life since o one can fully keep ANY law. Trying or doing pretty good just won't cut it
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

I've not had one chalange yet.

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

I've not had one chalange yet.

Hang around awhile, they will.

Between the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Cambellites who call themselves the Church of Christ these days, and other assorted semi-pelagian sects, they will challenge "justification by faith".

Man keeps trying to justify himself by showing God how good he is by keeping the commandments.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Ah but the point of this tread is how to inherit eternal life! Regardless of your view on keeping the law, it is still true that..
Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified bytheworks of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not bytheworks of the law: for bytheworks of the law shall no flesh be justified.


Regardless of your view on how much of the law is for us and such, It WON"T get you eternal life since o one can fully keep ANY law. Trying or doing pretty good just won't cut it
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guiltyofall.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God byfaith:

I've not had one chalange yet.

Let's see how much eternal life you will get if you burn incense to Baal or are sexually immoral just because you say you have faith in Christ. It doesn't matter if you are a Christian or not, idolators and the sexually immoral will end up in hell.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Man keeps trying to justify himself by showing God how good he is by keeping the commandments.

What gives you the idea that a Christian is to show how bad he is by breaking the commandments?

 

[DevotiontoBible]

for keeping the commandments, then you will be sadly disappointed.

Jesus said eternal life is inherited by keeping the commandments. So, if He said it then I won't be disappointed. The one's disappointed will be those who lived like the Law was abolished and lived like Satan instead of Holy like Christ.

 

[Zenmaker]

Out of love for my Lord and Savior, I attempt to keep the Commandments every day. Every day I fail in one small way or another. I admit to him that I am weak, and that I am a sinner. I have faith that he has forgiven me. I thank him for another day to try to do right. I have faith that I have been saved by his sacrafice.

If you believe that you are saved by keeping the Laws, then in essence, you are saying that what Jesus did and suffered on the cross was in vain. We are saved and will inherit the Kingdom because we are children of God. That relationship was mended by the sacrafice that Jesus suffered on the cross.

The one's disappointed will be those who lived like the Law was abolished and lived like Satan instead of Holy like Christ.

I also think there is a big difference between living like Satan, and living like a flawed Christian human being.

Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Romans 3:21 But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. 22 We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. 23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.

Remember, time does not erase sin. Even if you try to keep the Law now, you have sinned at least once in life. To say that you live Holy like Christ is near blasphemy. Not one of us can even come close to comparing to the utmost perfect and Holy God in Jesus Christ.

I will inherit eternal life because of my faith in a gift from God through the sacrafice of Jesus Christ.