responding to post #79.
To believe in Jesus Christ, one must hear (faith by hearing) from preacher(s) sent from God. And believing on Jesus is not just that he died for you and me (and that's ALOT!) but that his words (including commands) are inseparable from him.
Jesus went forth preaching the gospel. Matthew 5 is as good a place as any to start(the beatitudes), and keeps on preaching "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them..."chap. 7:24. Then he tells the leper he has just cleansed in Chap 8:4 "...to shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
Jesus came to fulfill to law. Which was not until the death of the testator (Heb 9:16,17).
Jesus told Peter "...when thou art converted, strengthen the brethern" Luke 22:32.
It is obvious that Jesus properly prepared his disciples ( and prayed for them; John 17) to "teach all nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." Matt. 28:19,20.
John 7:38,39 is where Jesus prophesied of what was going to happen to people "that believeth on me as the scripture hath said...". That was initiated in Acts 2.
The very first sermon about salvation in Jesus Christ came in Acts 2. That day was the "beginning" Peter referred to when giving acount to the elders in Jerusalem after the gentiles had also received the Holy Ghost. Acts 11.
As far as others that talk of eternal security, I suggest they remove the parable of the ten virgins from their Bible, as well as the little word "if" in countless places.
God is eternally secure, man sometimes rejects the gift after it has been given.
"...few there be that find it." Matt 7:14 sounds like a serious minority IMHO.
Thanks.
I'll try to get back to this a bit later, but it seems to me that you discount Jesus' preaching about himself and his kingdom as being part of the new era.
That seems to me to be an oversight.