Believing Is The Only Requirement For Salvation...against OSAS pt 5

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” ( John 6:28-29)

Salvation cannot be obtained by our personal merit. Thank God , because there is not one of us who could ever merit salvation. We cannot earn it, nor can we who have received the gift, ever lose it due to lack of merit. The scriptures make it obvious, “By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight…”.

None of us can earn our salvation, nor can we in anywise put God in debt to us, all that He gives is freely given, it is grace. Salvation is Grace, undeserved favor.

If we couldn’t do anything to earn it, neither can we forfeit it by what we do. I do not believe that there is any particular sin that a believer can do which would cost him his salvation.

I cannot emphasize these blessed and simple truths enough, because those of us who set out the case against ‘unconditional assurance’ , (ie Once Saved Always Saved) are always accused of preaching ” good works”, or works based salvation.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ( Ephesians 2:8-10)

There is nothing I could ever do to earn my salvation, nor to lose it, nor to add to it or take away from it, thank God. Therefore there is nothing I can personally boast in, all of the glory for my salvation goes to Jesus, who,“…has Loved us and bought us from our sins with his own blood”.(Revelation 1:5)

Salvation is not unconditional however. There is one, and only one condition, and that is that we must believe. “He that believes…shall have eternal life”. “This is the Work, that you believe on Him whom the Father has sent”.

Over and over again, we are told by the Apostles that we must believe to be saved. All the Father requires is belief, steadfast, loyal faith. He knows we are weak, unsteady, liable to sin, fall and defect, yet all he requires is belief.

Is the requirement to believe, in the bible a “one time” experience, or is belief seen as an ongoing loyalty which sustaines to the very end, (the goal) of Salvation ?

Popular Bible teacher Charles Stanley presents a very common misconception about saving Faith when He assures people,

Even if a believer for all practical purposes becomes an unbeliever, his salvation is not in jeopardy.” (Stanley Charles, Eternal Security- Can You Be sure? Thomas Nelson pg 93)

The Apostles never taught anything like that. Instead they taught believers to “Hold fast the profession of their hope … to the end…”

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. ( Hebrews 3:6)

The danger to the soul, according to the teaching of Hebrews , is ‘unbelief’. The example from the Old Testament was the incident with the 12 spies. All of Israel heard the gospel of the land flowing with milk and honey. All of them rejoiced, until they came to Kadesh Barnea, where they saw the Giants.

From then on, only two out of that entire whole truly believed! The rest fell short of entering into God’s rest, because they cast aside their confidence, in unbelief.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; ( Hebrews 3:14)

What does this say about people now, who once believed passionately in Christ and the gospel, but who no longer “hold fast”? I know people who set out believing in Christ, but who no longer maintain faith. Are they still saved? As we pointed out in the last message, “whoever goes on believing shall be saved…” , not whoever ever believed at one time!

Saving Faith is not mere mental assent to a set of propositions. It is an ongoing commitment of a loyalty to a Revelation from God, much like the vows at a wedding. it is “faithfulness”, a response to what God has done and revealed. Jesus called it “abiding in the vine” in John 15.

Neither Jesus or the Apostles ever held forth anything similar to Charles Stanley’s proposition that one can be saved on a temporary belief, which one eventually defects from. Believers “go on believing” whatever it takes. If that belief calls for self renunciation, so be it. When the belief requires personal repentance, true believers repent. None of those things are “works” they are simply elements of the one and only condition God has set on salvation, Faith.

Well if you are really old you would know.

KCarnac was Johnny Carson with a funny hat on answering questions in envelopes that were sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnalls porch until the show.

Ed would hand him the envelope and Karnac would hold it up to his head and give the answer.

Kreskin was indeed a psychic (mind reader)or something like that.

He would do his Schick as a paid performer on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

His pay was hidden in an envelope somewhere and he did not get paid if he could not find it.

I believe he always found it.

If you were older than dirt like me you would remember all of that...heh lol.

Here is a youtube of Carnac, which has a dig at Geraldo and also a mention of Trump. I thought those were interesting from back in the early 90's.

Press Here

Yes I have too much time on my hands...

Consider that those who commit those posted sins, as the Apostle Paul wrote, of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Difficult to be more emphatic than that;

Well, not too difficult...

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Mat_23:9; And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

therefore it is reasonable to consider that those who claim we have been Born Again, we do not walk after the flesh but we walk after the Spirit, and commit these sins are deceived and at great risk.

When you get instructions from a religion that illegitimizes itself by violating the basic instructions given from God, I don't believe I or anyone else should consider that religion as a legitimate source for bible exegesis...

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

...

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Luke, Catholic chapter ten, Protestant verses twenty six to twenty eight,
Matthew, Catholic chapter sixteen, Protestant verses eighteen to nineteen,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

When one gets instructions from oneself, or one of thousands of disjoint faith communities and their leaders that are not in apostolic succession, in an attempt to re-form, re-create, or re-construct the faith once delivered to the saints, it is unreasonable that one should consider that religion as a legitimate source for bible exegesis...

Two thoughts, Pastor:

No one comes to Jesus except the Father draws them,; He is the author and finisher of our faith, our faithing, thus it is not possible to snatch our self from His hands; born again in the spirit makes us in a new family, where the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us; in that state of righteousness we can only be faithful children of the Eternal Father, unruly children, or rebellious children, but no one is able to be unborn. Thanks be to God

Jesus paid the price for the sins of the whole world, according to scripture; all the sins at the cross were from human perspective in the future but He canceled them for the whole world and all of the creation; to realize He has canceled all your sins allows you to be counted among the righteous knowing ONLY God is 'big enough' to pay such a price, and we are bought with a price, but unless you believe/FAITHE He has done this for you you will not receive the Gift of God in Christ Jesus

That reads like an added requirement, being saved by believing one is saved. That would be erroneous.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

...

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Mark, Catholic chapter sixteen, Protestant verses fifteen to sixteen,
Romans, Catholic chapter ten, Protestant verses eight to ten,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

So many Catholics do not realize Christianity is a relationship with The God. They have been taught that it is through the sacramental trail administered by their religious org, or the intercession of Mary the Mother of Jesus that eternal life can be obtained. It is why Jesus said to some who pleaded their works 'Depart from me, I never knew you'. If we have no personal relationship with Him, His righteousness has not been imputed to us.

Jesus paid the sin debt of the whole world. Only those who let Him be their Lord and Savior will receive the Grace of that payment on their behalf.

Post 412 reads as a tacit admission there is no apostolic succession in the German 16th Century attempt to re-form, re-create, or re-construct Christianity without apostolic authority.

Since then there have been a myriad of attempts to lather, rinse, and repeat that example; a couple of the more recent being the La Luz Del Mundo and Iglesia ni Cristo religious organizations.

The Latter Day Saints, with many very nice families, are the older American version that tried to re-create/re-construct Christianity. Its founder(s) (who sprang from Protestantism), rejected the creeds, falling so deep into heresy that it cannot be considered Christianity.

Hating Catholicism is not equivalent to understanding and knowing the Holy One of Israel. The fruit of that understanding and knowledge is also spelled out in the scriptures.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;
Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

...

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

...

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Jeremiah, Catholic chapter nine, Protestant verses twenty three to twenty six,
Galatians, Catholic chapter five, Protestant verses nineteen to twenty three,
James, Catholic chapter three, Protestant verses thirteen to eighteen,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

Post 412 reads as a tacit admission there is no apostolic succession in the German 16th Century attempt to re-form, re-create, or re-construct Christianity without apostolic authority.

Of course it's an admission there is no apostolic authority in the church because there is no such thing as apostolic authority...It's another construct invented by the Catholic religion to keep its members in bondage to the Catholic religion...

There is only one authority for Christians and that is the inspired, written words of God...God's Christians believe and follow God's words...And to succeed in following those words we are led by the Holy Spirit...

For as many as are led by the phony apostolic authority of the Catholic religion, they are the sons of God??? Of course not...
Rom_8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Numerous homosexual, pedophile Catholic cardinals (known as the queer mafia at the vatican) get together and elect one of their own, likely another queer cardinal (birds of a feather flock together) and he is called the pope of the one, true Church and is the latest in line of your fake Apostolic authority who is allegedly traced all the way back to the apostle Peter (who was NOT the apostle of the New Testament church)...

And you have the audacity to stick up for those Catholic pedo perverts of humanity and criticize the Mormon Church or anyone other organization that has just as much legitimacy as your own fake religion...They are doing the same thing your religion is doing but they are bad, yours is good...At least they have the good sense to keep the queers out of their leadership roles...

Since then there have been a myriad of attempts to lather, rinse, and repeat that example; a couple of the more recent being the La Luz Del Mundo and Iglesia ni Cristo religious organizations.

The Latter Day Saints, with many very nice families, are the older American version that tried to re-create/re-construct Christianity. Its founder(s) (who sprang from Protestantism), rejected the creeds, falling so deep into heresy that it cannot be considered Christianity.

Third, if apostolic succession is so important and if your denomination actually had it how do you explain the mess in your church today?

Even under the direct supervision and teaching of the Master there was a failure rate of 8.3% at the highest level oft hose that Jesus had chosen.

Start with the premise that Jesus built His Church on Peter, the other Apostles and Prophets, with Himself as the chief cornerstone.
Build on that by taking Him seriously when He said the gates of hell would not prevail against this Church.
No Once Saved Always Saved
There is a big problem with Porneia (fornication) in all churches and faith communities. Porneia is a grave sin.
There are also the deadly sins of heresies and divisions.

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

...

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
And I will give him the morning star.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

First Corinthians, Catholic chapter eleven, Protestant verse nineteen,
Revelation, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verses eighteen to twenty nine,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.