Well there we go. Sure. But it seems to me this simplistic notion that all we “need” to “do” is confess belief in Jesus to be “saved” is just that: simplistic. Cuz I’ll bet if you asked the esteemed Professor there he’s say, “Yes I believe Jesus is my savior”.
Virtually everyone who claims to be Christian says that! That obviously can’t be the *only* thing required or else God would’ve just written that phrase, and only that phrase, over and over again in the Bible.
When it is written (John 3:16, 6:28, etc) it is recorded as Jesus speaking to *unbelievers*. Of course faith in God (Jesus) is a requirement for salvation. The question is is it the *only* thing. First of course comes faith, but after that, then what? That’s really the question.
Because I’ve looked at John 6:28 again, and I don’t see the word “only” there. (It does not say “The work of God is *only* to believe in the one he has sent”). Saving faith *starts* with accepting Jesus as one’s savior but it doesn’t *end* there.
Trivia question: where in the Bible *does* the phrase “faith alone” appear?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
That's because God put it somewhere else causing people to study (2Tim 2:15) so they could work out their own salvation (Php 2:12)
God didn't write the book like a novel...So when you read footnotes and catechisms written by people who try to decipher the bible trying to read it like a novel, you are led into serious error...
John 6:28,29 are pretty simple to understand...And for those who wouldn't believe the simplicity (2Cor 11:3), God added to it in Romans 4...Now, it's very clear that belief alone is the answer to salvation...
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
So the next question may be, 'what exactly is belief'??? That requires further study in the scriptures but it is in there...
Saving faith *starts* with accepting Jesus as one’s savior but it doesn’t *end* there.
Sure it doesn...What you are referring to is called 'sanctification'...When one understands what 'belief' is and believes the scriptures, then one realizes that belief is sufficient...
However, one will have a desire to lead a Christian life and and God will work thru us to achieve that (Php 2:13), again being sanctification...
You looked too hard for the WRONG thing.
The word MUST means something.
I wonder what?