Salvation is just by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood

[MarkNigro]

 

 

How do you even know what Jesus Christ says or said? 

 

 

There have been many of those that have attempted to know God apart from His word. These all lead to doctrines of devils.

 

1 Timothy 4:1-3

 

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

³ Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

 

I know Jesus Christ through His word. I know Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ, His Father, and His Holy Spirit liv in me.

 

 

You still try to persuade me you are right in knowing Jesus through the bible, does this mean Ran's is wrong? If so, why? What makes you think your interpretation is right?

 

Not an interpretation. The Holy Bible says its is His word and proves it. Has anybody done that besides the Holy Bible?

[john14:6]

 

Dear Mark,

I would like to answer you biblically. Not from myself. For as it is written:

(II Timothy 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

My answers are in black.

Jesus Christ, who is the Lord God Almighty, proclaimed the following.

 

John 3:14-16

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

            Since belief is the only thing mentioned, it must be the only thing necessary for salvation. It cannot be belief plus anything else. If it were, then the statement would not be true. But Jesus said this, so it must be true. If someone does not believe these words spoken by Jesus Christ, then that person does not believe what Jesus Christ said. Therefore that person has not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:14-15 and 16 are faith alone statements.

 

Belief is the only thing mentioned in verses 15 & 16, but it does not also mean it will end there. It does not say it is the only thing necessary for salvation.  Nowhere in the scriptures can you find faith alone. I dare those who say faith “alone” can save to prove this to me straight from the scriptures.

 

You said: It cannot be belief plus anything else.

It CAN be! (II Peter 1:5-8)

And besides this, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith (will you contradict this?)virtue; and to virtue knowledge;( 6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

 

Add means PLUS

(8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

MINUS this things you are blind according to the scripture.

(9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

 (10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

If you are blind, therefore your faith is dead. So how can your dead faith save you?

 

You said: If it were, then the statement would not be true. You should not judged it hastily.

The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t say by just only believing. In fact He taught this:

(John 8:31) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

 

Mind you, those Jews have already believed on Him. But still, He commanded them to continue His words. Continuing His words means accepting it and living by it. If you’ll not continue in His words you are not a disciple of Him.

 

            These verses also are eternal security (once saved, always saved) statements, else they would say might have everlasting life. If a person has everlasting life, they could never be damned. The same logic applies to the very many passages, which show that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ gives everlasting life.

 

You said: These verses also are eternal security (once saved, always saved) statements

OSAS? Another unbiblical teaching.

(II Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

There are reprobates.

 

(Hebrews 6:4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

(6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

Even if you have received everything you have to received, but if you fall away if you are not mindful about His greatness,if you are reckless and unfearful if you did not keep His words  then He will cast you out. It would be IMPOSSIBLE for you to renew again into repentance.

 

Let’s site another verse.

(Hebrews 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Even if you know the truth but have sinned willfully and feloniously according to the Bible you wouldn’t be saved.

 

What remain is?

(27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

 

You said:  If a person has everlasting life, they could never be damned.

That is what you got in believing by faith alone you are saved. How can you attain everlasting life if you’ll just have only faith? Faith WITHOUT work is dead! How can you be saved by your dead faith?

            From the above, we are assured by God Almighty the Saviour that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are saved forever. Those that are saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood have all their sins paid for by that blood. They have all their sins forgiven by faith in His atoning blood. God will not remember their sins. Therefore, no passage of damnation or condemnation applies to those saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            Those that have not believed by faith alone are not saved. None of their sins are paid for, forgiven, or forgotten.  Every passage of damnation or condemnation applies to them. Many people quote the very passages that condemn them.

 

WHO IS SAVED? Those who would believe in the words of God not in man!!! Not in you!

 

You said: Those that have not believed by faith alone are not saved.

I will rewrite, you said faith “alone”. Those who did not believed by faith alone are not saved? Are you sure?

Let’s see who says the right.

(James 2:17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being ALONE.

FAITH ALONE is dead!

Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). He got the gospel by direct revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Jesus Christ ordained that the Gentiles should hear the gospel of salvation from Paul (see Romans 15:16 and 2 Timothy 4:17). Paul and Silas were asked a very direct question. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said the following, which he got from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Acts 16:30-31

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

If anything else were needed for salvation besides believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul would surely have said so. Faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood for our sins saves.

 You said: If anything else were needed for salvation besides believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul would surely have said so.

 

Of course brother, never did Paul say Faith alone rather he said:

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

 

You have to WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling. Not By just having faith you are saved.

Paul declared the gospel of salvation (the good news of Jesus Christ) in the following passage.

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. You emphasized By which also ye are saved  but I will emphasize here “if ye keep in memory”

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

Paul also wrote that all those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ are saved forever.

 

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek

 

Do you believe Jesus Christ who said:

I’ll throw it back to you.

 

John 6:47

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

           

In love, in Christ, in meekness,

Mark

May God enlighten you!

Sincerely in Christ,

Reanne

The problem that I see with the scripture that you are quoting is that they are not dealing with salvation for eternal life at all.

 

 

Many people assume a passage is talking about salvation/damnation when it is not. This is usually done by taking the verse out of context, assuming meanings of words with false definitions and doctrines, ignoring what salvation really means, or by not rightly dividing the word of truth (see 2 Timothy 2:15) They may be confusing statements made to a different people, for a different time, about a different subject. They may even be using a new Bible version with a corrupt reading.

 

The scripture clearly says that Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles and that Paul has the gospel of salavtion.

 

The passages that you quoted from Peter, James, and Hebrews are not about everlasting life versus damantion.

 

Your interpretation of what Paul wrote in the other passages you cited are wrong.

 

If you want I will show you why you must rightly divide the word of God, why Paul has the gospel of salvation, and why the passages you cited are not above salvation for eternal life. It is easier to handle one topic or passage at a time.

 

MarkNigro,

 

I have been following your responses in this thread and I can see that you rightly believe salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone; that there is nothing we can add to faith to help God save us. I spent years in misery doubting my salvation until God showed me that my eternal security rested not in anything I could do but it is only through the finished work of Christ, His blood shed on the cross, that God accepts as payment of our sin debt, "in full." Therefore if that is all that God requires for our salvation then we can add nothing to the work of Christ. The moment God showed me the true grounds for salvation my life changed forever as the Holy Spirit has brought to me the peace of an absolute assurance of salvation that is the same today that it was 42 years ago. And, no, I'm not talking about "easy believism." I believe in a new changed life through the indwelling Holy Spirit who comes into a life the moment one truly believes the Gospel message.

 

There is one comment I would like to make regarding John 8:31, it is a call to discipleship, not for salvation.

 

I enjoy reading your posts.

 

God bless you.

Edited August 16, 2013 by john14:6

[john14:6]

 

Sanh,

 

When I stand before Jesus, if He asks me why I should be allowed to enter Heaven I will not say that I saw a vision or that an angel told me about the Lord. I will tell Him that He should allow me into Heaven because His blood that He shed on the cross paid the penalty for my sins and that He gave His Word that anyone who believes in Him, His Gospel message recorded in the Bible, He would give eternal life.

 

I don't know anything else except to say the Bible is the Written AND Living Word of God.

 

Hypothetical issues based on interpreted passages of the bible is too risky to deal with, Jesus is real and alive and He is not the bible neither is He passages of the scriptures.

 

My eternity rests only in the Jesus of the Bible; any other Jesus is too risky to deal with.

 

Larry

Edited August 16, 2013 by john14:6

[MarkNigro]

 

 

Dear Mark,

I would like to answer you biblically. Not from myself. For as it is written:

(II Timothy 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

My answers are in black.

Jesus Christ, who is the Lord God Almighty, proclaimed the following.

 

John 3:14-16

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

            Since belief is the only thing mentioned, it must be the only thing necessary for salvation. It cannot be belief plus anything else. If it were, then the statement would not be true. But Jesus said this, so it must be true. If someone does not believe these words spoken by Jesus Christ, then that person does not believe what Jesus Christ said. Therefore that person has not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:14-15 and 16 are faith alone statements.

 

Belief is the only thing mentioned in verses 15 & 16, but it does not also mean it will end there. It does not say it is the only thing necessary for salvation.  Nowhere in the scriptures can you find faith alone. I dare those who say faith “alone” can save to prove this to me straight from the scriptures.

 

You said: It cannot be belief plus anything else.

It CAN be! (II Peter 1:5-8)

And besides this, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith (will you contradict this?)virtue; and to virtue knowledge;( 6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

 

Add means PLUS

(8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

MINUS this things you are blind according to the scripture.

(9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

 (10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

If you are blind, therefore your faith is dead. So how can your dead faith save you?

 

You said: If it were, then the statement would not be true. You should not judged it hastily.

The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t say by just only believing. In fact He taught this:

(John 8:31) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

 

Mind you, those Jews have already believed on Him. But still, He commanded them to continue His words. Continuing His words means accepting it and living by it. If you’ll not continue in His words you are not a disciple of Him.

 

            These verses also are eternal security (once saved, always saved) statements, else they would say might have everlasting life. If a person has everlasting life, they could never be damned. The same logic applies to the very many passages, which show that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ gives everlasting life.

 

You said: These verses also are eternal security (once saved, always saved) statements

OSAS? Another unbiblical teaching.

(II Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

There are reprobates.

 

(Hebrews 6:4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

(6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

Even if you have received everything you have to received, but if you fall away if you are not mindful about His greatness,if you are reckless and unfearful if you did not keep His words  then He will cast you out. It would be IMPOSSIBLE for you to renew again into repentance.

 

Let’s site another verse.

(Hebrews 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Even if you know the truth but have sinned willfully and feloniously according to the Bible you wouldn’t be saved.

 

What remain is?

(27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

 

You said:  If a person has everlasting life, they could never be damned.

That is what you got in believing by faith alone you are saved. How can you attain everlasting life if you’ll just have only faith? Faith WITHOUT work is dead! How can you be saved by your dead faith?

            From the above, we are assured by God Almighty the Saviour that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are saved forever. Those that are saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood have all their sins paid for by that blood. They have all their sins forgiven by faith in His atoning blood. God will not remember their sins. Therefore, no passage of damnation or condemnation applies to those saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            Those that have not believed by faith alone are not saved. None of their sins are paid for, forgiven, or forgotten.  Every passage of damnation or condemnation applies to them. Many people quote the very passages that condemn them.

 

WHO IS SAVED? Those who would believe in the words of God not in man!!! Not in you!

 

You said: Those that have not believed by faith alone are not saved.

I will rewrite, you said faith “alone”. Those who did not believed by faith alone are not saved? Are you sure?

Let’s see who says the right.

(James 2:17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being ALONE.

FAITH ALONE is dead!

Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). He got the gospel by direct revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Jesus Christ ordained that the Gentiles should hear the gospel of salvation from Paul (see Romans 15:16 and 2 Timothy 4:17). Paul and Silas were asked a very direct question. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said the following, which he got from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Acts 16:30-31

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

If anything else were needed for salvation besides believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul would surely have said so. Faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood for our sins saves.

 You said: If anything else were needed for salvation besides believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul would surely have said so.

 

Of course brother, never did Paul say Faith alone rather he said:

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

 

You have to WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling. Not By just having faith you are saved.

Paul declared the gospel of salvation (the good news of Jesus Christ) in the following passage.

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. You emphasized By which also ye are saved  but I will emphasize here “if ye keep in memory”

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

Paul also wrote that all those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ are saved forever.

 

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek

 

Do you believe Jesus Christ who said:

I’ll throw it back to you.

 

John 6:47

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

           

In love, in Christ, in meekness,

Mark

May God enlighten you!

Sincerely in Christ,

Reanne

The problem that I see with the scripture that you are quoting is that they are not dealing with salvation for eternal life at all.

 

 

Many people assume a passage is talking about salvation/damnation when it is not. This is usually done by taking the verse out of context, assuming meanings of words with false definitions and doctrines, ignoring what salvation really means, or by not rightly dividing the word of truth (see 2 Timothy 2:15) They may be confusing statements made to a different people, for a different time, about a different subject. They may even be using a new Bible version with a corrupt reading.

 

The scripture clearly says that Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles and that Paul has the gospel of salavtion.

 

The passages that you quoted from Peter, James, and Hebrews are not about everlasting life versus damantion.

 

Your interpretation of what Paul wrote in the other passages you cited are wrong.

 

If you want I will show you why you must rightly divide the word of God, why Paul has the gospel of salvation, and why the passages you cited are not above salvation for eternal life. It is easier to handle one topic or passage at a time.

 

MarkNigro,

 

I have been following your responses in this thread and I can see that you rightly believe salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone; that there is nothing we can add to faith to help God save us. I spent years in misery doubting my salvation until God showed me that my eternal security rested not in anything I could do but it is only through the finished work of Christ, His blood shed on the cross, that God accepts as payment of our sin debt, "in full." Therefore if that is all that God requires for our salvation then we can add nothing to the work of Christ. The moment God showed me the true grounds for salvation my life changed forever as the Holy Spirit has brought to me the peace of an absolute assurance of salvation that is the same today that it was 42 years ago. And, no, I'm not talking about "easy believism." I believe in a new changed life through the indwelling Holy Spirit who comes into a life the moment one truly believes the Gospel message.

 

There is one comment I would like to make regarding John 8:31, it is a call to discipleship, not for salvation.

 

I enjoy reading your posts.

 

God bless you.

 

God bless you for a great witness for Jesus Christ,

in Christ,

Mark

[Sanh]

 

My eternity rests only in the Jesus of the Bible; any other Jesus is too risky to deal with.

 

 

 

Larry

 

 

There is only one Jesus and that is the Almighty Lord God of all ages. Jesus Christ is the salvation of all and He (Jesus) is not the bible, that is one thing for sure, Larry. Jesus is beside you right now and so with all people. And you are right that your/our eternity lies/rests only in the Lord Jesus Christ who is our salvation, He is alive and real.

Edited August 17, 2013 by Sanh

[Sanh]

 

 

Not an interpretation. The Holy Bible says its is His word and proves it. Has anybody done that besides the Holy Bible?

 

 

That one is your shot, it only belongs to you as such is just your own concoction, Mark. The bible does not speak for itself since it is only a book and the reader is the one making his own opinion of the things he reads on and on in it..

Edited August 17, 2013 by Sanh

[MarkNigro]

It is true that there are many interpretations to the Holy Bible. That is clearly seen by all the various denominations.

 

 

The Holy Bible is very clear though in what it says.

 

The key is to rightly divide the word of truth.

 

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

That will lead to Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13)

[Guest DRS81]

It's not their sins that keep them from Christ, it's their unbelief.

[other one]

 

Matt 7:20-23

 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord ,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord , did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'  

NASB

 

 

 

so,  are you going to tell me these people didn't believe???

[Guest DRS81]

 

 

Matt 7:20-23

 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord ,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord , did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'  

NASB

 

 

 

so,  are you going to tell me these people didn't believe???

 

 

Your scripture is referring to apostates who were never born again, preaching religion and not love. Comment #48 was referring to unbelievers who know their unbelievers. Good scripture here. The Lord is teaching us that you cannot cast out demons and perform miracles without the Holy Spirit in you. He is also teaching us that the devil is the father of lies and to be aware of false prophets.

Edited August 18, 2013 by DRS81