What must someone believe in order to be saved?

[Edward429451]

42 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

To clarify - meaning transforming work in a reborn child of God is exclusively the Spirit's realm.  We really can't do anything to transform ourselves except cooperate with the Potter. (plus He will arrange external circumstances to help encourage us to turn to Him and let Him operate in us)

 

I dont think I can totally agree with this. A couple scriptures come to mind. The first one is 

Romans 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.../KJV

He says, be Ye. Not, I will transform you. And we have 

Revelation 19:7

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.../KJV

She has made herself ready. That's us. God does do the big parts of our transformation but we play a part in it too. Part of our transformation is the washing of the inside of the cup, through the water of His Word, which s what Romans is talking about. And we do have an internal struggle. 

 

Unless what you might have meant is, that's of the Spiritual realm so we must enter the spirit realm first? After all, the time is coming and indeed is here that all men must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth? 

[Vine Abider]

48 minutes ago, Edward429451 said:

 

I dont think I can totally agree with this. A couple scriptures come to mind. The first one is 

Romans 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.../KJV

He says, be Ye. Not, I will transform you. And we have 

Revelation 19:7

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.../KJV

She has made herself ready. That's us. God does do the big parts of our transformation but we play a part in it too. Part of our transformation is the washing of the inside of the cup, through the water of His Word, which s what Romans is talking about. And we do have an internal struggle. 

 

Unless what you might have meant is, that's of the Spiritual realm so we must enter the spirit realm first? After all, the time is coming and indeed is here that all men must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth? 

Good verses!  And I can't disagree.  There's always this consideration regarding how much happens on our part and on God's part.  This verse, to me, exemplifies the idea: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure." * (Phil 2:12-13)

I'm inclined to think our part is summed up in these two illustrations:  Operating a vehicle and plugging in an electric appliance. With the vehicle there is immense power and capability, but it just sits there until we turn it on and put it in gear.  Likewise, there is an immense amount of electrical power coming into our home, but again, it just sits there until we plug something into it.

What does 99.9% of the work?  The engine and appliance, but we must put forth the .1% effort to engage the awesome power.

* interesting that this verse suggests God supplies even the willingness to us . . .

[Alive]

13 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

Good verses!  And I can't disagree.  There's always this consideration regarding how much happens on our part and on God's part.  This verse, to me, exemplifies the idea: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure." * (Phil 2:12-13)

I'm inclined to think our part is summed up in these two illustrations:  Operating a vehicle and plugging in an electric appliance. With the vehicle there is immense power and capability, but it just sits there until we turn it on and put it in gear.  Likewise, there is an immense amount of electrical power coming into our home, but again, it just sits there until we plug something into it.

What does 99.9% of the work?  The engine and appliance, but we must put forth the .1% effort to engage the awesome power.

* interesting that this verse suggests God supplies even the willingness to us . . .

In my experience, it mostly  comes down to saying, "yes Lord".

[Vine Abider]

46 minutes ago, Alive said:

In my experience, it mostly  comes down to saying, "yes Lord".

And how hard can that be!?  (sort of a loaded question . . .)

[Alive]

13 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

And how hard can that be!?  (sort of a loaded question . . .)

It depends much on whether I want what I want or what the Lord wants.

The Lord touches something in me that needs touching…do I say yes and let it go and obey, or do I resist and turn away.

[Alive]

Can you relate to this?

[Vine Abider]

35 minutes ago, Alive said:

Can you relate to this?

 

[farouk]

On 3/24/2025 at 9:29 PM, Edward429451 said:

 

It actually gets quite deep with a word study Sister. The term name means so much more than just being a title, there is so much more to it. It includes the character of Jesus. What I suggest is spending some time at BlueLetterBible.org and look up how they use the term name in specific passages. 

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3686/kjv/tr/0-1/

Good indeed to encourage ppl to do serious Bible study.....

[farouk]

On 3/24/2025 at 3:34 PM, z88 said:

Don't you have to believe on Jesus' name according to John 3:18 (KJV)? Does that mean Jesus' name is that he is Lord and that God raised him from the dead? I don't understand. I thought his name would be that he died to be the propitiation for our sins, but I guess this is not the case? I really don't understand.

John 3:18 (KJV)

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 5.22-25 says:

"And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

 

[Edward429451]

On 3/24/2025 at 3:34 PM, z88 said:

Don't you have to believe on Jesus' name according to John 3:18 (KJV)? Does that mean Jesus' name is that he is Lord and that God raised him from the dead? I don't understand. I thought his name would be that he died to be the propitiation for our sins, but I guess this is not the case? I really don't understand.

John 3:18 (KJV)

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

I did a word study on "name" awhile back and I came to the conclusion that it means mostly, Character. So if we believe in the name of Jesus (which carries a connotation of walk in Jesus's ways) then we begin taking on the very character of Jesus.