What's the minimum necessary criteria for salvation?
- Thread starter ALAYMAN
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jimmudcatgrant
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ALAYMAN said:
I think one must know that Jesus is God to be born again, but this is a very interesting question, and gets down to where the rubber meets the road. A lot of people claim faith in Jesus, belief in Jesus, say they are Christians, yet their interpretation of what all that details is sometimes very different than what the scripture says.
John, writing about Jesus:
John 1:12 (NASB)
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
Receiving Jesus and believing in His name go hand in hand. Jesus claimed to be God's son, which equated being God in those days, and the Messiah. If one did not receive Him in that light, or believe He was who He said, then I don't think they were saved. I will let this go out there and see what transpires from others before I answer further. But this is Chrisitanity at the basic level: if we are gonna come to God (Jesus), we must believe that he is who He says He is.
I don't really know if it can be defined so clearly. Jesus knows all hearts, and knows what's in them. I don't think He judges mainly on the basis of head knowledge.
But if I were to take a stab at it, I'd have to go with this:
Romans 10:9-10
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
But if I were to take a stab at it, I'd have to go with this:
Romans 10:9-10
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
M
Miller
Guest
I used to spend a lot of time worrying about this. As you study soteriology you can see how deep and complex the doctrine of salvation can become. However in practice I remember Jesus saying, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." How much doctrine does a child understand? Apparently one is able to come to Christ with that understanding and knowledge.
A
AresMan
Guest
My hyperdispensational friends and family would say that the gospel for the Body of Christ today is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; therefore, for one to be saved today is simply to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They strongly contrast this to statements in the gospel and epistles of John, such as Jesus saying "if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24) and statements about believing that Jesus is "the Son of God" (1 John 4:15; 5:5,10). They say that salvation today is not dependent on assenting to the deity of Christ, but merely the sufficiency of His death, burial, and resurrection; however, the Jews of Israel had to believe in the deity of Christ for their salvation.ALAYMAN said:
Of course, they cannot seem to affirm dogmatically that Catholics and Jehovah's Witnesses are saved.
Also, the JW's belief in a spiritual--rather than bodily--resurrection would seem to force nitty-gritty analysis.
Also again, following the flow of the sentence structure of 1 Corinthians 15, would not one have to argue that someone would have to believe the following to be saved?
1. Christ died--and this was "according to the Scriptures"
2. Christ was buried
3. Christ rose from the dead--and this was "according to the Scriptures"
4. He was seen of Cephas
5. Then, He was seen of the Twelve
6. Then, He was seen of above 500 brethren at once
7. Then, He was seen of James
8. Then, He was seen of the rest of the apostles
9. Then, He was seen of Paul
10. He was seen of no one else after Paul.
T
The Glory Land
Guest
Don't forget to mention to the lost, that there is also a place called Hell. :-\
C
Castor Muscular
Guest
Jesus saves. That's the minimum requirement.
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Izdaari said:
Ironically, taking the full context of the passage you cited, Paul is telling the "godly" Israelites that they must trust the righteousness of God in Christ to be saved, and that all of their knowledge was useless unless they trusted in the Messiah that was prophesied.
A
AresMan
Guest
So, the question is, is Paul teaching "confessional regeneration"?Izdaari said:
J
jimmudcatgrant
Guest
rsc2a said:
W
wheatpenny
Guest
jimmudcatgrant said:
The problem with that interpretation is that, if Christ's "brethren" refers to the Jews, then that implies that the Gentile believers are not Christ's brethren. That then goes against Galatians 3:28 which says there is no distinction between Jewish and Gentile believers.
T
Timothy
Guest
Q: What's the minimum necessary criteria for salvation? A: A sinner who believes there is a GOD. The GOD of the Bible.
One might dig deeper into a understanding of Salvation. But, for the ignorant only the hope of simple facts matter. We are already condemned by GOD because of sin, Jesus suffered and died for our sins, we see and understand our condition along with the only remedy available, and ultimately we will believe that Jesus Christ (the GOD man presented in scripture) can offer new life and give each who believes eternal life.
I believe the best way to know one is saved is by their growth. They look into the mirror of God's word and become more like Christ each day. Some grow slow. Some grow fast. But, even a Child can understand the pending judgement and the beautiful Savior ready to intercede.
As humans perhaps we are always ready to doubt each other, or judge. God loves us and says whosoever comes He will in no way will cast away. The narrow road is Jesus, not self righteousness.
One might dig deeper into a understanding of Salvation. But, for the ignorant only the hope of simple facts matter. We are already condemned by GOD because of sin, Jesus suffered and died for our sins, we see and understand our condition along with the only remedy available, and ultimately we will believe that Jesus Christ (the GOD man presented in scripture) can offer new life and give each who believes eternal life.
I believe the best way to know one is saved is by their growth. They look into the mirror of God's word and become more like Christ each day. Some grow slow. Some grow fast. But, even a Child can understand the pending judgement and the beautiful Savior ready to intercede.
As humans perhaps we are always ready to doubt each other, or judge. God loves us and says whosoever comes He will in no way will cast away. The narrow road is Jesus, not self righteousness.
C
Castor Muscular
Guest
ALAYMAN said:
That's an irrelevant question, because there is only one Jesus. Just because people have misperceptions about Jesus doesn't mean there's more than one. And Jesus still saves, and that's the minimum requirement.
J
jimmudcatgrant
Guest
I, nor most of Christianity, believe this type of dispensational theology is Biblical. 
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I will say to you what my former Pastor used to say, "This is America, you always have a right to be wrong."
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I will say to you what my former Pastor used to say, "This is America, you always have a right to be wrong."
J
jimmudcatgrant
Guest
wheatpenny said:
That would be a problem if the church was still in the picture, but it isn't. God has turned back to the Jews, and the age of grace to the Gentiles is over. So I believe that his brothers indeed refers to the Jews. I realize that no matter what position you hold there are problems, but I believe that viewing this as a different dispensation fits better than anything else. I am open to hearing your explanation.
W
wheatpenny
Guest
I understand the sheep and goats to refer to believers and unbelievers. The believers' faith is evidenced by their works. Christ's brethren are the believers as well, in this case those in need. Those who help others in need are serving Christ (whether they realise it or not, hence Christ welcoming people into heaven who don't realise that they were serving Him). The dispensationalist interpretation implies salvation by works.