Only 2 ways to heaven according to scripture!

[eternally-gratefull]

According to scripture. there are only two ways to heaven. not the many different ways we have been hearing here on Christian chat. So what are they?

1. The law.

According to scripture. if one fulfills the law completely. he has earned the right to heaven. Unfortunately, also according to scripture. only 1 person in the whole of history has accomplished this fact. and that man is Jesus.

Thus we have a problem. Since non of us have done this. the law turns to something else. It condemns us. If I sin only one time my whole life. I have earned, not entrance to heaven, But eternal damnation. Thus I can not consider myself more holy or righteous than anyone else who ever lived on earth. because according to God. I am just as guilty as they are.

If I do only parts of the law. but neglect the rest. I have failed to fulfill the law. And even if I followed every tradition and work of the law. but mess up on one point, as James said, I am found guilty of the whole law.

You see the law comes as a package. Do it 100 % or it is of no value to us as far as saving us.

2. Faith in the work of Christ.

Scripture tells us Christ not only fulfilled the law completely. he also fulfilled the law on our behalf.

1. He who knew no sin became sin for us (he took our sin on his body)
2. He because the lamb of God, who gave his life for the sin of the world (he fulfilled the reuirements of animal sacrifice)
3. He through his word, cleanses us from all unrighteousness through the HS (fulfills the cleansing ritual of the law, such as circumcision)

Since we failed at number one, the only thing we have left is number 2. Are we going to trust Christ and his promise, based on his fulfilling the law on our behalf. or are we going to try to go back under law and try to save ourselves?

God said he saved us based on the following

1. Our trust in his work
2. His knowledge of our heart, and our whole life from birth to death (he knows everything we have done,m are doing and will do)
3. based on his promise of eternal life to ALL who believe.

the question I have is this.

if the law can't save us. why do people say:

we must make ourselves right before we can be saved, or after we are saved, make ourselves right to keep our salvation when the law states nothing short of 100 % obedience is required?

We must add works to our faith, in the form of water baptism, communion, carrying our cross. or whatever ritual people have come up with to "perfect there salvation" which were never a part of the law to begin with. and are just people replacing traditions and works of the law with other traditions and works, and claiming they are required by God. No work of the law could ever save anyone, so why would people say these works God gave us are required? saying this leaves all people in the OT out of heaven, because they were not given these works.

Scripture says only one thing leads to condemnation. He who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the only name of the son of God.

if unbelief is the only means of condemnation. then can you explain how God is going to save us today, and take our salvation back later if we do not do his rules and live up to his standard? (which again, is perfection)

I like what paul said..

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth,[SUP][a][/SUP] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? [SUP]2 [/SUP]This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [SUP]3 [/SUP]Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

so why is it so many people have been fooled into thinking we must perfect what christ did, or we will not be saved? How can I do any good deed which would surpass what Christ did for me?

 

[WiseSam]

it is my belief that CHRIST is the only way to salvation. however, i believe that the "works" in faith wihtout works is dead, is obedience. not because we are trying to make it right, or earn our way...but because obedience shows our love for GOD and because, at least for me personally, i cannot imagine serving GOD and NOT obeying. "if you love ME, keep my commandments" and "if you say you love GOD, yet do not obey, then the truth is not in you" both are things i take very seriously. the law is written on our hearts, we need to be obedient.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

it is my belief that CHRIST is the only way to salvation. however, i believe that the "works" in faith wihtout works is dead, is obedience. not because we are trying to make it right, or earn our way...but because obedience shows our love for GOD and because, at least for me personally, i cannot imagine serving GOD and NOT obeying. "if you love ME, keep my commandments" and "if you say you love GOD, yet do not obey, then the truth is not in you" both are things i take very seriously. the law is written on our hearts, we need to be obedient.

I agree 100 %. However. if we say we must do these works. or we will lose salvation. then we have not trusted in christ, we are trusting in self.

Yes faith without works is dead. a person who has no faith to begin with, thus who is not saved to begin with, is not going to do any work.

A point i guess I should make. I am not saying how a christian should behave or what they should do. the only point I am making is how we are saved. how do we get to heaven!

 

[Skinski7]

Eternally Grateful,


You err in your premise because when you teach "faith in the work of Christ" you are disconnecting "faithfully abiding in Christ" whereby a saint is yielded to God. One cannot be yielded to God and in rebellion at the same time.

You err in thinking that the "forsaking of rebellion" is equivalent to "being saved by the law."

James PLAINLY stated this...

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James wrote that, not me. James told people to do something and to receive something. He did not just say "receive something." James connected FORSAKING SIN and BEING A DOER OF THE WORD to SALVATION.

It is very simple.

The prodigal son first forsook the pig pen then sought reconciliation with his father. The prodigal son laid aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and received with meekness the implanted word which could save his soul.

It is not error to teach the WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.

 

[Skinski7]

I agree 100 %. However. if we say we must do these works. or we will lose salvation. then we have not trusted in christ, we are trusting in self.

Yes faith without works is dead. a person who has no faith to begin with, thus who is not saved to begin with, is not going to do any work.

A point i guess I should make. I am not saying how a christian should behave or what they should do. the only point I am making is how we are saved. how do we get to heaven!

Saved from what?

What is someone saved from?

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

If I rescue a drowning man from the sea the man was saved from drowning. If he disregards my instructions to take swimming lessons and avoid deep water and jumps back in the sea is he still saved?

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Once saved always saved? I don't think so.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

 

[mark54]

so why is it so many people have been fooled into thinking we must perfect what christ did, or we will not be saved? How can I do any good deed which would surpass what Christ did for me?

A Godly woman on another website said ministers are afraid to preach Grace from the pulpit, as they fear their congregations will view it as a licence to sin
If the ministers don't preach it EG, the people will not believe it. That to me is the tragic reality in many cases

 

[crosspreacher]

Those who are saved will not be lost. We do good because we love Jesus and we want to please Him.God like us to do good things. Not in order to be saved but by love for Him.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

A Godly woman on another website said ministers are afraid to preach Grace from the pulpit, as they fear their congregations will view it as a licence to sin
If the ministers don't preach it EG, the people will not believe it. That to me is the tragic reality in many cases

My church teaches grace all the time. But they teach how to live righteous lives even more..One can not go without the other.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Saved from what?

What is someone saved from?

From eternal condemnation. there is nothing else to be saved from.

the penalty of sin is DEATH, the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Christ

If you do not want to recieve the gift of God. but instead want to work for it. Thats on you. but for us who want Christ's gift.. don;t judge us..

 

[Abiding]

This context should get a amen from both sides. I so do like to see overused verses in context.

Ephesians 2:2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, [SUP]2 [/SUP]in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, [SUP]3 [/SUP]among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.[SUP]4 [/SUP]But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [SUP]5 [/SUP]even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), [SUP]6 [/SUP]and raised usup together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [SUP]7 [/SUP]that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [SUP]8 [/SUP]For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [SUP]9 [/SUP]not of works, lest anyone should boast.
[SUP]

10 [/SUP]For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

[Tommy4Christ]

Remember faith upholds the law, not the outer works of the flesh but heart made pure through the repentance process, those who endure to the end will be saved, not those who accepted Jesus did it all for them, we have our part to do, working together(synergy)with God to produce a result.

Hope this helps:

Faith Upholds the Law!

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! On the contrary, we establish the law. Rom 3:31

If you’re told that Salvation is by Faith and NOT of Works, how does the Law come into play? Simple answer: ‘It Doesn’t’…..at least in your mind. But What is Faith? Is ‘faith without works’ dead? As James says or does the ‘works’ he is speaking of ‘FOLLOW’ Faith. Whereas the Faith comes first. So Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as Righteousness. (Rom4:3)

But what if I also tell you that Abraham WALKED in the STEPS of his faith, doing the DEEDS of faith and thereby OBEYED God? (Rom4:14, John8:39, Heb11:8) Wouldn’t that make faith the following:
A Walk of Faithful Deeds and Obedience! All One in the Same thing. That’s why Faith (real faith) Upholds and Established the law. (Rom13:10) Because it Obeys and Keeps the Commands of Christ! In this the Bible then Makes perfect sense.

As ‘Workers’ together with God, we Work Out our Salvation in fear and trembling, Make our Calling Sure, Run the Race with endurance, Fight the good fight, Holdfast, endure, and obey. It’s no longer necessary for the pastors to explain all these away and convince you Deeds don’t matter. Because the Bible CLEARLY says you will Judged According to your Deeds:
who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, Rom2:6-8
(Also Check: Matt12:37, 16:27, Jh5:28-29, 2Cor5:10, 1Pet1:17, Rev2:23, 22:11-14)

Now if Deeds will determine the Outcome of your Salvation (as these passages clearly state) WHY would you embrace a System of Doctrine that teaches otherwise? James plainly says that the ‘Devils also Believe’ James2:19. Meaning they indeed possess Faith! It’s undeniable that they (the devils) possess the SAME faith your Churches Preach as SAVING Faith. It’s the faith of Slothful, Biblical illiterate, lukewarm hypocrites who love the fun and games of their ‘religion’ but loath the Commands of Scripture.

Faith is WALKING in the Spirit, not the flesh. (Rom8:1-4) Thus it fulfills the Righteous requirements of the law and falls in line with the Message of Christ. When asked what must I do to inherit eternal life, He answered in this manner: “KEEP the Commandments!” (Matt19:16-22) Explained further therefore in Romans 8, The Greatest of all Commandments to love God is KEPT by WALKING in the Spirit….again a WORK of Faith With Power! (2Thess1:11) DEEDS and FAITH…..Synonymous! You can’t have one without the other or you’re nothing more than a ‘Devil’ who ‘Believes’.

What they have done inside the System is highly ‘Spiritualize’ the Bible and make simple truths into big mysterious doctrines only the theologians can understand. Thereby they can easily convinced the unlearned their ‘System’ is correct and the Bible actually does teach that your Sins are Covered by Grace, your Imputed Righteous and Eternally Secure. All by merely ‘Believing’ in Jesus! From there it’s easy to explain away all the Direct Commands and Warnings of Scripture. It’s says ‘Obey’ but Really means, HE Obeyed for you. It says ‘Serve’, but really means HE Served in your place. In fact, EVERYTHING Jesus said about Holding fast, enduring to the end, Taking up your cross, denying yourself, counting the cost, is to show you HE DID it all so you don’t have to!

You see how Slick this Message really is and why it’s dubbed ‘Great Swelling Words of Emptiness’ in the Bible. (2Pet2:18) Rather than you Working out your own Salvation, Making your calling Sure, Running the Race with endurance, Patiently Continuing in the faith, JESUS Did it all for you IN ADVANCE! That’s whey Faith can NEVER be associated with Works or Deeds of any sort, no matter What the Bible says. You Remain a Wretched, Chief of Sinners, Convinced that Sin humbles your heart before God, when in reality you’re growing Harder and Harder by the day in rebellion to the truth.

But that’s another discussion entirely, we’ll deal with later. Here we need to understand the Working Dynamic of Saving faith. It’s really VERY Simple: There is a LAW of Faith, Rom3:27, The LAW of Faith is LOVE, Gal5:6, Faith WORKS by Love, And Love Upholds and Fulfills the LAW! Rom13:10.

Without this Working Dynamic, you possess the Faith of Devils. James2:19. That’s why Faith Without Works is Dead and WHY Abraham was Justified by his DEEDS and NOT by FAITH ALONE! Js2:24. standingthegap.org

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Remember faith upholds the law, not the outer works of the flesh but heart made pure through the repentance process, those who endure to the end will be saved, not those who accepted Jesus did it all for them, we have our part to do, working together(synergy)with God to produce a result.

Hope this helps:

Faith Upholds the Law!

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! On the contrary, we establish the law. Rom 3:31

If you’re told that Salvation is by Faith and NOT of Works, how does the Law come into play? Simple answer: ‘It Doesn’t’…..at least in your mind. But What is Faith? Is ‘faith without works’ dead? As James says or does the ‘works’ he is speaking of ‘FOLLOW’ Faith. Whereas the Faith comes first. So Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as Righteousness. (Rom4:3)

But what if I also tell you that Abraham WALKED in the STEPS of his faith, doing the DEEDS of faith and thereby OBEYED God? (Rom4:14, John8:39, Heb11:8) Wouldn’t that make faith the following:
A Walk of Faithful Deeds and Obedience! All One in the Same thing. That’s why Faith (real faith) Upholds and Established the law. (Rom13:10) Because it Obeys and Keeps the Commands of Christ! In this the Bible then Makes perfect sense.

As ‘Workers’ together with God, we Work Out our Salvation in fear and trembling, Make our Calling Sure, Run the Race with endurance, Fight the good fight, Holdfast, endure, and obey. It’s no longer necessary for the pastors to explain all these away and convince you Deeds don’t matter. Because the Bible CLEARLY says you will Judged According to your Deeds:
who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, Rom2:6-8
(Also Check: Matt12:37, 16:27, Jh5:28-29, 2Cor5:10, 1Pet1:17, Rev2:23, 22:11-14)

Now if Deeds will determine the Outcome of your Salvation (as these passages clearly state) WHY would you embrace a System of Doctrine that teaches otherwise? James plainly says that the ‘Devils also Believe’ James2:19. Meaning they indeed possess Faith! It’s undeniable that they (the devils) possess the SAME faith your Churches Preach as SAVING Faith. It’s the faith of Slothful, Biblical illiterate, lukewarm hypocrites who love the fun and games of their ‘religion’ but loath the Commands of Scripture.

Faith is WALKING in the Spirit, not the flesh. (Rom8:1-4) Thus it fulfills the Righteous requirements of the law and falls in line with the Message of Christ. When asked what must I do to inherit eternal life, He answered in this manner: “KEEP the Commandments!” (Matt19:16-22) Explained further therefore in Romans 8, The Greatest of all Commandments to love God is KEPT by WALKING in the Spirit….again a WORK of Faith With Power! (2Thess1:11) DEEDS and FAITH…..Synonymous! You can’t have one without the other or you’re nothing more than a ‘Devil’ who ‘Believes’.

What they have done inside the System is highly ‘Spiritualize’ the Bible and make simple truths into big mysterious doctrines only the theologians can understand. Thereby they can easily convinced the unlearned their ‘System’ is correct and the Bible actually does teach that your Sins are Covered by Grace, your Imputed Righteous and Eternally Secure. All by merely ‘Believing’ in Jesus! From there it’s easy to explain away all the Direct Commands and Warnings of Scripture. It’s says ‘Obey’ but Really means, HE Obeyed for you. It says ‘Serve’, but really means HE Served in your place. In fact, EVERYTHING Jesus said about Holding fast, enduring to the end, Taking up your cross, denying yourself, counting the cost, is to show you HE DID it all so you don’t have to!

You see how Slick this Message really is and why it’s dubbed ‘Great Swelling Words of Emptiness’ in the Bible. (2Pet2:18) Rather than you Working out your own Salvation, Making your calling Sure, Running the Race with endurance, Patiently Continuing in the faith, JESUS Did it all for you IN ADVANCE! That’s whey Faith can NEVER be associated with Works or Deeds of any sort, no matter What the Bible says. You Remain a Wretched, Chief of Sinners, Convinced that Sin humbles your heart before God, when in reality you’re growing Harder and Harder by the day in rebellion to the truth.

But that’s another discussion entirely, we’ll deal with later. Here we need to understand the Working Dynamic of Saving faith. It’s really VERY Simple: There is a LAW of Faith, Rom3:27, The LAW of Faith is LOVE, Gal5:6, Faith WORKS by Love, And Love Upholds and Fulfills the LAW! Rom13:10.

Without this Working Dynamic, you possess the Faith of Devils. James2:19. That’s why Faith Without Works is Dead and WHY Abraham was Justified by his DEEDS and NOT by FAITH ALONE! Js2:24. standingthegap.org

throws up hands! some people will never get it!

Its ok tommy. keep working to earn a gift. Until you understand a gift is given unconditionally and can not be earned. No one will ever be able to convince you of the love of God.

 

[crossnote]

There is a sense where the law is not a separate way to heaven and it is in this. ..
Insomuch as it's use is to cause us to see our sin so that we despair of self and are driven to Jesus, it can be said to work in conjunction with God's grace, God's Way.

 

[crossnote]

throws up hands! some people will never get it!

Its ok tommy. keep working to earn a gift. Until you understand a gift is given unconditionally and can not be earned. No one will ever be able to convince you of the love of God.

This reminds me 'which of the two words don't you understand in the phrase 'FREE GIFT'?

 

[Drett]

I don't think God changes Gods mind.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: [SUP]2 [/SUP]“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. [SUP]3 [/SUP]So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Matt 23 1-3

He told his followers, shortly before he ascended, to learn and follow the law. If the law was to be removed why tell people to learn it just before he left ? I am not sure why people no longer follow the law. We can see the families fall apart when interest rises. There are many health concerns related to pork which are suppressed. It is a dangerous departure from the teachings of Jesus and the example he set.

 

[Drett]

Just having faith in Jesus alone is an easy path to follow for salvation and billions will be saved.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it
Mat 7:13

Jesus said many will go down the easy path but the gate to salvation is narrow. It is not the easy way many are on now. I would seriously reconsider the throwing out of the law that God spent thousands of years revealing.

 

[WiseSam]

From eternal condemnation. there is nothing else to be saved from.

the penalty of sin is DEATH, the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Christ

If you do not want to recieve the gift of God. but instead want to work for it. Thats on you. but for us who want Christ's gift.. don;t judge us..

i am curious...do you understand that obeying GOD is NOT attempting to earn anything but simply done out of love? i thought i had explained that clearly enough in my first post. please do not judge us who obey as attempting to earn anything...we obey because we must obey, it is the ONLY true way we can express our love and gratefulness for what GOD has done for us and given us.

 

[mark54]

Just having faith in Jesus alone is an easy path to follow for salvation and billions will be saved.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it
Mat 7:13

Jesus said many will go down the easy path but the gate to salvation is narrow. It is not the easy way many are on now. I would seriously reconsider the throwing out of the law that God spent thousands of years revealing.[/QUOTE]


This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[SUP][b][/SUP] [SUP]17 [/SUP]Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”[SUP][
Heb10:15&16

The law is written on your heart and mind you are required to keepunder the new covenant, it is internal to you, not external, so you can't throw it out

[/SUP]

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Just having faith in Jesus alone is an easy path to follow for salvation and billions will be saved.

actually this is wrong. it is against human nature. human nature says we need to save ourselves, or at least help.

true faith is one of the hardest things any man can do.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it
Mat 7:13

Jesus said many will go down the easy path but the gate to salvation is narrow. It is not the easy way many are on now. I would seriously reconsider the throwing out of the law that God spent thousands of years revealing.

1. every religion on earth says we are saved by following a set of laws.
2. God said we are not saved by the law, the law is a tutor to bring us to christ how can a tutor save you
3. Yes. lets do like the world. and not follow the narrow way, Christ alone.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

i am curious...do you understand that obeying GOD is NOT attempting to earn anything but simply done out of love?

You do understand many people do it to earn salvation do you not? I am talking how one gets saved, not how one becomes like Christ, that is a different subject altogether.

i thought i had explained that clearly enough in my first post. please do not judge us who obey as attempting to earn anything...we obey because we must obey, it is the ONLY true way we can express our love and gratefulness for what GOD has done for us and given us.

Tell me. Do you think you can lose salvation if you do not obey?

and second. this response was not directed at you.. so why did you get so offended?