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Indeed the mention our salvation comes with our faith to Jesus, and not by any of our actions. In Ephesaisn 2:8, God tell us that "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God". It is further supported by the fact that the thief at the cross got saved simply because he repent and believed in Jesus Christ, he did nothing for the kingdom but yet his faith saved him.
However, is that the whole story? The scriptures I have found in the bible seems to suggest otherwise.
In James 2:14, God tell us "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?". Suggesting work would be required to be saved, then what happen to be saved by grace? Also in Matthew 3:12 He tells us this "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”. Similar to the scriptures found in Matthew 25 where the unprepared virgins will be left behind. So in another word, we need to be prepared to get saved? Then what happen to the thief at the cross? I seriously doubt he had the time nor the ability to do all those things before dying at the cross.
There are so many things that can take you out of salvation, according to the bible itself.
In 1 John 3:15, God says "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." As much as we like to forgive everyone we have encountered in our life, its simply impossible to do so. You would be bound to hold grudges against someone at some point at your life. How can one forgives everyone?
Also in Matthew 5:20, God tell us "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." So we need to be better than the scribes and Pharisees in order to be saved? Then what happen to save by faith? what happen to "Salvation is a gift"?
In Matthew 22:14, God tell us "Many were called, few were chosen", what makes you think you were the few who were choosen? Remember its God who has chosen us, not us who have chosen God. Is there a scripture in the bible that suggest you are the one being selected to go to heaven? If there is, please do tell me.
In Matthew 7:21 God tell us that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.". I am confused now, so is work now required for salvation? From what I understand, the thief at the cross get a really good deal, he dies immediately after getting saved by Christ. Christian being alive today were being tested in different ways, there is a possibility we can lose our faith if we do not passed those test. (WARNING: THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT MIGHT BE FALSE, THIS IS ONLY MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE SO FAR). But just for the sake of discussion, in Romans 10:13 God saids "“everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” So what is it?
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However, is that the whole story? The scriptures I have found in the bible seems to suggest otherwise.
In James 2:14, God tell us "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?". Suggesting work would be required to be saved, then what happen to be saved by grace? Also in Matthew 3:12 He tells us this "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”. Similar to the scriptures found in Matthew 25 where the unprepared virgins will be left behind. So in another word, we need to be prepared to get saved? Then what happen to the thief at the cross? I seriously doubt he had the time nor the ability to do all those things before dying at the cross.
There are so many things that can take you out of salvation, according to the bible itself.
In 1 John 3:15, God says "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." As much as we like to forgive everyone we have encountered in our life, its simply impossible to do so. You would be bound to hold grudges against someone at some point at your life. How can one forgives everyone?
Also in Matthew 5:20, God tell us "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." So we need to be better than the scribes and Pharisees in order to be saved? Then what happen to save by faith? what happen to "Salvation is a gift"?
In Matthew 22:14, God tell us "Many were called, few were chosen", what makes you think you were the few who were choosen? Remember its God who has chosen us, not us who have chosen God. Is there a scripture in the bible that suggest you are the one being selected to go to heaven? If there is, please do tell me.
In Matthew 7:21 God tell us that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.". I am confused now, so is work now required for salvation? From what I understand, the thief at the cross get a really good deal, he dies immediately after getting saved by Christ. Christian being alive today were being tested in different ways, there is a possibility we can lose our faith if we do not passed those test. (WARNING: THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT MIGHT BE FALSE, THIS IS ONLY MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE SO FAR). But just for the sake of discussion, in Romans 10:13 God saids "“everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” So what is it?
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