When people say “It’s not about what we do, but what Christ did”, this can come across to many as we have nothing at all to do to be saved. To get around this, it is argued that if it’s all about what He did then all would be saved since He died for all (John 3:16)
Believing is not doing nothing (John 3:16) and through believing, we are trusting in Another's work (Christ's finished work of redemption - Romans 3:24-28)
However, let’s see if that phrase “It’s not about what we do, but what Christ did” is a biblical one.
For you it's mainly about what you DO rather than what Christ has already DONE. Be careful! (1 Corinthians 1:18-21)
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
In those passages, we can see that we did nothing on our own without God to be saved. We did nothing in our own merit/righteousness or works to have Jesus come and save us by His grace.
The washing of regeneration is accomplished by the Holy Spirit at the moment we are saved by grace through faith "apart from additions or modifications." (Acts 15:7-9; Ephesians 2:8)
So, the part “It’s not about what we do” with regard to developing a way of being saved is correct.
However, does this mean there is nothing we must do in order to be saved? Let’s see
Matthew 7:21 - " he who does the will of my father in heaven"
John 6:40 - For
my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Matthew 7:24-27 - "whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them"
As we read on in Matthew 7:24-27, we find
two different foundations with two different results, and not salvation by works, as some would suppose. Each house has a different material upon which its foundation is laid, and each house has a different final outcome.
One house is built by a wise man upon a rock and it stands. The other is built by a foolish man upon the sand and it collapses.
Those deceived by their own self-righteousness in Matthew 7:22-23 were "outwardly" doing all the things that the righteous would do yet they did not truly know Christ (had no personal relationship with Christ) which stemmed from not truly believing in Him.
The rock the wise man builds upon is true righteousness found in Jesus Christ alone. The sand the foolish man builds upon is self-righteousness.
*Only those who truly believe in Him are wise and hear the words of Jesus and properly act on them. *The foolish man twists the words of Jesus and acts on their own self-righteous works system and calls that acting on the words of Jesus.
Mark 10:17 - "Good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
Acts 2:37-38 - "what shall we do?"
Acts 9:6 - "Lord, what do you want me to do?"
Acts 16:30 - "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Jesus showed the rich young ruler how short he falls of keeping even the first commandment (Exodus 20:3) which is the first of the two great commandments. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37) The rich young ruler confidently and (self-righteously) declared that he has kept the commandments from his youth up and qualified for heaven under those terms. Yet Jesus knew the man's wealth had become his idolatrous god, which kept him from believing in Jesus unto salvation. (John 3:18)
Repentance (faith implied or assumed) is unto the remission of sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; Acts 5:31; 11:17,18; 26:18) *Hermeneutics.
Suffering for the Lord's sake was what Paul must do. Acts 9:15 - But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” But that was not the basis or means by which he obtained salvation.
Acts 16:31 - “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” There it is.
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith into this grace…
Yes, justified by faith "apart from additions or modifications" and we also have access by faith "apart from additions or modifications" into grace... Put down your shoehorn and accept the truth.
Gal. 3:24 says justified by faith
Yes, faith "apart from additions or modifications."
How does get into this grace in Romans 5:2? They have to be justified by faith. But how is one be justified by faith? One must be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27), and that is where we have access by faith into this grace (Rom. 5:2).
That is your eisegesis. Paul said justified by faith and not justified by water baptism. Believers have been Sprit baptized into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) which has nothing to do with Campbell's soup theology/salvation by water baptism.
The only "sense" that one would be "water baptized into Christ" is the same "sense" that the Israelites were "baptized into Moses." (1 Corinthians 10:2) The Israelites were not literally water baptized into the body of Moses and there is little dispute that being "baptized into Moses" signified the open allegiance and public identification of the Israelites with Moses as their leader. Moses was formally recognized as the leader of the covenant people. Water baptism signifies our allegiance and public identification with Christ as our Savior,
