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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?
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?