What must I do to be saved

Amen.

So true.

Those who remain in Him are those who obey His commandments.

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24

• he who keeps His commandments abides in Him

But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Luke 8:21

• are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9

• transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.

JPT

It is entirely possible to hear the gospel, accept it with joy and be saved, then turn right around and do nothing in a return to unbelief. James 2 does not teach that dead faith is never having believed at all.

Read Galatians.


No, the gospel is not, "believe that you can never lose your salvation and you will be saved."


That's called 'having faith'. Leave the junk out about not being able to stop trusting in Christ for justification (like the Galatians were doing) and you are describing what I've been saying: Only those who believe in Christ for justification, and continue in that believing are saved and will be saved when Jesus comes back.


Anybody who has read Galatians without 'once saved always saved' blinders on knows you most certainly will not be among the sons who inherit eternal life if you stop trusting in Christ for justification.



Well, that's funny...........believing to avoid the lake of fire when you first believe is fantastic news. Why isn't it afterward?



And remain born again through continuing in the faith you started out with.

I asked you a simple question.

• eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

Is this the truth or a lie?

It’s one or the other.


Trying to use other scriptures, and "redefining" the context and meaning of biblical words will not change what the truth is.

• eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

Is this the truth or a lie?

It’s one or the other.


Please answer this question, and then you can ask me a question that is based on the scripture you want to discuss.




JPT

So we were dead, then were born again, made a NEW creation, becoming a Child of God, and then we can become UNBORN again? WOW!

So let me ask ya. How long is it before you become unborn gain? I'm serious. Because YOU say that if you stop believing you will lose salvation and NEVER be able to believe again. If you lose faith and doubt who Jesus is, and what He has done, for a moment? an hour? a day? etc.. that's it? Your'e toast? Tell us how long a born again Child has before doubting dooms.

Jesus said a person is saved when they "believe".


12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:12-13

• lest they should believe and be saved.

The only group of people that were "never" saved, are those in the first group, who did not ever believe because the word was stolen from their heart.


The second group illustrates those who did in fact believe, and were persecuted because they were "believers".

• who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. Matthew 13:20-21



These people who did in fact believe and were saved, showing the joy of salvation as a witness to their salvation and then they were persecuted, in which they succumbed to the temptation and turned away from Christ:


These willfully departed from Him to avoid further persecution and or death.


This is the context and this is the what was fervently taught to the Jews who would become believers and face persecution and death at the hands of those unbelieving Jews who were fervent for Judaism, just like Paul was.


The book of Hebrews was written for this very purpose to show clearly that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and Lord God, at not some "false prophet" narrative and reason the Jews were persecuting the believers.


They were obeying what the Lord commanded them in Deuteronomy, [not knowing the very Lord they sought to obey, had become flesh, and they crucified Him] to keep the "evil" from spreading throughout Israel, in which people would be carried away with this false prophet, called Jesus of Nazareth.

• arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. 6 “If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you. Deuteronomy 13:1-11

• “If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death.

This is what the unbelieving Jews were obeying when they would go after and persecute those who believed in Jesus as Messiah.



Judaism even today, considers Jesus a false prophet and deceiver.



The Point: Those who believe and are saved because they believe and are persecuted because they believe, who fall away, departing from Christ because of the persecution, have departed from the living God, and can never be brought back to repentance, since they have put Him to an open shame. These no longer have any sacrifice for sin.


Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, Hebrews 3:12-14

• lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

JPT

Yes. If you stop believing in Christ for justification, and you resist all efforts by God to bring you back to faith in Christ, you will forfeit the promise of the Spirit made to Abraham. You will literally lose the Holy Spirit and will no longer be connected to the Son who is in line for the inheritance.


I would think that's up to God. He knows how long and to what extent he should pursue the (ex) believer who has departed faith in Christ for justification. How long did he pursue the Galatians? We don't know. We just know he did.


Losing faith and doubting are two different things. Doubting doesn't cause you to forfeit your salvation. Doubting is a normal part of a believer's life. John the Baptist doubted, apparently because of the trial he was suffering, and he's the one who saw the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus.

Losing faith altogether in a decision to go back to 'Egypt' in unbelief is quite another thing altogether. That's the conscious decision to not doubt anymore but make a decision that you will no longer trust in the promise of Christ for justification. That is what will cause you to eventually forfeit the efficacy of Christ toward justification that you had while you believed. We see that in the case of the Galatians. But the Galatians also show us that God can give the person who walks away from faith in Christ for justification time and space to repent.



How long? You have up until normal, healthy doubt turns into unbelief and you refuse all efforts by God to bring you back to faith in Christ and he turns you over to your unbelief. That's how long. And it's up to God as to how long he will leave the door open for the ex-believer to come back to faith in Christ (i.e. the Galatians). But once the door is closed for that person, it's over. God does not allow a person to re-crucify Christ putting him to open shame. A person can only be born again once. Once you leave and God shuts the door, it's over. You have nothing left to look forward to but the wrath of God at the Judgment. Why? Because you don't have Christ's sacrifice anymore to protect you from the wrath of God. Only people who are presently believing and trusting in Christ are protected from the wrath of God. So don't stop believing.

You may want to argue that true believers will never stop believing (and I respect that argument). But the Galatian's return to the law for justification shows us that isn't true.

What Must I Do To Be Saved?
After the death and resurrection of our Lord, the way of salvation was expounded by Peter on Pentecost in Acts 2. Some 3,000 Jews were converted and added to the number of those being saved; a list of the factors that were included is as follows:
(1) The gospel, the word of truth, was preached.
(2) The multitude heard the word.
(3) About 3,000 were pierced to the heart, believing the message.
(4) They asked, Brethren, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
(5) They were commanded to, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Obviously they had not been saved when they first believed as they were still in their sins.
(6) They called on the name of the Lord by repentance and being baptized. (Acts 22: 16)
(7) They and their children and those who were far off Gentiles (Eph. 2: 13, 17) and as many as God would call to Himself (the elect), were promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Does this tell us everything we might wish to know about the way of salvation? Certainly not, but it is a beginning and since we are all saved by the grace of God in the same way (Acts 15: 11), this outline should be included in any discussion of, “What must I do to be saved?”
God bless

This last point is the confirmation that we are the elect: the Holy Spirit within us.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Eph. 2: 8, 9)

Since only two factors, grace and faith, are mentioned is it safe to assume that salvation is by faith alone? Actually the grace of God is the basis of salvation; and that is achieved through faith. But even faith is not alone for we read, “But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Why then is only the virtue of faith mentioned in this verse and so prominently mentioned in many other places as resulting in salvation, life and forgiveness? Faith is the introductory virtue that brings us to grace; it underlies every other response that might be made, but nowhere do the Scriptures affirm that salvation is by faith alone. In addition faith is not one dimensional, merely believing; faith works through love, resulting in obedience. Obedience perfects or completes, showing us that our faith is authentic.

There are two types of work, works based on faith and works based on performance. The works of the law and works of righteousness are based on performance, faith in ourselves, and do not save. Works of faith are based on faith in God, motivated by love; they do save. Examples of works of faith that occur before salvation are calling on the name of the Lord, repentance, baptism in the name of Christ, confessing His name before men and the obedience of faith. All good works commanded by God, motivated by love, also result in eternal life. (Rom. 2: 7)
God bless.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9


Anyone who wanders away and does not remain faithful to the teaching of Christ has no relationship with God. But those who remain in the teaching of Christ have a wonderful relationship with both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9 TPT


Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9 HCSB





JPT

Can you please explain what faith is and how faith operates to produce a divine result?




JPT

Can you please explain what faith is and how faith operates to produce a divine result?

I can give you my understanding.
To me, faith in God is the assent or agreement to the truth of certain propositions or statements about God; for example:
God exists, and rewards those that diligently seek Him.
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world, not just the elect, of sin, righteousness and judgement.
Those who are convicted are drawn to Jesus by the love, hope, truth and invitation revealed in the word.
This is the first level of faith, but we find accounts of those who believed at this level but were not approved; example John 12: 42, 42.
Those who wish to follow Jesus find that the first requirement of discipleship is deny self. Matt 16: 24
Those who empty and humble themselves are begotten by God to faith, love, hope, obedience, holiness; requirements of the dine nature. John 1: 12, 13; 1 John 2: 28; 3: 9; 4: 7; 5: 1. 4, 18; 1Pet 1: 3
When God calls us, he opens our heart to respond to the message in faith, love, etc. Acts 16: 14
Faith is a work of God, a gift, given by the grace of God through hearing the word to the heart of the those who have humble themselves. John 6: 29
Faith works through love (Gal. 5: 6) with those works of faith appointed by God (calling one the name of the Lord, repentance, confession of His name before men, obedience of faith) to perfect or complete our faith. (James 2: 21- 24) We are forgiven, saved and justified by this perfected faith, but not faith alone. This is saving faith, the faith that is deemed effective to accomplish God’s purpose in our lives.
God bless.

I'm talking about salvation and you are talking about rewards,keep up,lol

No sir.

Not rewards.

Salvation; Eternal Life.


Please read what the scripture actually says.

• eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

God who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, Romans 2:6-8


JPT

Those who have eternal life will seek to purify themselves even as they ARE pure.

The answer to the thread's question:

Let's hear from Lord Jesus himself:

Luke 10:25 And behold, a certain [h]lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

It is clear that you need to DO or ACT something in order to be saved.

you should not just have faith that Jesus is your Lord/Jesus is your Savior and yet you do not act on something as Jesus mentioned in Luke I had posted.

But doesn't the bible say that a great light had entered the world but man loved darkness so then how would man love GOD In a way that GOD would accept.

JESUS also said to the rich young ruler,why do you call me good,there Is none good except GOD but you know the law,keep the commandments.

With man this Is Impossible but with GOD ALL things are possible.

IMO,human kind of faith Is to believe without seeing.
+++
John 20:26-29
King James Version(KJV)


26.)And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.

27.)Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28.)And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29.)Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.