I was talking to one of my Christian roommates about salvation - specifically how a person gets saved. That conversation has got me looking at the fundamentals again - "What exactly saves us?" How does actually getting saved work?
His argument is that if you simply believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose again you will be saved. Faith would be used here interchangeably:
"Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” - ESV Acts 16:31
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" - ESV Ephesians 2:8
"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." - ESV Romans 9:16
I on the other hand approach the question with more skepticism: I look at the parables such as the sheep and the goats or Matthew 7:22 and they make me consider the very real possibility of self deception:
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness! - ESV Matthew 7:22
What I'm trying to figure out is how we reconcile these two realities? What does it mean to "believe" in the lord Jesus? If Jesus dying on the cross was the sacrifice for our sin what is actually required of us to receive said gift and more importantly
why?
I know what Doug's stance is on salvation is but I can't find a video where he explains it with scripture - if you could point me to one it'd be much appreciated.
If a person believes in Jesus Christ they will do what He says. If they don't bother to read His words or practice what He says, then they don't believe no matter if the say they do. Even the demons believe and tremble. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19)
We can't do anything without God's Spirit (Holy Ghost) in us. We can't produce fruits nor can we understand spiritual things of God without His Spirit.1 Corinthians 2
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
So like in the scriptures you listed those that only God knows will enter in. People can say they believe but they don't do anything. Those who say they believe but don't do the work God has called them to will not make it. Those who don't take the time to be refined will also not make it. This parable will explain more about those being called and not accepting the calling and those taking advantage of the free gift by not having a wedding garment (a sign of being refined). The servants being the prophets.
Matthew 22
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants,
The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him,
Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Luke 14
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Here is the next part of the chapter about starting the walk with God and not finishing, like salt that lost its taste.28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Also those who value anything more than God cannot be a follower, for example the person in this video, what would happen if he left his journey to get a house or a wife?www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Ixo7QXw_EWhat would happen to people or children who are in need of help when it comes to other things when no one wants to be good? Does God know you as a friend, in which he died for His friends, or are you just someone that didn't spend the time to get to know Him or for Him to know you? He says we are his friends if we do whatsoever He says. You don't want a friend who gives you a hard time nor do they listen to anything you say nor are they a good person.Luke 13
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
In conclusion you can't do what God says without His Spirit, So can't have God's Spirit without receiving the baptism(s). (Though some receive the Holy Ghost before baptism of water). You can't be refined without God's Spirit working in you and if you are not refined nor do you have God's Spirit then the person is still evil since there is only one good and that's God. I don't want to sleep with a murderer that has no conscience and can kill anyone at anytime because he wants to. Therefore the person must be born again into a new person one that is not evil and one that is good like the Son of God.John 3
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.