The Kerygma - God's Requirement for Salvation

I can understand how you may think that Jesus was commanding Nicodemus to be baptized in John 3, but looking at the defining verse I posted it was a physical birth of flesh, not immersion first then Spirit.
Look again and see it in that light.

He explained it to His disciples just before the ascension in the first chapter.

5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Not many days hence, ten, they were baptized with the Holy Ghost.

What is God's requirement for salvation (GRFS)?

To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

Amen! Acts 16:30 - And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

That is not hard to understand. It's just hard for works-salvationists to ACCEPT.

r
Folks, your interpretation of Scripture needs to be more comprehensive or systematic rather than mere proof-texting. Jesus said "Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (MT 7:21) Let us try to harmonize all of the statements about GRFS.

The kerygma or GRFS can be stated in various ways, which may cause confusion. Some statements (e.g. ACTS 16:31 & EPH 2:8-9) are in terms of believing right, and others (e.g. MT 7:21, “only he who does the will of my Father will enter heaven”, cf. GL 6:7-9 & EPH 2:10) are in terms of behaving right. This prompts the question: Is salvation obtained by believing God’s words or by doing God’s works?

The answer is indicated by John 6:29: “The work of God is to believe in the one [Messiah/Christ] He has sent.” As Jesus stated (in JN 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The mind of Jesus is truth incarnate (JN 1:14), and all truth manifests the Spirit of Christ or God (1JN 5:6). The work of God (GRFS) is to seek and believe the truth, and part of the truth is that no one comes to know God as Father except through faith in God’s truth embodied as God the Son.

If a moralist truthseeker (on the basis of general revelation) is taught about God (perhaps via the OT), then he/she may choose to believe in God or become a theist. If theists are taught the Gospel (NT), then they may choose to believe/accept Jesus as Christ. In both cases salvation is a gift from God received by faith “from first to last” (RM 1:17).

P.S. I can post a complete list of the statements re GRFS if you want it.

Matthew 7:21 - 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.

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.

This passage is about BOTH prayer, pleasing God, and God's will for all humans who have ever lived in the world to be saved, because His love is omni.

What is God's requirement for salvation (GRFS)?

r
Folks, your interpretation of Scripture needs to be more comprehensive or systematic rather than mere proof-texting. Jesus said "Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (MT 7:21) ...

What is God's requirement for salvation (GRFS)?

EPH 2:8-10 - "It is by grace you have been saved through faith... not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works...".

JM 2:17 - "...Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

IOW, beware of preaching cheap grace, even though it is free.

We can harmonize these two categories of teachings by understanding that right or saving faith precedes and produces good works or working faith that loves. The priority of faith is indicated by James 2:17, which says that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied [manifested] by action, is dead.” And Paul (in GL 5:6) states, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Ephesians 2:8-9, which emphasizes salvation by grace through faith, is followed in verse 10 by: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”
In other words, right faith in God/Christ is the horse that pulls a cartload of good works. Good or loving works are significant as the sign of saving faith, but we should never put the cart before the horse.

come by way of the Son.

Cameron and perhaps others want to see the list of GRFS:


Belief (Faith):

Value salvation more than anything. (MT 13:44-46)
Dwell within the truth. (JN 8:31&35)
Abide in Jesus and His love. (JN 15:5-10)
Come to (= believe in) Jesus. (MT 11:28)
Become humble as a child (= believe in Jesus). (MT 18:3-4, 19:4)
Be with/for Jesus. (MT 12:30)
Be patient/endure (keep believing) unto death. (LK 21:19 = MT 10:22)
Learn from Jesus (= accept Him as Messiah). (MT 11:29)
Come to the Light (= have faith in Jesus). (JN 3:21)
Enter by the narrow gate (by having faith in Jesus). (MT 7:13)
Believe (and then be baptized). (MK 16:16)
Work for the food of eternal life (by accepting Jesus’ work). (JN 6:27)
Endure (keep believing) until the end. (MT 24:10-13, cf. 10:22)
Believe Jesus is Messiah. (MT 16:16)
Trust in God. (JN 5:24)
Accept Jesus’ words. (JN 12:47)
Eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus. (JN 6:54)
Know God and Jesus Christ. (JN 17:3)
Have faith in Jesus (LK 7:50)
Repent (of unbelief). (MT 4:7)
Believe Jesus is the Son of God. (JN 20:31)
Be poor spiritually (humble/teachable). (MT 5:3)
Drink the water of life. (JN 4:14)
Believe in the One God has sent. (JN 6:29)
Partake in the Bread of life. (JN 6:33-35, 51)
Be born again. (JN 3:3&6)
Enter the sheepfold. (JN 10:9)


Deed (Good/Loving Work):

Keep awake (by serving Christ). (MT 24:42, 25:13)
Give your life to Jesus (by obeying Him). (MT 10:39, 16:24-25)
Be a trustworthy servant. (MT 25:21 & 30)
Invite the poor to your party. (LK 14:13-14)
Do right. (JN 5:29)
Be merciful. (LK 6:36)
Do the will of God. (MT 7:21, 12:50)
Obey the Son. (JN 3:36, 8:51, 14:15)
Do good. (MT 13:38, 43 & 49)
Help Jesus’ brothers and sisters. (MT 25:34-40)
Hear and act on the Word. (MT 7:24)
Suffer persecution for God’s sake. (MT 5:10-11)
Follow Jesus. (MT 19:21)
Do what Jesus commands. (JN 15:10-15)
Keep and teach the Law. (MT 5:19, 19:17)
Give to the poor. (MT 19:21)
Follow the example of Jesus. (JN 13:15-17)
Dress for the wedding. (MT 22:11-14)
Forgive your brother. (MT 18:35)
Hate yourself and serve Jesus. (JN 12:25-26)
Love Jesus more than anyone. (MT 10:38)
Yield proper fruit. (MT 21:43)
Serve God. (MT 6:24 & 33)
Use money for good. (LK 16:9)
Leave family or possessions. (MT 19:29)
Love and pray for your enemies. (MT 5:44)
Confess Jesus before men. (MT 10:32)

Again, we can harmonize these two categories of teachings by understanding that right or saving faith precedes and produces good works or working faith that loves. The priority of faith is indicated by James 2:17, which says that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied [manifested] by action, is dead.” And Paul (in GL 5:6) states, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Ephesians 2:8-9, which emphasizes salvation by grace through faith, is followed in verse 10 by: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

In other words, right faith in God/Christ is the horse that pulls a cartload of good works. Good or loving works are significant as the sign of saving faith, but we should never put the cart before the horse.

LIC, Groovy

r
Folks, your interpretation of Scripture needs to be more comprehensive or systematic rather than mere proof-texting. Jesus said "Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (MT 7:21) Let us try to harmonize all of the statements about GRFS.

The kerygma or GRFS can be stated in various ways, which may cause confusion. Some statements (e.g. ACTS 16:31 & EPH 2:8-9) are in terms of believing right, and others (e.g. MT 7:21, “only he who does the will of my Father will enter heaven”, cf. GL 6:7-9 & EPH 2:10) are in terms of behaving right. This prompts the question: Is salvation obtained by believing God’s words or by doing God’s works?

The answer is indicated by John 6:29: “The work of God is to believe in the one [Messiah/Christ] He has sent.” As Jesus stated (in JN 14:6): “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The mind of Jesus is truth incarnate (JN 1:14), and all truth manifests the Spirit of Christ or God (1JN 5:6). The work of God (GRFS) is to seek and believe the truth, and part of the truth is that no one comes to know God as Father except through faith in God’s truth embodied as God the Son.

If a moralist truthseeker (on the basis of general revelation) is taught about God (perhaps via the OT), then he/she may choose to believe in God or become a theist. If theists are taught the Gospel (NT), then they may choose to believe/accept Jesus as Christ. In both cases salvation is a gift from God received by faith “from first to last” (RM 1:17).QUOTE]

I refer to teachings that are secondary or subsequent to learning the kerygma/GRFS by another Greek word, didache, which means teaching. The didache may be very important and requisite for becoming spiritually mature, but it is not most important or necessary to know/believe in order to be saved. The distinction between kerygma/saving faith and didache/working faith was made by Jesus when He commissioned His original twelve disciples minus Judas (MT 28:19-20). This “Great Commission” speaks of both types of information. The kerygma is indicated by verse 19, in which Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations”. A Christian disciple is a learner or one who believes the good news about God’s offer of eternal life to all who accept Jesus as Christ, the Lord incarnate. The didache is implicit in verse 20, in which Jesus continues by saying “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This speaks of the information a disciple needs to know and believe after conversion in order to grow in Christ-likeness regarding how to live the law of love. It is the “all truth” that is taught by the Spirit referred to in John 16:13. Again, it is very important but not necessary for salvation. Witness the thief on the cross in Luke 23:39-43, who had no opportunity to learn the didache after his conversion; although, like Paul (according to Acts 22:3) and most adults, some didachaic truth is learned prior to knowing the kerygma.

The distinction between kerygma and didache can be seen also in 2 Timothy 3:15-17. The scriptures “which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” refers to the Gospel or kerygma. The scriptural teaching that is useful for “training in righteousness, so that the man [or woman per GL 3:28] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” refers to the didache. The apostle Paul also employs the difference between kerygma and didache in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. The “foundation… which is Jesus Christ” is the kerygmatic teaching regarding salvation. Paul alludes to the didache when he says that one should be careful how he/she builds upon this foundation.

The distinction between kerygma and didache involves a difference in content and purpose. The kerygma proclaims GRFS, which calls for repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord, which is an all or nothing decision that occurs at one moment in time. The didache teaches God’s will regarding how those who have been saved should live in order to be a good witness for Christ, which involves learning more of God’s Word throughout one’s lifetime. A passage teaching this truth is Colossians 2:6-7: “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord [kerygma], continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught [didache].”

Notice that the kerygma/Gospel fulfills and supersedes OT revelation, but does not contradict its correct interpretation (HB 8:6-13). However, the NT revelation of GRFS will never become obsolete (PHP 2:9-11, RV 22:12-13). Thus, new revelations from God’s Holy Spirit will not contradict the Gospel, although they may express its truth in a different way or form, or else God would be inconsistent or tricky. There may be new wine skins, but no new wine (MT 19:17). Post-NT inspiration must be didachaic information regarding contemporary moral or political issues.

The kerygma/GRFS should be every Christian’s creed, and only belief in this crucial truth should be viewed as a test for orthodoxy or heresy. As Paul wrote in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Conversely, judgments concerning a person’s spiritual orientation or ultimate destiny should not be made on the basis of didachaic or secondary doctrines. (If any judgment is made, it should begin with a self-examination per MT 7:1&5, 2CR 13:5-8).

A major reason many Christians throughout history have not manifested the love and unity of God’s Spirit (EPH 4:3) as well as they should is because of failure to realize this truth. If they did, it would free them to speak honestly and fellowship without becoming unduly upset about relatively minor issues. They would receive God’s blessing as peacemakers, who draw inclusive circles around people based on the kerygma rather than denominational lines between them due to didachaic differences. Jesus prayed for spiritual unity (cf. JN 17:20-23, “May they be one…”).

So, assuming you agree with the distinction between didache and kerygma, what are the key points or elements of the Christian creed?

Over...

Water baptism is not required for salvation. I'm surprised anyone still holds to this view. The thief on the cross was not baptized. Had he survived the afternoon however, I'm sure it would have been at the top of his to do list.

Unfortunately, God disagrees with you, because He said “BAPTISM DOES NOW SAVE US.” 1 Peter 3:21. AND Jesus disagrees with you, because He said, “He that believes and IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.” Mark 16:16. In Acts 2:38, God says “Repent and BE BAPTIZED FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINs.” And in Acts 22:16, God told Paul to “…be baptized and WASH AWAY YOUR SINS.” You might be surprised to know that thousands of people still believe what the Bible teaches about baptism. And although “faith only” is the more popular doctrine, James 2:24 assures me that it will not save anyone. In addition, God tells me not to be surprised because the broad way is the more popular way with many people going that way. The gospel of Christ was never the popular way, being too narrow, so I don’t expect many people will be on that road. I think I am in good company, as long as I have the Bible backing me.

As for the thief on the cross, you do err not knowing the scriptures (Matt. 22:29). You do not know if the thief was baptized or not. He could have been since “all Judea, Jerusalem and all the region around Jordan came out to be baptized by John Matt. 3:5 and Jesus and His disciples baptized more than John. John 4:1. So my question is, how do you know the thief was not baptized? Do you have some knowledge that the rest of us do not have?

More importantly, though, is the fact that the thief was never commanded to be baptized. He lived and died under the old law of Moses given to Jews. The new law of Christ that taught baptism for remission of sins had not yet been preached. Luke 24:46 says, “ It was necessary that Christ should suffer and be raised from the dead on the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations BEGINNING IN JERUSALEM.” That prophecy was fulfilled in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost with Jews from all nations when Peter preached “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins.” Acts 2:38. The thief on the cross had been dead for 50 days before that was first preached. So you see it was never a commandment for him. But it IS a commandment for us since we live on THIS side of Acts 2:38.

You should do a very thorough study of baptism in the New Testament. You will find, among other things, that EVERY person who was converted in the book of Acts was baptized IMMEDIATELY, after they believed. Paul in 1 Cor. 1 said there were two conditions that must be met before a person could “call” himself (by name) after another person. 1) was that the person you are naming yourself after had to have been CRUCIFIED for you. And 2) you had to have been baptized into that person’s name. He was correcting them because they wanted to name themselves after men—like men have done today. Martin Luther would not qualify for you to call yourself after him because he was not crucified for you. So people who call themselves “Lutherans” are doing so erroneously. Like wise, if you want to be called after Christ,it’s true He was crucified for you, but guess what? You have to be baptized into His name in order to be called “Christian” after Him. That’s what Paul says—not me. I didn’t say it and I didn’t make it up. So what about all of these so called Christians who think they will be saved by “faith only” and that baptism is not necessary? I think they will be some of the ones inMatthew 7 who were “believers”—strong believers—but Christ says I never knew you. If they were not baptized in His name they were never part of Him. This (Matthew 7) is one of the best “proofs” that Faith only does not save anyone.