If all people had to do to be saved is to be a believer, believe all the correct/sound doctrine of Jesus Christ they know to be true
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No. Just look at when Jesus was preaching His Gospel. Look at how the "majority" of peoples did not believe. As well, there is what Jesus said:
Matthew, Chapter 7:
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Now, if you are trying to "back door" the need for works salvation, you would be wrong. Belief in Jesus IS required for salvation, just as John 3:16 says. No type or amount of "works" can earn anyone eternal salvaiton,
Matthew, Chapter 7:
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Now, if you are trying to "back door" the need for works salvation, you would be wrong. Belief in Jesus IS required for salvation, just as John 3:16 says. No type or amount of "works" can earn anyone eternal salvaiton,
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Hello @MerSee, the Apostle Paul says no, and he explains why. Here, for instance, is his description of a "natural man" or unbeliever (see v14 below) in comparison to a "spiritual" man/believer (see v's 12-13, 15-16 below).
1 Corinthains 2
12 We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man ~does not accept~ the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ~foolishness~ to him; and he ~cannot understand~ them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
God bless you!!
~Deuteronomy
1 Corinthians 1
18 The word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthains 2
12 We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man ~does not accept~ the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ~foolishness~ to him; and he ~cannot understand~ them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
~Deuteronomy
1 Corinthians 1
18 The word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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Hosea 1:10 - The number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered, does not sound as if few there be that find it, and also, the life that they are lead to is not eternal life, but a peaceful life without fear that they live as they sojourn here on earth.
Sounds like there will be more in heaven than there will be in hell. You claim that you do not believe in salvation by works, but that is what you are advocating. and you are also claiming that the natural man, before he has been born of the Spirit, can understand and seek spiritual things, and that is contradicting 1 Cor 2:14.
People have to believe Jesus AND Trust that the Atonement He secured on the Cross pays the penalty for their transgressions against Gods will...
So Believing Jesus.. that's called His flesh symbolically. Jesus is the Lamb of God
And trusting His Atonement.. That's called His blood Symbolically. Jesus is the Lamb of God
Does secure one salvation..
But sadly there are a lot of people who twist or deny some of the teachings of Jesus.. And then there are others who do not completely trust that the Atonement of Jesus covers all their transgressions against Gods will..
So Believing Jesus.. that's called His flesh symbolically. Jesus is the Lamb of God
And trusting His Atonement.. That's called His blood Symbolically. Jesus is the Lamb of God
Does secure one salvation..
But sadly there are a lot of people who twist or deny some of the teachings of Jesus.. And then there are others who do not completely trust that the Atonement of Jesus covers all their transgressions against Gods will..
As I saw in a few other comments, a key is what is meant by "believe"?
Believing may begin with a mental assent to a list of doctrines - that is - I believe those statements are true and correct. But this is not saving faith. If the OP is talking about this (which is the way I read the OP), then it seems to me it is a difficult and maybe impossible question to answer well.
But believing is more than a mental assent to a list of doctrines: the person who believes in Jesus will cling/grab hold of Him because they know that they need Him to take away their sins, and they need Him to be able to live above sin in the world today. True belief has its birth in theological truths, but these are then made deeply personal to a needy soul who know that on his own strength he is a sinner in need of redemption.
Believing may begin with a mental assent to a list of doctrines - that is - I believe those statements are true and correct. But this is not saving faith. If the OP is talking about this (which is the way I read the OP), then it seems to me it is a difficult and maybe impossible question to answer well.
But believing is more than a mental assent to a list of doctrines: the person who believes in Jesus will cling/grab hold of Him because they know that they need Him to take away their sins, and they need Him to be able to live above sin in the world today. True belief has its birth in theological truths, but these are then made deeply personal to a needy soul who know that on his own strength he is a sinner in need of redemption.
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Hello @jamessb, et al, unlike we find in many other verses (like John 3:18), v36 uses a different verb to tell us why unbelievers will not see (eternal) life/why God's wrath remains upon them (and there are several different translations of that verb that are used by our various translations and paraphrases, as you can see here at Bible Hub: John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him." (biblehub.com).
The NASB uses the literal translation, so I'll use it below (along with the Amplified Bible which uses almost all of them
).
~Deuteronomy (David)
The NASB uses the literal translation, so I'll use it below (along with the Amplified Bible which uses almost all of them
).
John 3 (NASB)
18 “He who believes (πιστεύω/pisteuo) in Him is not judged; he who does not believe (πιστεύω/pisteuo) has been judged already, because he has not believed (πιστεύω/pisteuo) in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
John 3 (NASB)
36 “He who believes (πιστεύω/pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey (ἀπειθέω/apeitheo) the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3 (Amplified Bible)
36 “He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”
Here is Dr. Morris' commentary on John 3:36 (the middle section of which, that I further indented, speaks directly to this matter, including why it is important for us to note .. the Lord's use of a different verb in the 2nd half of v36, that is).
36 For “believes in” see on John 1:12 and for “eternal life” on v. 15. Eternal life is here, as often, regarded as the present possession of believers. When people put their trust in Christ they are reborn from above, they enter a new life. The decisive thing has happened. They will in due course pass through the portal of death, but that does not alter the fact that abiding eternal life is theirs already. In the things that matter they are alive eternally. The present participle indicates a continuing trust. “The Son” is used absolutely, as often in this Gospel. People may in some sense become children of God (1:12), but Christ is “the” Son. The absolute use emphasizes the uniqueness of his position.
In typical Johannine fashion the positive is followed by the negative. (The verb is a present participle indicating a continuing attitude)
~We might have expected “whoever does not believe,” and indeed, some hold that the verb John uses should be translated that way. It seems that “does not obey” is the meaning, but this is not so markedly different, for those who believe do in fact obey the Son, and those who do not believe do not in fact obey him.
This verse is important in view of the idea held by some that John’s concept of faith is an intellectual one, the assent to certain truths. This verse shows that for him faith and conduct are closely linked. Faith necessarily issues in action. The thought is like that in verse 18ff., where those who are not saved are the people who choose darkness rather than light, who hate the light, and do not come to it. Of such a person it is now said that he “will not see life” (see on vv. 3 and 5 for “seeing” and “entering” the kingdom).~
Disobedience cuts people off from that life which is life indeed. Far from seeing life (NIV’s “for” renders a strong adversative), they can look for nothing but the continuing wrath of God.
“The wrath of God” is a concept that is uncongenial to many modern students, and various devices are adopted to soften the expression or explain it away. This cannot be done, however, without doing great violence to many passages of Scripture and without detracting from God’s moral character. Concerning the first of these points, I have elsewhere pointed out that there are literally hundreds of passages in the Bible referring to God’s wrath, and the rejection of them all leaves us with a badly mutilated Bible. And with reference to the second, if we abandon the idea of the wrath of God we are left with a God who is not ready to act against moral evil. It is true that the wra.th of God has sometimes been understood in crudely literal fashion, but of which of God’s attributes and activities is this not true? The remedy is not to abandon the concept, but to think it through more carefully. It stands for the settled and active opposition of God’s holy nature to everything that is evil. We may not like it, but we should not ignore it. John tells us that this wrath “remains.” We should not expect it to fade away with the passage of time. Anyone who continues in unbelief and disobedience can look for nothing other than the persisting wrath of God. That is basic to our understanding of the gospel. Unless we are saved from real peril there is no meaning in salvation. ~Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (pp. 219–221).
God bless you!!~Deuteronomy (David)
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. 10:25
The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21
I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. John 11:26
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. John 7:38
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. 10:25
The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21
I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. John 11:26
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. John 7:38
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
Faith = Trust... Faith is simply the Word Trust used in relation between humans and God.. As i said in my post a person but BOTH believe Jesus AND trust ( Have Faith ) in the Atonement Jesus secured for the forgieness of their sins on the cross.. Yes we need mental assent to His teachings / standards.. Plus Faith in whaty He did for us..
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8 is a central verse in Christian theology, used to explain the concept of salvation by grace. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Key components:
- By grace you have been saved: Grace refers to God's undeserved favor and love towards humanity. We are not saved by our own merit or good works, but solely through God's gracious gift.
- Through faith: Our part in this process is faith, trusting in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice as the means of our salvation. This faith is not a work of righteousness, but an act of receiving God's gift.
- And that not of yourselves: This emphasizes that neither the grace nor the faith originate from us. Both are gifts from God.
- It is the gift of God: Salvation is ultimately a gift from God, a free and undeserved act of his love.
- Humility: This verse highlights our human limitations and dependence on God's grace. It eliminates any boasting or self-righteousness regarding our salvation.
- Gratitude: Recognizing salvation as a gift fosters gratitude towards God for his love and sacrifice.
- Accessibility: The message of salvation by grace is open to all, regardless of their background or previous deeds.
- Focus on God: The emphasis shifts from our efforts to God's work in our lives, leading to a deeper reliance on him.
- Different interpretations exist about the specific meaning of "faith" and its role in salvation.
- This verse is often contrasted with other passages that emphasize good works as a result of, not a means to, salvation.
- Understanding this verse can bring comfort and assurance of salvation to those who trust in Christ.
Acts 2:37-42
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:37-42 Explained in Detail
This passage describes a pivotal moment in the early Christian church, following the Day of Pentecost. Here's a breakdown:
Context:
- Day of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to speak in different languages and share the gospel message with a diverse crowd gathered in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:1-13)
- Peter's sermon: Peter delivers a powerful speech explaining the events as fulfillments of prophecy, culminating in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:14-36)
37: The crowd is deeply moved by Peter's message, feeling convicted and asking for guidance. This shows the effectiveness of his preaching and the impact of the Holy Spirit.
38: Peter calls for repentance, a turning away from sin and towards God, and baptism as a symbol of cleansing and commitment to Christ. He promises forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39: Peter emphasizes the universality of the message, extending the promise of salvation not just to those present but to their children and those far off, anyone God calls.
40: Peter uses strong language to urge the crowd to save themselves from the "untoward generation," implying the spiritual danger of their current path.
41: Those who accept Peter's message are baptized, joining the growing Christian community. The number of new believers is significant, highlighting the rapid spread of the gospel.
42: The newly baptized commit themselves to the apostles' teachings, the fellowship of believers, the breaking of bread (communion), and prayer. This demonstrates their dedication to their newfound faith and their desire to grow within the community.
Key takeaways:
- This passage shows the power of the gospel message to convict and convert.
- It emphasizes the importance of repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit for salvation.
- It highlights the universal nature of God's offer of salvation and the rapid growth of the early church.
- It demonstrates the importance of community and shared practices in Christian life.