By: Robert Serreyn
Question? In response to your Q & A 525 THEN I guess I can do away with a lot of verses like… Matthew 7:23, Hebrews 10:26-30, Romans 3:25 (notice sins that are past), John 8:11, (sin no more) 2Corinthians 5:15. Salvation is not earned it is a gift, but if there is not more to it than that, why did Paul write so many letters? I would recommend a relationship with Jesus. John 1:1&14.
Answer:
Sir, you are correct, salvation is a Gift, salvation is by Grace period. Salvation is not by works which means that it cannot be earned.
The Bible NEVER TEACHES anywhere that a person must have evidence or proof of their faith (to get to heaven), that is a false teaching known as Lordship salvation and sadly most churches teach and people believe this false, corrupt version of the gospel.
Ephesians 2:10 says that Christians SHOULD HAVE outward evidence of salvation but it is not necessary, in other words you can be saved BUT nobody else would know.
Lot in Genesis Chp. 19 is a good example
The truth is… The moment you add conditions like having to have living proof or evidence of salvation, then you have turned salvation from one of Faith plus Nothing to Faith plus Works. Read…Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8,9, Titus 3:5.
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:16 Whosesoever Believeth will not perish ( go to hell) but have everlasting life, NOT Whosoever believes AND this, that, and the other thing.
To go to heaven YOU MUST be as righteous (perfect) as God is and that is only obtain by Trusting Christ and his payment alone for your sins, This is a one time event that happens at the moment of belief.
To answer your concerns about all those verses that you think you would have to do away with.
2 Corinthians 5:15 Take Note of the key words “SHOULD NOT”, that means it is optional not a requirement or a Must Do, if that was the case the Apostle Paul wouldn’t have to write so much about trying to get Christian’s to obey his word and to do his will.
Matthew 7:23 this deals with salvation, look at v21 & 22.
The reason the Lord said to those in v23 to depart (cast into hell) you workers of iniquity for I never knew you IS BECAUSE in v22 they were relying upon their works, merits, good deeds, religion etc to get them into heaven and not Trusting Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection alone as payment for their sins.
John 8:11…. the reason that Christ said “go and sin no more” is referring serving the Lord NOT SALVATION, in this case the woman would have been stoned (under the old testament Jewish law in which Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are primarily OT books) to death if she continued in her sin of prostitution which would have been far worse, so the Lord Jesus gave her and us today the benefit of warning that sin has its consequences if the warning of “Go sin no more” is not heeded to.
Hebrews 10:26-30… Go read my Q & A #214 on this…
Romans 3:25… The moment a person puts their trust alone in Christ payment for their sins their sins ARE PAST… Meaning they are completely paid.
The slate has been completely wiped cleaned, never to be brought up again. the believer will never have to give answer for them at the Judgement seat of Christ – See 2 Corinthians 5:17
John 1:1, & 14… speaks of the Lord Jesus’s Deity that he is God in the flesh, NOT about relationship.
The Relationship phraseology is the new FAD COIN TERM that is being used today, (Just like Asking Jesus into your heart) it has NO BASIS in scripture, In fact the truth really is, is that it is hinged on works for it requires YOU the believer to remain faithful to the end to gain entrance into heaven, The Bible no where teaches this.
The relationship gospel is really Lordship salvation repackaged, it is a false gospel.
Salvation is a one time event, the moment a person trust Christ and his payment alone on the cross as payment for their sins that person is saved REGARDLESS if they remain faithful or not no matter what.
In Conclusion:
Sir, I do THANK YOU for your response to my Q & A, BUT, as I can see, you have, along with MOST churches and people, have fallen prey to one of Satan’s BIGGEST lies, which is… “I MUST SEE evidence (living proof) to your claim of belief.
As I have stated earlier in this Q & A the Bible NEVER TEACHES anywhere that a person must have evidence or proof of their faith (to get to heaven.
My recommendation to you and everyone is that you simply put your trust in Christ and his payment on the cross alone as the complete payment for your sins. The moment you or whoever does will have everlasting life.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH