The first issue is the idea that once a person receives salvation, nothing they do afterward can affect it, and that they do not need to continue in obedience.
Correct.
Salvation is A Gift from God for a mans true Heartful belief IN God… period.
The belief is “guarded, protected, maintained”, by the Power of God that ENTERS IN-to a man, that that remains always true.
And What afterwards?
The man what?
Has good relationships with some men?
Has crappy relationships with some men?
Lies, unintentionally ?
And Hates Some people individually, or by “group” association?
What Obedience IS Required…for a converted man?
Love the Lord God above all? Yes.
Love all men ? Yes?
Same “LOVE”? No.
Love to God, is Utmost Holy perfection.
Love between mankind, is about “treatment’”.
Would you first question a persons beliefs…of stranded motorist, a drowning person, a hungry person, a lost person, a person being attacked, a wounded person, etc.
Before you would Render aid? No.
Because Loving all people does not matter, what their beliefs are… for or against God.
There is Not Opposite of Love.
There IS only Love and Not Love.
God is Love…
They who reject Him, have simply rejected THEIR FREEWILL to Love Him.
Can a person Who Loves God, also Hate God? No.
Can a person who Loves God, Love ALL men…
While Also Hate some of those Same men?
Yes… and so Also does the Same apply to God.
So what IS Hate?
Opposite of Love? No.
Hate is a STRONG dis-LIKE.
Can a man love a person and not LIKE that person? Yes.
And if you strongly do not Like that person… is that Hate? Yes.
Now… Does Any Saved / Quickened man…
Have any “requirements”…commandments beyond Loving God, and all men?
No.
Is such a (saved and quickened man)… Not continuing in Obedience?
If not…How so?
Glory to God,
Taken
Jesus does not speak that way.
He says in
Luke 9:23 (ASV):
“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me.”
This is not something done once before salvation. Jesus says “daily.” It is a continuing walk, not a one-time step.
He also says in
John 15:10 (ASV):
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.”
Abiding in Him is connected to continuing in His commandments. It is not presented as something automatic that cannot be affected.
And even more clearly, Jesus warns in
John 15:6 (ASV):
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered.”
This shows that remaining in Him matters. It is not described as something permanently secured no matter what a person does.
The second issue is the idea that things like forgiving others, loving enemies, or doing good have “zero effect” on salvation.
Jesus says the opposite.
In
Matthew 6:14–15 (ASV):
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
This is very direct. Our forgiveness is tied to whether we forgive others. That is not “zero effect.”
Also in
Luke 6:37 (ASV):
“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”
And about loving enemies, He does not present it as optional reward-only behavior. It is part of being children of God (Luke 6:35).
The third issue is saying that following Jesus, denying yourself, and repentance only happen before receiving salvation.
Jesus speaks of these as ongoing.
In
Luke 13:3 (ASV):
“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Repentance is not just a one-time entrance step. It is a turning of the heart that must
remain.
And again, “take up his cross daily” shows this is a continued life, not a completed requirement.
The fourth issue is reducing fruit to simply personal effort or rewards, without connection to salvation.
Jesus ties fruit directly to whether a person truly belongs to Him.
In
John 15:2 (ASV):
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.”
And in
Matthew 7:19–21 (ASV):
“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down… Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father.”
So fruit is not just about rewards. It is evidence of a real and living relationship with Him.
So in a simple way:
Yes, we believe in Jesus and receive from Him.
Yes, we cannot earn salvation by our own works.
But Jesus also teaches that we must continue in Him, continue in obedience, continue in forgiveness, and continue to bear fruit.
Faith is not just something we start with. It is something we live in.
And the safest place is to stay with His own words:
“He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13 ASV)
“Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12 (ASV)
This shows it is not only about beginning, but about
continuing with Him until the end.
Blessings
[/QUOTE]