Is Obedience a Condition of Salvation?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Status
Not open for further replies.

ChristisGod

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2020
6,900
3,846
113
64
California
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
christop



Exactly 1 Pet 1:2

2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied
Amen

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

John 1:13
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
 

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I give as evidence for my case Ezekiel 33:11-20.

Eze 33:11, Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Eze 33:12, Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
Eze 33:13, When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
Eze 33:14, Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
Eze 33:15, If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Eze 33:16, None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Eze 33:17, Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
Eze 33:18, When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
Eze 33:19, But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
Eze 33:20, Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 07-07-07

Michiah-Imla

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2020
6,142
3,278
113
Northeast USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Many people know about God, but less actually are converted and follow God. As Christ did at Gethsemane we must set aside all and follow Gods will. Jesus came across someone who asked this same question:

Matthew 19:16-17
"16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.'

This young ruler obviously lived “a good life.” He’d convinced himself that he had “made it” in both before others and in his spiritual life. Yet, for all that, he sensed something was missing.

Was Jesus telling the rich young ruler to do something meritorious when He told him to keep the commandments? Obviously not, for salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast." But was Jesus telling this man plainly what the condition of salvation was? If we will enter into eternal life, what is necessary?

What was Christ saying to the rich young ruler. Was obedience a condition or a requirement that we must meet before God can save us? If we look, Christ wanted more than obedience, Christ was showing that true obedience includes our outward deeds, but it is not just our outward deeds. True obedience is both the outward deed and the inner motive that prompts the deed.

We see Christ get to this with the rich young ruler:
Matthew 19:20-22
"20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

In order to be saved a person must be converted, and conversion is what makes true obedience possible. Unconverted people cannot truly obey God, they can "talk" about God, but not fully "walk" with Him. The condition or the basis for our salvation is faith. The result of our salvation is obedience. Those who aren't really converted and will be lost at the end, can’t obey. The truly converted or saved at the end, will show the fruits of the Spirit..

Ephesians 5:8-10 King James Version (KJV)
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Obedience is required after receiving the gift of Salvation by repentance and belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:17 KJV
[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggie Belafonte

brightfame52

Well-Known Member
Oct 16, 2020
3,836
336
83
66
Atlanta
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Obedience is required after receiving the gift of Salvation by repentance and belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:17 KJV
[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
You have it backwards, God caused the obedience to the Gospel, thats why Paul said God be Thanked for it. Its plain as Day
 

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Obedience is required after receiving the gift of Salvation by repentance and belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:17 KJV
[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
It is not required; but it is the sure result of a genuine salvation.

btw, welcome to the boards!
 

Michiah-Imla

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2020
6,142
3,278
113
Northeast USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
It is not required; but it is the sure result of a genuine salvation.

btw, welcome to the boards!

Thanks for the welcome!

But those who keep (obey) the commandments after repentance and belief enter into the holy city; as the scripture below plainly states.

Revelation 22:14 KJV
[14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

And;

Proverbs 13:13 KJV
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggie Belafonte

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Thanks for the welcome!

But those who keep (obey) the commandments after repentance and belief enter into the holy city; as the scripture below plainly states.

Revelation 22:14 KJV
[14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

And;

Proverbs 13:13 KJV
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
How do you reconcile those verses with Ephesians 2:8-9?
 

Michiah-Imla

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2020
6,142
3,278
113
Northeast USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
How do you reconcile those verses with Ephesians 2:8-9?

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is nothing to reconcile.

After receiving the gift of salvation, you are now required to take up your cross, and follow Christ in his example of suffering.

No one earns salvation.

But must walk worthy of it once receiving it.

Ephesians 4:1 KJV
[1] I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called
 

dev553344

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2020
14,476
17,040
113
USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Many people know about God, but less actually are converted and follow God. As Christ did at Gethsemane we must set aside all and follow Gods will. Jesus came across someone who asked this same question:

Matthew 19:16-17
"16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.'

This young ruler obviously lived “a good life.” He’d convinced himself that he had “made it” in both before others and in his spiritual life. Yet, for all that, he sensed something was missing.

Was Jesus telling the rich young ruler to do something meritorious when He told him to keep the commandments? Obviously not, for salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast." But was Jesus telling this man plainly what the condition of salvation was? If we will enter into eternal life, what is necessary?

What was Christ saying to the rich young ruler. Was obedience a condition or a requirement that we must meet before God can save us? If we look, Christ wanted more than obedience, Christ was showing that true obedience includes our outward deeds, but it is not just our outward deeds. True obedience is both the outward deed and the inner motive that prompts the deed.

We see Christ get to this with the rich young ruler:
Matthew 19:20-22
"20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

In order to be saved a person must be converted, and conversion is what makes true obedience possible. Unconverted people cannot truly obey God, they can "talk" about God, but not fully "walk" with Him. The condition or the basis for our salvation is faith. The result of our salvation is obedience. Those who aren't really converted and will be lost at the end, can’t obey. The truly converted or saved at the end, will show the fruits of the Spirit..

Ephesians 5:8-10 King James Version (KJV)
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

While I don't believe obedience is a condition of salvation I do believe that people should be serving God and be committed to his will to be saved.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Eternally Grateful

Randy Kluth

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2020
7,625
2,340
113
Pacific NW
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
rk
I knew that, very few understand salvation these days
Thats backwards
Repentance accompanies Salvation. One has to be saved to repent
No its not, unless you mean its Gods choice !
Conversion/Repentance, Faith are all part of the New Birth, which is solely a Sovereign act of God

If God does all the work, and our choice plays no role, then the NT Scriptures are wrong when they call upon men to repent and to accept Christ. To respond to the offer of salvation one must choose to be saved *before one is saved.* It is indeed a human choice, which is what the Scriptures say we must do.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.