Salvation Cannot Be Earned

[Mungo]

Ye shall know them by their fruits.

 

[07-07-07]

Also @Jared42 with this doctrine you're describing I think it's important to point out that we should be providing works meet for repentance:

Matthew 3:8-10

King James Version

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Yes, we are to be the Lord’s workmanship, created unto good works. The grace of God always leads one into His righteousness and holiness, never into sin.

 

[BarneyFife]

A tip for identifying false churches is to see in their buildings evil gargoyles, freemasonic symbols, the image of the head of a serpent in their architecture, clothing with occult colors and accessories, the transfer of money for religious effect not specified in Biblical Hebraic worship, the use of the name of Lucifer in rites and prayers, vainly repetitious prescribed prayer, officials who claim to be priests conducting the actions of God, and a hierarchy which claims to have authority over the rest of of the World.

What is the biblical basis for all of this info?

Jesus on the Cross and Resurrected was the Mystery of the Ages revealed to mankind at the mercy of God.

No human, no angelic entity, no system of logic, no force in the Spiritual realm could have even conceived of such a powerful thing, let alone prevented it. God in His incredible majesty and love has provided that gift to any person who even on the most frail manner comes to belief and receptivity of it.

The horrific doctrines of predestination, accomplishing works of a law, the purchase with money an absolution of sin, adherence to priestly action, the transfer of personal accountability, and the denial of Christ from God in the flesh abound unto fatal error before the True and Holy Judge of the Earth.

Praise The Father for His hand of Mercy.

I won't deny that some of what you're saying is true, but there's a difference between flowery, rhetorical pontificating and preaching the word. Where's all the steaming denunciation coming from? What is your agenda? Because you obviously have one--Welcome to the forum! :)

 

[BarneyFife]

There are genuine Christians and there are “nominal” Christians. There are genuine believers and there are make believers.

There are also those who point the finger.

 

[Enoch111]

There are various factions in the church at large that think your righteous works earn your salvation.

There are some who believe that salvation can be earned. There are also others who believe that salvation can be "maintained" by our efforts. Which goes to show that salvation is not rightly understood by large numbers of people, even among "Christians". As long as we remember that eternal life is God's GIFT to the one who believes on Christ, we will not be deceived.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

There are some who believe that salvation can be earned. There are also others who believe that salvation can be "maintained" by our efforts.

I would think everyone who believes that salvation is earned by the merit of their works is in a continual 'maintaining' of their salvation.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Which goes to show that salvation is not rightly understood by large numbers of people, even among "Christians".

I would say that is true among the mainstream churches of the world. When I got saved I realized there is this secret church of real believers that don't identify with the mainstream churches of the world. After I got saved the churches I attended were opposite of the mainline church denominations I had been raised in. In these churches true believers saved by grace were the majority. Far different than the churches I had attended as an unbeliever where the majority are unsaved, works salvationist 'Christians'.

 

[Desire Of All Nations]

There are some who believe that salvation can be earned. There are also others who believe that salvation can be "maintained" by our efforts. Which goes to show that salvation is not rightly understood by large numbers of people, even among "Christians". As long as we remember that eternal life is God's GIFT to the one who believes on Christ, we will not be deceived.

Ironically enough, you are one of the people who don't understand what salvation is. The fact that true Christians are under a covenant agreement means there is something they have to be doing in order for them to qualify to receive salvation:

"So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” - Matt. 19:?17

Did Christ say "just believing I exist is good enough to receive eternal life"? The answer is an undeniable "no". Paul also denounced the false idea that somebody can remain righteous just by believing in Christ's existence:

"(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;" - Rom. 2:13

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" - Rom. 6:16

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." - Tit. 1:16

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age," - Tit. 2:11-12

Paul taught in no uncertain terms what a Christian is supposed to be doing: keeping God's commandments.

Obeying God's commandments the way a Christian is supposed to has nothing to do with trying to earn salvation, contrary to what Romanists falsely believe and teach. If they had the slightest idea of how the former and current covenants work, they would know that God promised to do x,y, or z if the person who was called to serve Him did their part first. Salvation being a gift that can't be earned doesn't mean they don't have conditions attached to them.

For example, if 10 people stood in a line and a billionaire offered to give 1 million U.S. dollars to everyone who raised their hand, would the recipient(s) have done something to work for the money by raising their hands? No. Those people would have simply met the necessary conditions by raising their hand, and the money would still be a gift.

The Tit. 1:16 passage aptly describes modern "Christians" who teach against commandment keeping. Not only are they not qualifying for eternal life, they are proving by their refusal to obey God that they don't know Him any more than an atheist does. As John clearly taught throughout 1 Jhn 2, the only people that know the true God and will be given eternal life are the people who keep His commandments.

 

[Enoch111]

Ironically enough, you are one of the people who don't understand what salvation is.

This is rich. You have taken a Scripture out of context to manufacture your own theology. It should be obvious to all that those who are saved purely by grace (apart from any works of righteousness) must also live righteously, soberly and godly. And the two greatest commandments must govern their lives.

But that does not mean that they are "maintaining" their salvation. Rather they are "working out" their salvation with fear and trembling. We can add nothing to our salvation, but we must live to show that we are indeed saved.

 

[mailmandan]

And who might non-genuine Christians be?
Have you any group in mind?

God saves us individually. "Whoever" believes in Him.. (John 3:16). Believers make up the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:18,24). Now there are certain groups (churches) that teach false gospels, which will lead all of those to their doom, who strictly follow the teachings of those churches. But those who truly believe the gospel (Romans 1:16) and not just whatever their church teaches are saved regardless of the group with which they are associated. Conversely, one's church may correctly teach the gospel and if one truly believes the gospel, then one is saved, but if one does not believe it, then one is lost even though the official teaching of one's group is correct.

 

[Tong2020]

Salvation Cannot Be Earned

True.

I would take it that no fallen man was converted and had become a Christian, and is saved, by earning it, or because he had worked for it.

If one who claims and profess to be a Christian, but is still thinking how he will be saved, or that he still goes about doing things he thinks he should be doing to be saved, in all likelihood did not understand the gospel he received or that the gospel he received is really a different gospel after all. For if he received the true gospel and understood it, he knows that he should no longer be concerned about about such things. For he is already saved. All there is to do, is do the good works that God had prepared for him to do.

Tong
R4053

 

[amadeus]

There are also those who point the finger.

Indeed!

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." Luke 18:11

"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 18:13-14

 

[BarneyFife]

Indeed!

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." Luke 18:11

"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 18:13-14

Amen, Brother!

I'm just so thankful that I am not as other men are who are thankful that... lol

 

[Bob Estey]

The work of Satan has always been to entice men to believe falsehoods about God and His Word. This is attempted in many ways, too numerous to list here.

One primary deception is to believe, and try to undertake, that one's spiritually eternal life and avoidance of God's Wrath by judgement can be willfully earned by doing specifically religious things. But, not so. Certainly not by membership in a church, by human declaration, or by formulated activites.

"For by grace are we saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

A tip for identifying false churches is to see in their buildings evil gargoyles, freemasonic symbols, the image of the head of a serpent in their architecture, clothing with occult colors and accessories, the transfer of money for religious effect not specified in Biblical Hebraic worship, the use of the name of Lucifer in rites and prayers, vainly repetitious prescribed prayer, officials who claim to be priests conducting the actions of God, and a hierarchy which claims to have authority over the rest of of the World.

God is the source of true Spirituality and life. The human constructs of religious attainment are false.

Salvation can't be earned, but we can save ourselves a lot of trouble if we resist the temptation to sin.

 

[Jared42]

Salvation can't be earned, but we can save ourselves a lot of trouble if we resist the temptation to sin.

Scripture does not say we can save ourselves unto justification before God.

 

[Jared42]

That statement by Jesus was spoken only about false prophets. Is this a new thought for you today? Hopefully it is.

 

[Jared42]

God saves us individually. "Whoever" believes in Him.. (John 3:16). Believers make up the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:18,24). Now there are certain groups (churches) that teach false gospels, which will lead all of those to their doom, who strictly follow the teachings of those churches. But those who truly believe the gospel (Romans 1:16) and not just whatever their church teaches are saved regardless of the group with which they are associated. Conversely, one's church may correctly teach the gospel and if one truly believes the gospel, then one is saved, but if one does not believe it, then one is lost even though the official teaching of one's group is correct.

What are you contributing here for us?

 

[Bob Estey]

Scripture does not say we can save ourselves unto justification before God.

But we can avoid the trouble sin gets us into.

 

[Jared42]

But we can avoid the trouble sin gets us into.

Avoiding trouble is not the means to eternal life.

 

[Bob Estey]

Avoiding trouble is not the means to eternal life.

It's nice to avoid trouble, especially the trouble sin draws us into.