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Christians: what is required for salvation...

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djhwoodwerks

Well-Known Member
syncretic said:
What is required for salvation, with no exceptions?
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rusra02 said:
I believe the following is required:

1. Accurate knowledge of God and his Son (John 17:3)
2. Exercise faith in God and Jesus (John 3:16)
3. Sincere repentance for sins we commit (Acts 3:19)
4. Turning away from past sinful conduct.(Acts 26:20)
5. Dedicate oneself to God (Matthew 16:24)
6. Baptism (1 Peter 3:21)
7. Faithfully enduring in doing God's will to the end. (Matthew 24:13)
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What you believe are requirements for salvation are worded as a JW's would word them. Although you have not claimed a religion, that I know of, I will assume you are a member of their organization and reply accordingly.

1. Accurate knowledge of God and his Son (John 17:3)

John 17:3 (ESV Strong's) 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

The WT organization teaches that, according to John 17:3, one must have an "accurate knowledge" of God and Jesus to have everlasting life. How could having "knowledge" of someone make you accepted by that one? We can have "accurate knowledge" of anyone, and that one still not know us. We can't have "accurate" knowledge of anyone without a personal relationship with that person. We can read and study the Bible all our lives, and still not "know" God or Jesus.

2. Exercise faith in God and Jesus (John 3:16)

John 3:16-18 (ESV Strong's) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

You use John 3:16 to claim one must "exercise" faith in God "and" Jesus. John 3:16 doesn't say, "and" or "them" it says "Him" singular.

5. Dedicate oneself to God (Matthew 16:24)

Matthew 16:24 (ESV Strong's) 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Jesus said to follow "Him", are you claiming Jesus is God?
 
Kelly of the Phoenix

Kelly of the Phoenix

Well-Known Member
Thief said:
I suspect something else in the next life
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Maybe in the next life they are the ones whipping the other sinners for all eternity? Or is hell just some S&M nightclub where everyone enjoys the dangers they did in life?

:)

Brickjectivity said:
Super complicated! Its like pointing two mirrors at each other and counting the frames!
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That's why I think the Silver Rule should be "judge the tree by its fruit". It's not enough to do unto others what you like for yourself. You ALSO need to verify that what you are doing is ACTUALLY benevolent.
 
Spockrates

Spockrates

Wonderer.
syncretic said:
What would be the relevance to your response? /rhetorical question/.
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Probably isn't relative at all. No worries. [emoji41]

So one way to answer your question is to consider a quote from the Bible most denominations believe speaks of the topic you asked about. This is one example:

For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not of yourselves. It's the gift of God. Not by works, so no one may boast. For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works... .

(Ephesians 5, I believe I have paraphrased correctly.)

The first statement speaks of the salvation you ask about. The other sentences provide context.

So given the idea that we are saved by grace, the question to answer is, "What is grace?" Some Christians say it is God's undeserved kindness, and so we are saved from damnation, "Not by works...." Others say it is God's undeserved power to enable us to behave the way we long to behave, and so we are saved because we are, "created in Christ Jesus to do good works [deeds]."

The upshot: What one believes about being saved from God's judgement can (but I should add that it doesn't always for every Christian) depend on what one believes the words of the bible actually mean, in this case, what the word grace means.
 
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Muffled

Muffled

Jesus in me
wizanda said:
Depends who you listen to...
  • According to Paul, you must believe that jesus is your lord and saviour; that by his death, and resurrection you're saved.
  • According to John, you must believe in jesus, and that salvation was sent to the Jews.
  • According to Yeshua within the synoptic gospels, you must follow his words to the letter, with all the criteria; then if you make it to the end, you'll be saved.
As you can understand most Christians follow the first easier options. :innocent:
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I believe that is cherry picking at best.
 
Kelly of the Phoenix

Kelly of the Phoenix

Well-Known Member
Demonslayer said:
Jesus killed a fig tree. No point really, just enjoy that story.
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I love that story too. I love how a Messiah who can raise the dead, heal the sick, and take away sin can't get a tree to bear fruit out of season. :)

Thief said:
that story is rarely spoken
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Because it shows Jesus to be completely irrational given his supposed powers? I know it's probably a metaphor for a person's soul, but the criticism still stands: can Jesus give you new life or not? The OP is about what is required for salvation. Christianity teaches that only Jesus can save your soul, but here's a story that is perhaps about such a damaged soul and he gets ticked off and kills the entire tree because of impulsive aggression. Maybe it's safer to ask God for forgiveness. Clearly Jesus needs some Ativan. :p
 
Thief

Thief

Rogue Theologian
Kelly of the Phoenix said:
I love that story too. I love how a Messiah who can raise the dead, heal the sick, and take away sin can't get a tree to bear fruit out of season. :)


Because it shows Jesus to be completely irrational given his supposed powers? I know it's probably a metaphor for a person's soul, but the criticism still stands: can Jesus give you new life or not? The OP is about what is required for salvation. Christianity teaches that only Jesus can save your soul, but here's a story that is perhaps about such a damaged soul and he gets ticked off and kills the entire tree because of impulsive aggression. Maybe it's safer to ask God for forgiveness. Clearly Jesus needs some Ativan. :p
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think that topic is worthy of a thread.....

go for it and let me know
 
Sleeppy

Sleeppy

Fatalist. Christian. Pacifist.
Muffled said:
I believe the unsaved tend to ignore that and the one's that pay attention can't achieve it.
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God achieves nothing. God knows what is, and what will be, knowing Himself; that He alone is Good, and that His creation, His will, is very Good.

Nothing is wasted. The sons of perdition, or the prodigal sons, all follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

All are reborn, again and again, until they become lambs before their brothers, even when they've become wolves. Elijah shows the Way: the same one who calls down fire from heaven to destroy, must be reborn into one baptizing with water, and in submission to the one baptizing with the fire of heaven. Only then can the Son of Man, the sons of the oil (of Peace), ascend into Paradise, and inherit the Earth untainted with blood, or with death.

The one who destroys soul and body in Gehenna, raises another soul and body in place, until the inheritance of the Spirit of God is increased. The spirit of Cain is reborn into shame and everlasting contempt, the spirit of Abel is continued through Seth, as seen with Jesus, and his spirit is received seven times for the sons of Cain. Cain sees his completion.
 
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