• Adhering to a strict  moral code;

•  Keeping religious rules or commandments;
  

•  Following  religious action administered by a priest (sacraments);
  

• Infant baptism;
  

• Confirmation class recitations;
  

• Having Christian parents (God has no grandchildren)
  

• Doing good works of service, social benevolence
  

• Praying a prayer  given to you to recite, Unless prayed with understanding and sincerity
  

• Self denial, asceticism _ flagellation, etc.
  Certain monastic traditions and other cult religions, shamanism will cut or do harm to
  themselves to gain power. Remember the priests of Baal tried to activate their god by shedding their own blood.
  
  John's Testimony of Those Who Are Saved
  
  John 1:12-13: John's Gospel  describes those born of the Spirit “… born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,but of God. Salvation is for those who believe on his name; it is to them; " ...he gives the right to become the sons (children) of God. (John 1:12) Salvation is God’s doing.

The Bible is clear that salvation is acquired by Faith alone and through Grace (God’s unmerited favor, enabling (power) that God provides). But this fact was contested for many years and is still contested by some.

Joel 2:31,32: Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Joel 2:31,32: Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved... This passage was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost.

Scripture that sheds light on Salvation:

Mark 16:15-16 The great Commission. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.”

John 1:12 -But as many as receive him, (Jesus) to them gave the right to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name:

John 3:3 -You must be “born again” What Jesus told to Nicodemus, a highly placed member of Sanhedron.

John 3:5 -unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 6:44 -No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.(John 1:13) Salvation is not ‘by man’ nor by ‘the will of man’ but by the Father… “

Ephesians 3:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God— Not of yourselves echoes John 6:44 above.

John 14:6 – I am the way the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me.
The ‘narrow way’ is hard to accept by those who want salvation aother way, the way of other teachers. Acts 4:12 - There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.

The bible is clear that there is “no other name under heaven” by which a person may be saved.
But this fact too, is contested by liberal theology and popular doctrines today.
The notion of One and only One Way is politically incorrect and is considered non-inclusive and discriminatory.

John 10:28-29’ -And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. This passage strongly affirms that once you are saved, that you are safe and assured of eternal life.

John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word… John 17:9“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine…

Matthew 10:32: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32 -Confess that Jesus is Lord and that you have accepted his power to save, make you a new creation. ALSO – Romans 10:9,10 Believe in your heart and confess with spoken words your belief that Jesus died for your sins and that you accept that he became sin for you; his payment to redeem
your fallen and sinful nature.

Matt.10:33 And whoever denies me before men I will deny before my Father..
Peter denied Jesus and Jesus had to re confirm him as a disciple after his resurrection. “Go tell my disciples, and Peter… I am going into Galilee etc.. ” Mark 16:7,

TRUE SALVATION IS THE MANIFESTATION OF A NEW CREATION
The reality of salvation being a free gift becomes a point that is challenged by some later versions of Christianity. How can something that is so monumental be FREE? That is the reason it is called the "Good News!" The Pauline epistles emphasize repeatedly that one must believe in their heart that Jesus died for the sins of the world. Paul's epistle to the Galatians emphasizes that teaching any other gospel than the gift of the Spirit aside from the works of the law is an accursed heresy. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved;" is the message that Paul preaches. Believing achieves a transformation that he calls "receiving the Spirit" in Galatians Chapter 3. This means we have been translated into a heaven-connected being. That "new creation" is described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: Co 5:17  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  When we are spiritually renewed, we are born-again by the power of God. There is no cost to earn the upgrade. This is a permanent state which is one that reserves a place for us in heaven. It is not one that can not be lost. Being part of the body of Christ we become connected to his mission to reclaim the world in righteousness and to partake in his Divine nature.

2 Corinthians 5:17: If any person be in Christ they become a new creation, the old passes away and everything becomes new. (also suggested in the parable of new wine in new bottles)

The bible is clear that the Holy Spirit draws those who The Father calls (John 17) to be saved (called out to believe and be saved.) God’s Calling and enablement. (Election) See Acts 13:48 - "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

REMEMBER: "The Gospel is the power of God! "

The Gospel is the power of God! Romans 1:16;
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, 1 Corinthians 1:18; 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God

IT IS GOD’S POWER (dunamis) that transforms everyone ‘born of the Spirit.’
Acts 13:48 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

MAKING A DECISION FOR CHRIST:
Filling out the card that you have made A Decision for Salvation” Do decisions produce an actual Transformation?? They may. I believe that many times they do. We often hear about those who 'make a decision for Christ'. They say the words that represent  the *sinner’s prayer, or they follow along with the words spoken by a preacher or evangelist. Even so, somewhere along the way we find them falling back into worldly lifestyles.

Save and Run Evangelism
A street evangelist that I know uses a ‘save and run” approach offering salvation to a stranger. “Do you know where you will go if you were to die today? No? Repeat this prayer after me… :” Then the evangelist and the selected individual depart, never to see each other again. This is a bold approach and God knows if it has any lasting impact on the person.

The Tares Among Us
Denominational Churches, that typically represent Christianity, are populated by a number who have not experienced authentic transformation. Though they are on the church roster, I believe they represent Christians 'in name only.' The Bible is clear that it is impossible to SAVE ourselves. Therefore It is God himself who must intervene on our behalf and God himself who has knowledge of those who are truly His own. Do people need someone to minister salvation to them? Of course not. Individuals can come to God on their own but it must be from a humble and contrite heart sincerely seeking a "new beginning" through Christ Jesus.

Praying the Sinners Prayer

*The Sinner’s Prayer In Romans 10:9-10 may bring a sinner into a “born again” experience depending on the earnest desires of the heart and the desire to leave the life of a sinner behind and despising our old lives unto repentance.

SCRIPTURES THAT SUUPORT THE IDEA of ETERNAL SECURITY
that those who are truly chosen by God for salvation will be preserved by God’s power and for his purposes.

Eternal Security: Relevant Verses
John 10:28 “… and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

1 John 5:13---These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 3:16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 8:31-39: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;

Ephesians 1:13-14 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

1 Peter 1:5: “… who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.. “

Psalm 97:10: Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
John 6:39:"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

SCRIPTURES THAT SUGGEST THE IDEA THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT TRULY SAVED
OR OTHERS MAY FORFEIT THEIR SALVATION

Matt.10:33 And whoever denies me before men I will deny before my Father..

The matter of the attraction to this present world: (Remember Lot’s wife.)

Luke 17:32,33 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife.33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

James Chap. 4:4 : Love not the world! 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1 John 2:15: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Abiding in the vine: John 15 -Jesus says, I am the vine, you are the branches. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Romans 11:21: Paul speaking of being grafted into the vine of Israel. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Peter’s admonition: 2 Peter 2: 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

Matt: 7:21 -23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, ..

Luke 13:26 ..then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

Hebrews 6:4-6: 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. Consider the meaning of “back sliding.” What happens in that case? Paul teaches that we should not associate with such a person nor have fellowship with them.

Updated 6-07-2024

Charles Pinkney

See Additional Studies and Biblical Discussions by Charles Pinkney