Loving Jesus enough to obey Him ensures salvation

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“And we know that God causes everything to work together
for the good of those who love God and are called
according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)

These were predestined, called, justified, and glorified (8:29-30).

Those who truly love God obey Him by resisting temptations to sin!


“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God
has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)

Believers who endure temptation:
● love God
● chose to be obedient to Jesus (see below)
● will receive the crown of (eternal) life


“Temptation comes from our own desires,
which entice us and drag us away.
These desires give birth to sinful actions.
And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
So, don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.” (James 1:14-16)

Believers who do NOT endure temptation:
● will fall into habitual sin
● will receive spiritual (eternal) death …
UNLESS they sincerely repent (stop their habitual sinning).


Those who really love Jesus obey Him
“Those who accept My commandments and obey them
are the ones who love Me.” (John 14:21)
“All who love Me will do what I say.” (John 14:23)
“Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.” (John 14:24)
“When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love” (John 15:10)
“You are my friends, if you do what I command.” (John 15:14)

Who gets to heaven who does not love Jesus,
who is not His friend,
and who does not obey His commandments?


Slaves of sin -- OR -- slaves of obedience
“… if you present yourselves to anyone as as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one whom you obey,
either (slaves) of sin which leads to (eternal) death,
OR (slaves) of obedience leading too righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

“… anyone who obeys my teachings will never die!” (John 8:51)

“if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)

“So, you must live as God’s obedient children.” (1 Peter 1:14)

“Only those who fear the Lord and keep His commandments

have life with God. But there is NO (eternal) life in those
who do not keep His commandments.”
(from “The Shepherd of Hermas”, which was quoted as Scripture by early
Christian leaders such as Irenaeus, Origen, and Clement of Alexandria)
.
 
“And we know that God causes everything to work together
for the good of those who love God and are called
according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)

These were predestined, called, justified, and glorified (8:29-30).

Those who truly love God obey Him by resisting temptations to sin!


“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God
has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)

Believers who endure temptation:
● love God
● chose to be obedient to Jesus (see below)
● will receive the crown of (eternal) life


“Temptation comes from our own desires,
which entice us and drag us away.
These desires give birth to sinful actions.
And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
So, don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.” (James 1:14-16)

Believers who do NOT endure temptation:
● will fall into habitual sin
● will receive spiritual (eternal) death …
UNLESS they sincerely repent (stop their habitual sinning).


Those who really love Jesus obey Him
“Those who accept My commandments and obey them
are the ones who love Me.” (John 14:21)
“All who love Me will do what I say.” (John 14:23)
“Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.” (John 14:24)
“When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love” (John 15:10)
“You are my friends, if you do what I command.” (John 15:14)

Who gets to heaven who does not love Jesus,
who is not His friend,
and who does not obey His commandments?


Slaves of sin -- OR -- slaves of obedience
“… if you present yourselves to anyone as as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one whom you obey,
either (slaves) of sin which leads to (eternal) death,
OR (slaves) of obedience leading too righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

“… anyone who obeys my teachings will never die!” (John 8:51)

“if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)

“So, you must live as God’s obedient children.” (1 Peter 1:14)

“Only those who fear the Lord and keep His commandments

have life with God. But there is NO (eternal) life in those
who do not keep His commandments.”
(from “The Shepherd of Hermas”, which was quoted as Scripture by early
Christian leaders such as Irenaeus, Origen, and Clement of Alexandria)
.

Excellent Scriptures brother. However I must ask you.......what is your point????

What are you trying to say?

Are you implying that obedience is essential to salvation?
 
Excellent Scriptures brother.
However I must ask you.......what is your point????
What are you trying to say?
Are you implying that obedience is essential to salvation?
Yes, I am indeed ... would you care to see all of the NT proof verses?
Ditto for the necessity of:
-- practicing righteousness
-- practicing repentance
-- being sanctified unto holiness
-- being loving and forgiving
-- being an overcomer (not 1 John 5)
-- not being deceived by "grace-only"
-- enduring in the faith to the end of life

If you do not care for these particular verses
(which stand opposed to the so-called OSAS verses)
... then I humbly suggest that you need to
RECONCILE all of these many verses on both sides
... so they are ALL accepted as God's Truth.
Peace, brother, and may God bless!
 
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(which stand opposed to the so-called OSAS verses)

Hi, greetings in Christ from another Bible student:

i happen to remember, and i look, and it does, that it happens to be No. 1 in the topics not to be discussed.
https://christianforumsite.com/threads/topics-that-can-not-be-discussed-at-cfs.41919/

in any case: I hope, as well as no intention to bring the conversation or the discussion into that direction: discussion of that topic.

My intention of the following question is understanding, reconciliation.

Question:
I would like to kindly ask what is your view or understanding on the following : "looking into Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 
My intention of the following question is understanding, reconciliation.
Question:
I would like to kindly ask what is your view or understanding on the following :
"looking into Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith."
Jesus is the beginning of our faith through what He accomplished on our behalf.
Jesus will be the "completer" of our faith, IF our faith endures until the end of our lives.
Of course, many NT verses put demands on us to prove IF we have true saving faith.
Yes, everything is conditional in our (new) covenant with God.

All of this is from the NT, and is not biased by doctrines of any denomination.

And this hasn't much to do with reconciling ALL of the NT verses,
which results in understanding and accepting ALL of them without any problems.
 
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Yes, I am indeed ... would you care to see all of the NT proof verses?
Ditto for the necessity of:
-- practicing righteousness
-- practicing repentance
-- being sanctified unto holiness
-- being loving and forgiving
-- being an overcomer (not 1 John 5)
-- not being deceived by "grace-only"
-- enduring in the faith to the end of life

If you do not care for these particular verses
(which stand opposed to the so-called OSAS verses)
... then I humbly suggest that you need to
RECONCILE all of these many verses on both sides
... so they are ALL accepted as God's Truth.
Peace, brother, and may God bless!

I would have no opposition to any Bible Scripture as that is what I do.

I would love to discuss this with you, but Eternal Security is one of the subjects that we are not allowed to debate.

We can try but I am pretty sure it will not get very far.

Rom. 3:24-...….
"Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"


The debt is paid in full, there is nothing for sinners to do except to receive the pardon, it is given as a free gift.

When Christ shouted with His last breath, "It is finished"....IT, Salvation was finished. When we say that we have to do anything whatsoever to stay saved...….we have made a serious challenge to God.

John the Baptist announced Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the "sins of the world."
Now then, HE either does or He does not. Grace is unmerited favor, it is unrelated to any deed we might do. It is not withheld because of sin nor is it lessened because of any sin. God's grace is consistent; it neither increases nor decreases because of our performance. We are told to continue in the grace of God, it is always there for us to walk in. Paul says when sin abounded grace abounded even more.
 
Hi, greetings in Christ from another Bible student:

i happen to remember, and i look, and it does, that it happens to be No. 1 in the topics not to be discussed.
https://christianforumsite.com/threads/topics-that-can-not-be-discussed-at-cfs.41919/

in any case: I hope, as well as no intention to bring the conversation or the discussion into that direction: discussion of that topic.

My intention of the following question is understanding, reconciliation.

Question:
I would like to kindly ask what is your view or understanding on the following : "looking into Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

You are correct. Christ either saved us when He died and resurrected from the dead or He did not. SINCE HE DID, then there is nothing else that has to be done to be saved.
 
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Jesus will be the "completer" of our faith, IF our faith endures until the end of our lives.
Thanks for the reply, especially on the “finisher” can mean to say “completer”.

I do agree with the clause or I agree it is a condition: “IF our Faith endures”.

“IF or WILL MY Faith endures until the end of my life”? that is a question at least to myself.

Can i do it by myself for my FAITH to ENDURE? This just an honest assessment to myself: i cannot do it alone for my FAITH to ENDURE until the end of my life. I need God's help.

I pray to God that i can do it, that my “Faith will endure until the end of my life”

God bless us all!
 
I would love to discuss this with you,

Rom. 3:24-25
"Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;"

Yes, of course, when we were born-again, we received absolutely everything!

However, dozens of NT verses teach us that all of this must be maintained!
Just for example:
“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous.
He who sins is of the devil … Whoever has been born of God does not sin (habitually)
… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:7-10)


Don't you agree that this topic is of the utmost in importance for everyone?
.
 
Thanks for the reply, especially on the “finisher” can mean to say “completer”.
I do agree with the clause or I agree it is a condition: “IF our Faith endures”.
“IF or WILL MY Faith endures until the end of my life”? that is a question at least to myself.
Can i do it by myself for my FAITH to ENDURE?
This just an honest assessment to myself:
i cannot do it alone for my FAITH to ENDURE until the end of my life. I need God's help.
I pray to God that i can do it, that my “Faith will endure until the end of my life”
God bless us all!
I love your reply.
Part of the enduring has been manifested throughout the world recently.
True believers are being martyred for their faith.
We will be also during the up-coming persecution of Christians.
This will include the pressure to submit and take the mark of the beast.
Failure to endure in our faith to the end will mean eternal death.
.
 
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I love your reply.
Part of the enduring has been manifested throughout the world recently.
True believers are being martyred for their faith.

We will be also during the up-coming persecution of Christians.
This will include the pressure to submit and take the mark of the beast.
Failure to endure in our faith to the end will mean eternal death.
.

Indeed, I can only pray as I have no political power (that is another topic I would say, Christians with Political Power has some responsibility), I can only pray for our Brothers and Sisters living in those areas, nation or country with no religious freedom.

Thanks for the reminder, indeed we need to “exhort” one another while it is called “Today” as mentioned in Hebrews .

Every time I got those faith issues, worries in life, financial mostly, and not even religious or freedom persecution… oh my it may not even be comparable to the those mentioned in Revelation!

Every time those worries : it always helps me to always looks back: to the very first confidence, the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior… that I can make it with His very same salvation He promised that I can make it to the end: that is: we hold unto the beginning of our confidence stead fast unto the end as Hebrews verse mentioned.

HEB 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
HEB 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;


And as Paul is convinced, and am very much convinced as well :if God is for us, who can ever be against us. neither our fears or worries will separate us from the Love of God.

Romans 8:31-39 New Living Translation (NLT)
Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love


31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
...
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God bless us all !!!
 
I love your reply.
Part of the enduring has been manifested throughout the world recently.
......
Failure to endure in our faith to the end will mean eternal death.
.
Yes brother, this is one of the dozen (or so) CONDITIONAL "IF" verses in the NT.
.

Thanks again for the reply and as a brother in Christ :)

I hope I will not cross the boundary with the next question: as mentioned: the question is more on seeking understanding and reconciliation.

Kindly note that the “reconciliation” does not refer to “reconciling” the Scriptures. I believe the Scriptures is flawless without contrary in it principles.

What am referring to by “reconciliation” is more on understanding of how another Christian sees it rather than the way I see it.

The trouble with continuing that kind of discussion is : it can create argument or disagreement.

OR: it can create understanding of one another. I hope more on latter this next question.

As background:
I am not a fence sitter on the Calvinism and Arminian debate.
I have my own a mix of both school of thoughts, i think it is "steadfast" unless God showed me otherwise :).

And honestly, an Arminian post or a Methodist post will in a sense kick me from time to time to act :)

And I have no trouble accepting both as Christian teachings as long it is scripture based and the core, the FOUNDATION: Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

1 Corinthians 3:11
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

My scripture basis on accepting both? :WE OWN EVERYTHING. In the same Chapter mentioned:
Whether it is a Calvin or an Arminius? Or Paul or Apollos or Cephas” That is how understand the following verse 22: all are ours.

21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Sorry for the long background, but I think I need to post it before the question:

Question: is the "Faith enduring until the end of our lives"
a. man sole activity or action only? i mean, can he do it alone?
b. or man needs God's help and without God help it will be in vain?
c. or it is both and God's in a complimentary action or activity?
d. other thoughts or understanding.

thanks be to God for all His guidance and blessing to us!
 
Question: is the "Faith enduring until the end of our lives"
a. man sole activity or action only? i mean, can he do it alone?
b. or man needs God's help and without God help it will be in vain?
c. or it is both and God's in a complimentary action or activity?
d. other thoughts or understanding.
c. Everything is by the covenant, a mutual co-operation ...
with God the Holy Spirit endeavoring to lead, guide, and help us.
However, man has a God-given free will, and is free to be disobedient.
The Word came (and became Jesus) to set BACs FREE from being slaves of sin!
IMO, that's the #1 reason why He came!

Yes, enduring faith is man co-operating with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I have a page full of NT verses, which teach us that ...
the believer must endure in the faith to the end of his life to be saved.
This includes enduring through persecution and refusing to take the mark of the beast.
.
 
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c. Everything is by the covenant, a mutual co-operation ...
with God the Holy Spirit endeavoring to lead, guide, and help us.
However, man has a God-given free will, and is free to be disobedient.
The Word came (and became Jesus) to set BACs FREE from being slaves of sin!
IMO, that's the #1 reason why He came!

Yes, enduring faith is man co-operating with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I have a page full of NT verses, which teach us that ...
the believer must endure in the faith to the end of his life to be saved.
This includes enduring through persecution and refusing to take the mark of the beast.
.
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LIST: https://christianforumsite.com/threads/topics-which-may-not-be-discussed.39785/

Thank you for your cooperation.



23
Thanks for the reply, am clear now, that is: “reconciled” now where the potential difference in interpretation is.

I think it is more on the concept , understanding of another topic: “Free Will” and on a little that i know of “the New Covenant”.

Will no longer continue on further discussion as requested by the Moderators.

God bless us all!
 
Yes, of course, when we were born-again, we received absolutely everything!

However, dozens of NT verses teach us that all of this must be maintained!
Just for example:
“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous.
He who sins is of the devil … Whoever has been born of God does not sin (habitually)
… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:7-10)


Don't you agree that this topic is of the utmost in importance for everyone?
.

O Yes I do my brother but as I said, it is not allowed on this site as was just posted by our moderators.

They do that NOT because it is not important but history has shown that it is not a subject that can be debated without extreme arguments and personal attacks.
 
Hi Major,

On another thread, that was closed as well :)

i just would like to say thank you and Amen, it i is indeed a blessing.

At first, i read it very quick when i saw the 2 classifications of FREE WILL (yup. that is how my mind works sometimes :) ... that i really did not much contemplate on it. but it STICK to my mind to return back to it, and now i do :)

Thanks for that post, it is indeed a blessings: more on understanding of one another.


copy/paste as below: Post #22

Yes, I agree.

I think that it would be blessing to you to grasp that "Free Will" is of TWO considerations......…….

1). Compatibilism
That means that we are only as free as our nature allows us to be free and that our sinfulness prevents us from freely choosing God.
Consider that in 1 Corth. 2:14----Rom. 6:14-20.

2) Libertarian.
That position says that an unsaved sinner is still able to freely choose God in spite of his sinful nature.
John 3:16 and 3:26.

Consider that God's predestination does not mean that we cannot make free will choices. God predestines in and through our choices because God is all-knowing and all-powerful. If He wasn't then He would not be God at all. He knows what we will do because he knows all things. He cannot not know all things. So, whatever you choose to do out of your own free volition is known. But his knowing doesn't mean you don't freely choose.

I will also add here that I would love to talk about this in depth but one of the reason that this site does not allow discussion on Predestination is because of ALL the Bible doctrines, Predestination, IMO is the hardest to wrap our minds around and always leads to conflict.
 
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Hi Major,

On another thread, that was closed as well :)

i just would like to say thank you and Amen, it i is indeed a blessing.

At first, i read it very quick when i saw the 2 classifications of FREE WILL (yup. that is how my mind works sometimes :) ... that i really did not much contemplate on it. but it STICK to my mind to return back to it, and now i do :)

Thanks for that post, it is indeed a blessings: more on understanding of one another.


copy/paste as below: Post #22

Yes, I agree.

I think that it would be blessing to you to grasp that "Free Will" is of TWO considerations......…….

1). Compatibilism
That means that we are only as free as our nature allows us to be free and that our sinfulness prevents us from freely choosing God.
Consider that in 1 Corth. 2:14----Rom. 6:14-20.

2) Libertarian.
That position says that an unsaved sinner is still able to freely choose God in spite of his sinful nature.
John 3:16 and 3:26.

Consider that God's predestination does not mean that we cannot make free will choices. God predestines in and through our choices because God is all-knowing and all-powerful. If He wasn't then He would not be God at all. He knows what we will do because he knows all things. He cannot not know all things. So, whatever you choose to do out of your own free volition is known. But his knowing doesn't mean you don't freely choose.

I will also add here that I would love to talk about this in depth but one of the reason that this site does not allow discussion on Predestination is because of ALL the Bible doctrines, Predestination, IMO is the hardest to wrap our minds around and always leads to conflict.

Thank you for the kind words and if I can ever be of any help to you, please ask!
 
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I think obeying what Jesus commands us to do is showing that we believe in Him.

James would say faith without works (deeds, actions) is dead. He is showing his faith by his works. He gave examples like if someone comes to you in rags do you just tell them to sit faaaaar away from you. Or do you give him some new clothes to wear? Or if someone comes to you and they are wearing fine clothes do you treat them much better than anyone else?

Stuff like that. GOd is no respector of persons. He sees into peoples hearts, remember he can even see when we try and cover ourselves up. He saw adam and eve in the garden trying to hide from Him.
 
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