Thread: A question on Christian Scripture.

Paco, thanks for the post. I'm assuming that you were referencing me when you made the comment about earning salvation. Saying that being obedient is "earning" anything is specious on its face. I tell my daughter if she does the dishes with me, I'll give her $10 a month. She's 6 and is in the way. She's not earning anything, but I made her a promise and when she does her part, I do mine.

God has done the same thing for us. He sent his son who was made a propitiation for our sins. He then said, believe on him, and be obedient, and we'll be given a home in Heaven. He didn't say, "I'm going to pick and choose who I want to be 'saved', but I'm going to give the whole world a document that tells them that every one has the choice of being saved or not." It is our choice. God isn't making us, and he's not impeding us. It is our choice.

Us believing and being obedient doesn't qualify as "saved through works". That's a ridiculous argument. However, doing what you are told to do and getting the promised reward is still Grace. Jesus said "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that doesn't believe shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). That ties in to what was said in John 1 "To all who received him, to those who believe on his name, he gave the right to become children of God". You see, believe is only part of the game. You have the right to become a child of God when you believe. But before you are obedient, you aren't. Cornelius (Acts 10), Phillipian Jailor (Acts 16), Paul (Acts 9), Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8), etc.... I could keep going.... are good examples of this principle