Heaven guaranteed !?

[WIP]

The concern I have is that I think too often it is suggested that one must speak a certain phrase or make a particular action that others can see in order to be saved as if the words or actions are what save. Maybe I'm just concerned that we imply the wrong message. It is God that saves, not the words we speak or the actions we take. We don't do or say things in the hope of what God might do, we do and say those things because of what God has already done.

 

[JLB]

The concern I have is that I think too often it is suggested that one must speak a certain phrase or make a particular action that others can see in order to be saved as if the words or actions are what save. Maybe I'm just concerned that we imply the wrong message. It is God that saves, not the words we speak or the actions we take. We don't do or say things in the hope of what God might do, we do and say those things because of what God has already done.

I hear you.

However, the actual way faith works is believe in your heart and confess with your mouth.

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

...confession is made unto salvation.


JLB

 

[JLB]

God Himself operates in the law of faith the same way.

When He created the things that are now seen in the universe, He Himself literal spoke the very thing He wanted to create, and they were made of the things that are not visible.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3

The same faith God had when He created the things that are seen, from the things that are invisible, He says will operate for us as well.

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23

and again -

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Mark 11:23


JLB

 

[WIP]

I hear you.

However, the actual way faith works is believe in your heart and confess with your mouth.

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

...confession is made unto salvation.


JLB

Agree completely so long as our confession comes from our heart and not resulting from pressure put upon us by others.

 

[JohnD]

it is written that heaven is guaranteed for all who simply simply believe[Jn.20:31] - so fear not little flock [Lk.12:32] - twinc

Salvation is the guarantee for belief / faith in Jesus (John 3:16-18 / Ephesians 2:8-10).

Heaven, for now, is to be in a disembodied state (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

In the general resurrection, the old heaven-earth system will be destroyed and in its place the new heaven-earth system (Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22, 2 Peter 3:12-13, Revelation 21:1).

 

[JLB]

Agree completely so long as our confession comes from our heart and not resulting from pressure put upon us by others.

Yes sir.

There is a balance.


JLB

 

[Jethro Bodine]

.

it seems that despite declarations to the contrary it is still believed that salvation is as a result of works and goodness and not as a result of righteousness in Christ and Christ alone and as at Jn.20:31

Where is 'salvation is as a result of works and goodness' still believed? I don't see it in this thread.

You're probably going to have to define what you mean by 'as a result of'.
We know that a person who takes his medication gets healed 'as a result of' taking the medication he had confidence in for healing. But that hardly means the healing power is contained in the action of taking the medicine, but rather in the medicine itself.

It is in similar fashion that works must accompany one's faith and confidence in Christ for justification/salvation. Not because the power of salvation is in the works, but because faith in what actually does the saving has to be seen in actions consistent with that faith. A person who believes a medicine will save them will have actions that correspond to that faith. Likewise, a person who believes God's grace will save them will have actions that correspond to that faith.

 

[twinc]

it seems even here and now it has not been understood that He who said and could say "take up thy bed and walk" also says "your sins are forgiven" - imho just simply simply believe this is so - twinc

 

[JLB]

it seems even here and now it has not been understood that He who said and could say "take up thy bed and walk" also says "your sins are forgiven" - imho just simply simply believe this is so - twinc

If the one whom to whom it was said, rise up, take up your bed and walk, in fact continued to lay there saying; I believe you can heal me Lord, but never did the work of obedience which was to actually literally rise up from his bed, then he would have laid in that bed for the rest of his life.

Faith, without the work of obedience is dead.

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17

JLB

 

[ReginaForbes]

it is written that heaven is guaranteed for all who simply simply believe[Jn.20:31] - so fear not little flock [Lk.12:32] - twinc

It's amazing how something so simple, can cause such a profound change in one's life. You mean that's all there is?! Yep! that's it! Believe, and be free! That's how I got saved.