Not being saved by faith in Christ alone

Lots of Christian people spread the news that people do not have to worry any more because all are saved in Christ. They tell to everyone who wants to hear it (and does not want to hear it), that people do not have to do anything because they are saved. For them Christ’s death is sufficient to bring everybody into heaven.

Telling to everybody that all are going to heaven is also not correct. Strangely enough are there lots of preachers who tell their folks they do not have to do any work, though they frighten them with eternal torture by hellfire, an other not Biblical teaching.

It is true that we might be justified by faith, having received salvation by the Lamb of God its sacrificial offer. Been given the free gift of salvation we might have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1 The Scriptures 1998+ (1) Therefore, having been declared right by belief, we have peace with Elohim through our Master יהושע {Jehsua} Messiah,

Because we have chosen to follow the man who is a descendant of Abraham and of David we can belong to that seed and become children of Abraham.

Galatians 3:7-9 The Scriptures 1998+ (7) Know, then, that those who are of belief are sons of Aḇraham. (8) And the Scripture, having foreseen that Elohim would declare right the nations by belief, announced the Good News to Aḇraham beforehand, saying, “All the nations shall be blessed in you,” (9) so that those who are of belief are blessed with Aḇraham, the believer.

Scripture tells us that the faith of Abraham was there declared to be a fundamental condition of the divine acceptance. Therefore you should know that first of all, you should have the same faith as him. Which means you should believe in the same God. Abraham did not worship a three-headed god or Trinity, but a Singular eternal Spirit Being. When a person has found faith in that One and Only One God he can step in the footsteps of Abraham and in the footsteps of his offspring Jeshua (Jesus Christ).Those therefore who inherit his faith are his sons indeed and heirs of his blessing.

Galatians 3:12-14 The Scriptures 1998+ (12) And the Torah is not of belief, but “The man who does them shall live by them.” (13) Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Torah, having become a curse for us – for it has been written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree.”1 – Footnote: 1Dt. 21:23. (14) in order that the blessing of Aḇraham might come upon the nations in Messiah יהושע {Jehsua}, to receive the promise of the Spirit through belief.

Abraham followed the Torah. Jesus followed the Torah and he did never said we should not follow it. The opposite, Jesus told everyone that they should do the Will of God, which implements we should follow Torah. Following the Scriptures we also can avoid ourselves from doing wrong. Many do forget that we should take care not to be overcome of evil.

Romans 12:21 The Scriptures 1998+ (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Taking care of not doing evil shall demand some work. It shall demand work to control ourselves, to use the right language or the right words. We are never to take up or to use evil words or methods or manners. We should show others that we belong to Christ. That should be done by our good example.

Evil can never overcome evil and as such we should combat the evil with good. As followers of Jeshua we should have clothed ourselves with that new nature that Jesus has offered us.

Believing that Jesus is the Christ, or that he died for the sins of mankind, is just not enough. We should believe that he is the son of God (and not a god son), we should believe he is the sent one from God (and not God having come down to earth Himself) and that after his death he was taken up out of the dead to become a mediator between God and man.

Jesus demanded of his followers to

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

When we get this message and want to give ourselves to Jesus and his heavenly Father, than we can as part of the Body of Christ be like brothers of Christ also be sons of Abraham. Then our lives should become the best advertisement for the authenticity of Christ’s Message anywhere. And once we see the effects of grace extending through us to others, our lives shall spill over into thanksgiving.

We must not fool ourselves. It shall not always be easy. We should, at all times, keep ourselves strong and in line with the Guidance of Scripture.

Ephesians 6:10-16 The Scriptures 1998+ (10) For the rest, my brothers, be strong in the Master and in the mightiness of His strength. (11) Put on the complete armour of Elohim, for you to have power to stand against the schemes of the devil. (12) Because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies. (13) Because of this, take up the complete armour of Elohim, so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand, then, having girded your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; (16) above all, having taken up the shield of belief with which you shall have power to quench all the burning arrows of the wicked one.

Can you see how the apostle warns us to do something, to be strong (which demands action or a work). Yes we have to be strong in our knowledge and believe that Jesus died for us. Like Jesus kept himself strong we have to do as well.

The people of God at all times and under all conditions and under all circumstances have to remember the men of God who went before them and who gave us the Words of God not only to listen at but also to take them at heart and to follow them (which shall demand some work). It would have applied to Samson in his day as a natural man, a servant, and it applies to us of today who are new creatures in Christ Jesus, servant-sons of the Most High. If we look back to Samson and all the ancient worthies recounted by the apostle, we note that the secret of their strength of character, by which they endured and overcame, resided in their faith in God and in the promises. And so it must be with us.

But there is a difference between faith and credulity; the latter may give a spirit of energy, but will not endure. The former is the power of God which enables us to endure all things as good soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ, soldiers of the truth, soldiers of righteousness, fighting against sin and error and all ungodliness, including the artful wiles of the Adversary, by which he would deceive us and the whole world, misrepresenting the divine character by the “doctrines of devils” foisted upon the Lord’s people during the Dark Ages, to the blinding of the eyes of their understanding.

When we do not make an effort not to be of the flesh, we shall be like a death person, because faith without works is dead.

1 Corinthians 10:5-14 The Scriptures 1998+ (5) However, with most of them Elohim was not well pleased, for they were laid low in the wilderness. (6) And these became examples for us, so that we should not lust after evil, as those indeed lusted. (7) And do not become idolaters as some of them, as it has been written, “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and stood up to play.” (8) Neither should we commit whoring, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell, (9) neither let us try Messiah, as some of them also tried, and were destroyed by serpents, (10) neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (11) And all these came upon them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come, (12) so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall. (13) No trial has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and Elohim is trustworthy, who shall not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial shall also make the way of escape, enabling you to bear it. (14) Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry.

Romans 8:12-14 The Scriptures 1998+ (12) So then, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. (13) For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim.

James 2:8-13 The Scriptures 1998+ (8) If you truly accomplish the sovereign law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well, (9) but if you show partiality, you commit sin, being found guilty by the Torah as transgressors. (10) For whoever shall guard all the Torah, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. (11) For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of Torah. (12) So speak and so do as those who are to be judged by a Torah of freedom.1 Footnote: 1See 1:25, and John 8:32-36. (13) For the judgment is without compassion to the one who has shown no compassion. And compassion boasts over judgment.

Let us make sure that we are not misled by those preachers who say we are saved and therefore we do not have to do works any more and that the commandments of God should not any more to be kept. Such people are not only fooling you they are endangering you with taking your chances to enter the small gate to the Kingdom of God away.

James 2:21-26 The Scriptures 1998+
21 Was not Aḇraham our father declared right by works when he offered Yitsḥaq his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that the belief was working with his works, and by the works the belief was perfected? 23 And the Scripture was filled which says, “Aḇraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.” And he was called, “Elohim’s friend.” 24 You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone. 25 In the same way, was not Raḥaḇ the whore also declared right by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also the belief is dead without the works.

Those who want to be a true Christian have to follow Jesus and live a life filled with love, being humble and gentle, not forgetting to do good and to share with those in need, and show the truth by their actions, obeying the Law of Christ. (Please read: Ephesians 4:2 + 5:2; Galatians 5:22-23 + 6:2; Hebrews 13:16; 1 John 3:18 + 4:21.)

Preceding

Memorizing wonderfully 66: Galatians 3:8-9 Justified receiving blessing of Abraham’s faith

Sayings of Jesus, what to believe and being or not of the devil

When having found faith through the study of the Bible we do need to do works of faith

Bear fruits in keeping with repentance