I was raised in a Christian community and was always taught that salvation is only through belief in Jesus. In this blog, we argue that salvation is through the change of our soul so it becomes like God and we have a quite lengthy list of Biblical passages that support this conclusion (see the tab entitled “What the Bible Says about Salvation”). For those of you who do not have the time to look up all those passages, we have compiled a list of seven passages which documents our conclusion.
- Belief in God – Acts 10:34-35 – So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
- Repentance of our sins – 2 Corinthians 7:10 – For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
- Conduct or holiness — Romans 2:6-12- He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
- Persistence – Hebrews 6:4-6 – For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
- Development of our abilities – Matthew 25:14-30 [This is the parable of the talents and Jesus concludes by saying]: For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Salvation is a process, not an event – Philippians 2:12 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
- Not being cowardly – Revelation 21:8 – But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. [How many sermons have you heard about how being cowardly can send you to hell?]
Just remember there are 70 other verses that teach the same. My question is: If every word of the Bible is inspired by God, why did he place these verses in the Bible?
