Scripture References: Ephesians 2:8-9
It's a common belief among the many millions of confessing Christians today that salvation is only conditional to the point that if a person will exercise their faith in Christ believing that he is the Son of God, and that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and to accept him as their own personal Lord and Savior and by doing and believing this imparts salvation in their life. They believe that doing anything else beyond this point is counted as works that has nothing to do with salvation. Gods word is quite clear revealing to us that we must believe in Christ in this manner, and doing this is a condition that must be met. There is no such thing as an unconditional salvation simply because there are basic conditions stated that absolutely must be obeyed that is referred to as being the principles of the doctrine of Christ. So the common teaching found among the many millions of confessing Christians today says that one is saved by confessing belief in Christ and that he died, was buried, and rose again, and that he is the Son of God. And they will say that anything beyond this would be works that has nothing to do with salvation. Well first of all I would like to ask what then is the purpose of all the remaining scriptures found throughout the New Testament covenant that contains 7,957 verses of scripture that makes up the KJV of the Bible? If believing on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and that he is the Son of God, and to receive him as your Lord and Savior, then what's the purpose of all the remaining thousands of scriptures written in the entirety of the Bible? Let me prove to you that all scripture is given to us to believe and live by and not just to pick out a chosen few to believe and to ignore what the remaining scriptures says. Let me say again that belief on Christ as being the Son of God, and that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, is very much essential to believe, but believing this alone does not impart eternal salvation in your life.
Let us examine other scriptures found in Gods word concerning this subject so that we can know without a shadow of doubt whether or not that there are other things we must believe and do other than a belief in Christ alone as stated above. Lets examine what Paul tells us in I Timothy 4:16 that says, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." Notice that Paul tells us to take heed unto ourselves and unto the doctrine. This doctrine refers to the doctrine or the teachings of Christ. Notice that Paul tells us to continue in Christ's doctrine and notice he tells us that by doing this we will not only save ourselves, but also them that will hear us. So what does it mean to continue on in the doctrine of Christ in order that we can be saved? To continue on in the doctrine reveals that something must be accepted and believed before we do continue on in the doctrine, right? So lets find out what must be accepted and believed first, so that we can continue on in the doctrine that will save us. So evidently what must be accepted and believed first is not all there is to accept and believe to be saved, right? So lets look at what Jesus says about this in what he said in John 8:30-32 that says, "As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Please notice carefully that what Jesus said to these Jews caused them to believe on him did it not? Now did Jesus tell these Jews that believing on him was all that was necessary to do in order to be saved? No he did not, right? Notice that Jesus said something else to those Jews that believed on him, and did he not tell them that if they continued in his word they were his disciples indeed? Now what would have happened if those Jews did not continue on in his word like he told them to do and just believed they were saved by just believing on him? Well is not this exactly what the clergymen are telling their millions of converts today? Did not Jesus tell them that if they continued in his word then they would know the truth and it would be that truth that would make them free and not just believing on him only? And did not Paul say the same thing in I Timothy 4:16 where he told young Timothy that if he continued on in the doctrine that by his doing this would save him and all those who would hear him as well?
So how is a person saved by just believing on Christ as being the Son of God, and that he died, and was buried, and rose again the third day? This alone does not save a person, but rather that person must continue on in his word to believe and obey it to be saved. Did the apostle James tell us the same thing in James i :21-22 that says, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Can you not see that it takes the engrafted word of God to save your soul only if you hear and obey it? If you believe you are saved by believing that he is the Son of God, and that he died, was buried, and rose again, what has this belief on Christ in this manner to do with obeying his gospel? The gospel that saves is not a mere belief on Christ in this manner, but the gospel of Christ consists of all his teachings written in all the epistles of the New Testament covenant. Paul said in Romans 1:16 these words saying, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Paul did not say here that belief on Christ is the power of God unto salvation did he? To believe on Christ is definitely one thing that we must do, but to believe the gospel is to believe his teachings. Look at what Paul tells us in II Thessalonians 1:7-8 that says, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." To believe that the gospel that saves is nothing more or less than believing on his person and that he died, was buried, and rose again, this is not obeying the gospel as Paul said. To believe in Christ and that he died, and was buried, and rose again the third day, this cannot be obeyed, but rather all you can do with this is either to believe it or to disbelieve it. Did not Paul tell us in II Thessalonians 1:7 that Christ will come in flaming fire taking vengeance of them that don't know God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? Let me ask you again, "How can you obey the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ?" There is nothing in that to obey, but rather it can only be accepted and believed or else rejected and not believed. To obey the gospel is what saves, but it's believing and obeying all truth revealed in the teachings of Christ and not just believing on his person and the truth concerning his death, burial, and resurrection alone. The deceived clergymen today has taken the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and made it another gospel, but is only one truth out of many that must believed in order to be saved. So is Salvation conditional or unconditional? It's definitely conditional, because we must obey and live by every word of God and not just a verse or two like most are doing today. The apostle Paul tells us that all scripture (not just a verse here and a verse there) is to instruct in righteousness unto perfection, but since most people are believing they are saved by belief in the scriptures concerning his death, burial, and resurrection, then this has blinded them from the true gospel that will save. Paul reveals this in II Corinthians 4:3-4 that says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." This gospel has been hidden from the mind of man for many years, but is now being revealed in these last days that we are living in, He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches...Amen