THE EIGHT (Perhaps nine) THINGS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION
By Karl Falken
There are actually eight necessary points any individual must meet to be "saved" or go to heaven when one dies or is translated like Enoch or Elijah were. These are:
1. Belief in God (I Kings 8:33, Habakkuk 2:4, Luke 7:50)
The whole reason we are here is to learn to love God with all our hearts. That presupposes we beleive in God. There are no athiests or agnostics in heaven. But while this is necessary, it is not sufficient. For even the demons believe in God, but they can never be saved. (James 2:9)
The next requirement is that we must admit we are sinners. This is not just mental assent, but a vocal confession to an audience that does not just include God.
2. Confession of sin (Leviticus 5:5, 26:40, James 5:16, 1 John 1:19,)
Once we have admitted our guilt to ourselves, to God and to those we have sinned against, we must stop sinning.
3. Repentance of sin (Exodus 23:21, Acts 2:38, James 2:17, 2:22, 2:26)
Sin hurts others. We must do all we can to repair the damage. If it's more than we are capable of to set everything right, then we must do so to the fullest limit of our capacity to do so. Even to all our material possessions.
4. Restitution for wrongs (Number 5:7, Matthew 5:22,23)
The golden rule applies well in nearly every situation. If we want to be forgiven, we must forgive. God will not forgive us unless we forgive others. However, forgiveness is part of a process whereby the other parties must also ask for it. It does not have to be extended where there is no repentance or restitution, though it can be granted unconditionally and this is the best and safest form of forgiveness. Forgiveness may also be retracted in the case of those who backslide or do not fulfill a promise of restitution. But if this is practiced, it must be done with great care.
5. Forgiving others (Mark 11:25, Matthew 6:14,15, 18:35, Luke 6:37, 11:4, 2 Corinthians 2:10, Colossians 3:13
There must also be a public identification with Christ's atonement, that is by baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is sovereign and might make exceptions for special cases where circumstances preclude this as an option (such as a deathbed confession or a conversion while incarcerated). However, it's best to do this properly at the first opportunity. Taking a chance with such an important matters is extremely unwise.
6. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 22:16, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, 1 Peter 3:21,22)
Christ plainly states that "breaking bread" or taking communion was a prerequistie for being resurrected to everlasting life. In theory a person might exist in heaven as a disembodied spirit. However, why risk falling short? It's certainly unwise to give up the option to have an immortal body when it's part of God's master plan.
7. Taking communion (John 6:53-58)
Lastly, all of this counts for nothing if at some point a person recants or returns to a life of disobedience to God.
8. Enduring to the end (Matthew 24:13)
In a final note: inviting Christ into one’s heart may not be strictly required for salvation, but it is the means by which we are empowered to do the miraculous works of God. It is also reported in the book Heaven is for Real, that no one will be given a resurrected body witout meeting this condition. So obviously it is improtant to God, so it follows that it should be important to us too.
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By Karl Falken
In a significant fraction of the churches I have visited and according to the personal beliefs of numerous persons I am acquainted with, there's a dangerous error commonly held that eternal salvation is as easy as reciting a creed or saying what's often termed the "sinner's prayer." I can say from personal experience, this is simply not true. For in 1995 I had a near death experience where, though by church standards I was an above average Christian, I found myself as lost as any unbeliever. In short, any sin that is not dealt with thoroughly in this life is sufficient to condemn even "good" people to separation from God and eternal torment of an indescribable nature.
There are actually eight necessary points any individual must meet to be "saved" or go to heaven when one dies or is translated like Enoch or Elijah were. These are:
1. Belief in God (I Kings 8:33, Habakkuk 2:4, Luke 7:50)
The whole reason we are here is to learn to love God with all our hearts. That presupposes we beleive in God. There are no athiests or agnostics in heaven. But while this is necessary, it is not sufficient. For even the demons believe in God, but they can never be saved. (James 2:9)
The next requirement is that we must admit we are sinners. This is not just mental assent, but a vocal confession to an audience that does not just include God.
2. Confession of sin (Leviticus 5:5, 26:40, James 5:16, 1 John 1:19,)
Once we have admitted our guilt to ourselves, to God and to those we have sinned against, we must stop sinning.
3. Repentance of sin (Exodus 23:21, Acts 2:38, James 2:17, 2:22, 2:26)
Sin hurts others. We must do all we can to repair the damage. If it's more than we are capable of to set everything right, then we must do so to the fullest limit of our capacity to do so. Even to all our material possessions.
4. Restitution for wrongs (Number 5:7, Matthew 5:22,23)
5. Forgiving others (Mark 11:25, Matthew 6:14,15, 18:35, Luke 6:37, 11:4, 2 Corinthians 2:10, Colossians 3:13
6. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 22:16, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, 1 Peter 3:21,22)
7. Taking communion (John 6:53-58)
Lastly, all of this counts for nothing if at some point a person recants or returns to a life of disobedience to God.
8. Enduring to the end (Matthew 24:13)
In a final note: inviting Christ into one’s heart may not be strictly required for salvation, but it is the means by which we are empowered to do the miraculous works of God. It is also reported in the book Heaven is for Real, that no one will be given a resurrected body witout meeting this condition. So obviously it is improtant to God, so it follows that it should be important to us too.
All rights reserved.
