1. First, the bad news - we’re all sinners in the eyes of God.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
2. More bad news - the result of sin is death.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death.
There are two parts to death. The first death is a physical death here on earth. The second death is the lake of fire (hell).
Revelation 21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
That’s a pretty bad list, right? But, notice at the end of the list it said “all liars.” The Bible says, “let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). The point here is that we’re all sinners and we’re all condemned to hell - even if the only thing you have ever done wrong is tell a lie.
3. Now the Good news – God has a gift He wants to give you (eternal life).
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God has a gift He wants to give you and that gift is eternal life and it is through Jesus Christ. You don’t have to work for the gift and you don’t have to pay for the gift.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
4. More Good News – Jesus paid the price for our sins.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Just because the gift is free doesn’t mean that someone didn’t pay for it. Since God wants to give you a gift, He’s the giver and you’re the receiver, so He paid for the gift. Jesus paid for the gift by His death, burial and resurrection. Do you believe that Jesus died, was buried and was resurrected on the third day to pay for our sins?
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
God says he wants to give you eternal life, that is life that will never end. This means that when you die the initial physical death, you will not die the second death of being cast into the lake of fire but instead you will go and live with God forever in heaven.
Titus 1:2: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Our hope for eternal life is that God cannot lie. So if God promises you life that will never end, then He will give you life that never ends. Salvation had nothing to do with you, remember it’s “not of yourselves” (Ephesians 2:8). When God forgives you of your sins; He forgives you of all your sins—past, present, future. That is how he can guarantee us eternal life.
5. All you have to do is accept God’s gift for you by faith.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If someone were to buy a gift, wrap it and write your name on it, it would not become yours until you accepted it. The gift from God is exactly the same. It’s already been paid for by Jesus Christ and God offers it to everyone but you need to accept it. You accept the gift of eternal life by confessing with your mouth while believing in your heart.
Do you want to accept Jesus Christ and be saved from your sins right now? Then just say this simple prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried and rose again to pay for my sins. I ask you to save me, forgive me of my sins and take me to heaven when I die. Thank you for giving me eternal life. Amen.
Congratulations, you are saved!
If you prayed that prayer and got saved, send me a message - it would make an old Canadian guy very happy to hear that you got saved. God bless.
In terms of an equation, I think a lot of people believe
True Living Faith + repentance + good works + perseverance = salvation for the believer. This is contrary to Eph. 2:8-9, the teachings in John's Gospel and epistles, and several other passages.
I believe the Bible teaches this:
True Living Faith x God's work = repentance + salvation + good works + perseverance in the believer.
This does not contradict James or the verses you provided.
I could be accused of using the True Scotsman fallacy in this (what is "True Faith"?) but my argument is that the Bible teaches it, so I'm going to stick with it.
I suppose that is a reasonable argument, and you're right it fits with the verses I mentioned.
The only thing I'd wonder, is where does that leave the people who hold a strong conviction in Christ, believe they have True Faith, yet the works don't follow, and they stay stuck in unrepentant sin?
Maybe that simply doesn't happen, but it seems reasonable to me that there are people like that. So their faith is dead, I suppose, but this seems to establish that works are important for salvation, at least as evidence of faith. It almost seems more like we're arguing semantics than doctrine, kek.
So what really is the difference? How would we tell between the two you mention?
In either case, I think the above verses I mention make it clear that salvation can be lost; we can be cut off. The only difference is whether it happens because of ceasing belief or ceasing works. Though in your above equation, it seems there isn't much difference, since without the works, the faith isn't true.
Lastly, how can works, repentance, etc. be evidence for True Faith, while also coming after True Faith? In effect, it seems you'd be proving the faith with these things, so they can't come second.
P.S. I'd include God's work in the first equation. Without that, it still doesn't work. Only God's grace ultimately saves.