“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
–Romans 9:16
Though, strictly speaking, it is NOT up to the individual whether or not he becomes a member of the kingdom of heaven, he DOES have a say in the matter.
IF it is NOT up to each individual–in spite of what the churches claim–whether one receives eternal salvation, then HOW DOES SOMEONE RECEIVE ETERNAL SALVATION?
It begins with God’s mercy and grace toward each individual man. The churches have told the UNTRUE story that a person ‘comes to God’ after ‘making a decision for Christ.’ BUT, it is NOT man’s decision, it is God’s.
The GRACE and MERCY of God determines who will have eternal life–NOT some sinner’s decision.
“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.”
–Ephesians 2:8-9
As is usual with spiritual–and all other–matters, God’s Word provides the reader with clues.
“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
–Romans 9:15
God–NOT man–decides who is eternally saved. There are NO men who DESERVE eternal salvation, but God brings His people into the kingdom of heaven by His MERCY and GRACE alone.
“…but I am carnal, sold under sin.”
–Romans 7:14
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
–Romans 3:10-12
So, man is a totally flawed CREATION, whose body is the dust of the earth and which is sinful.
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
–Genesis 2:7
God KNOWS EVERYTHING about man, His creation. God KNOWS man is sinful. God KNOWS that man, on his own, will NEVER live up to the standards of a Holy God.
So, God is VERY loving and free about dispensing GRACE and MERCY to His flawed creation in order that they might get into heaven.
To ‘get the attention’ of a merciful and loving God–who CREATED us ALL–God’s Word has some suggestions on how this might be accomplished.
1 Eternal salvation is found in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
“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.”
–John 3:16
“And being made perfect, he [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”
–Hebrews 5:9
“…and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
–Acts 16:30-31
“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.”
–John 3:36
So, IF one desires to be a member of the kingdom of heaven, it is necessary to have COMPLETE and TOTAL belief in Jesus Christ.
THIS ‘gets God’s attention’–because it is written in God’s Word.
2 Obey the commands of God, as they are written in God’s Word (the ONLY truth available to man).
One cannot be a member of the kingdom of heaven IF one loves to sin. Sin is a transgression against God. So, man has to obey the commands which are written in God’s Word.
“Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.”
–Deuteronomy 27:10
[God KNOWS that His creation (man) will NOT obey all of His commands because man is made of dirt. BUT, this is where the MERCY of God gets a sinner into heaven.]
3 Accept the benefits of being ‘born again’ SPIRITUALLY.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
–John 3:3
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
–John 3:5
When one is reborn spiritually, that person receives a bit of the Spirit of God to dwell within him.
[Even a tiny bit of God’s Spirit is a LOT.]
4 Have faith that God will do as He has said in His Word.
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.”
–Mark 11:22
“But without faith it is impossible to please him [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
–Hebrews 11:6
5 God will reward all as they deserve. IF the reader desires to be eternally saved, he must deserve eternal salvation.
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
–Matthew 16:27
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
–2CORINTHIANS 5:10
With God, ETERNAL SALVATION all begins with His MERCY.
With man, ETERNAL SALVATION all begins with a STRONG DESIRE for eternal salvation.
Eternal Salvation is For Those Who WANT It
MORE
- What Must the Reader Do To Be Eternally Saved?
- Eternal Life is Through Jesus Christ, Not Science
- There is a Reason FEW Are Saved
JUST HOW does the reader believe one is eternally saved?
It is not YET too late–although time is surely running out: there is still a LITTLE time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
—1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“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.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: May 8, 2023.]
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash.com
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-23. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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