THE CONDITIONS OF SALVATION

This is the longest and most in-depth section of the website, not to mention the most important.

The purpose is to show the believer that the security he has is a conditional security, based upon the conditions set forth in God's holy Word.

[Contrasts]   [Conditions]
[Our Duties]   [Perseverance]   [Our Effort]

Contrasts
How to tell the saved from the unsaved:

Romans 8:13 -- For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(you cannot live in the flesh and be saved)


Galatians 6:7-8
7: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8: For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
(No where are 'rewards' listed -- we are talking about life everlasting and the opposite thereof, corruption, or Hell.)


Romans 8:6 -- For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(There is a deathly contrast between the carnal and the spiritual)


Revelation 22:14-15
14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15: For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
(Clear contrast. The obedient are IN and the wicked are OUT.)


1 John 2:17 -- And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
(Deathly contrast between the world and the Christian.)


John 12:25 -- He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
(There is a clear contrast between those that love their life and those that hate it.)

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Conditions
Our salvation is conditional:

Matthew 10:33 -- But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(Note the condition: Deny Christ -- such as in a time of persecution -- He'll deny you.)


James 2:5 -- Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
(Heirs of the kingdom are those who love him)


Hebrews 5:9 -- And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
(Eternal salvation goes to them that obey him.)


Revelation 2:11 -- He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
(Escape the second death by overcoming)


Matthew 7:21 -- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(Who enters into the kingdom of Heaven?)


Matthew 18:32-35
32: Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34: And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35: So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(We must forgive other's tresspasses if we want to be forgiven)


Luke 13:3 -- I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
(You *must* repent)


Acts 2:38 -- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(You *must* repent)


1 John 1:7 -- But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(The condition for God's continual forgiveness is that we must be walking in the Light)

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Our Duties
Our duty toward God has a direct effect on our salvation:

Psalm 31:23 -- O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
(Our duty is to be faithful.)


Luke 8:21 -- And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
(Our duty is to be they which hear the word of God, and do it.)


Revelation 21:7 -- He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
(Our duty is to be he that overcometh.)


1 Timothy 6:12 -- Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,[...]
(Our duty is to lay hold on eternal life)


John 5:29 -- And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(Our duty is to be they that have done good.)

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Perseverance
Perseverance in the Faith is a must when it comes to salvation:

Hebrews 3:14 -- For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;


Matthew 10:22 -- And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
(Who shall be saved?)


1 John 2:24,25
24: Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25: And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
("IF that...shall remain in you, ye shall also continue in the Son...")


2 John v.9 -- Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
(You must stay in the doctrine of Christ)


John 15:6 -- If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
(I smell the smoke of those who did not stay in Christ!)


John 8:31 -- Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
(Continue in His Word.)


1 Corinthians 15:2 -- By [the Gospel] also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (Remember His Word.)


Hebrews 3:6 -- But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
(Hold fast ... unto the end!)


Galatians 6:9 -- And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
(To understand what we reap IF WE FAINT NOT, read verse 8!)


Romans 2:6,7
6: [God] will render to every man according to his deeds:
7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
(Who does He render eternal life to?)

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Our Effort
There are various efforts that we must make to enter the Kingdom of God:

Luke 13:24 -- Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
(Note our effort: Strive to enter in.)


John 6:27 -- Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life [...].
(We must labour!)


Acts 14:22 -- Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
(We enter God's kingdom through much tribulation - that takes effort)


Matthew 18:1-3
1: At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2: And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3: And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(Note our effort: to become as little children.)


Hebrews 4:11 -- Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
(We must labor, lest we fall)


2 Peter 1:5-8
5: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;[...]
8: For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Diligence will keep us from being unfruitful -- the unfruitful are cast into the fire)


2 Peter 3:14 -- Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
(Note our effort: be diligent.)



Next section: Future Sins?