Beyond being saved, what must christians really do?

[farout]

What does the Bible expect a Christian to do as proof they are saved? Is there anything that if I did not do, beyond believing in Jesus, I would not go to heaven?

 

[B-A-C]

Ha... talk about opening a can of worms. You will likely get many different answers.
Some say believing in Jesus is enough.
Some say you have to die to yourself and live as righteously as possible.
Some say you have to get baptized.
Some say you may go to heaven just by believing, but you won't get any additional rewards.
(As a side note, some don't believe everyone goes to heaven, but they receive eternal life).
Some say you don't even have to believe in Jesus, you are saved even if you don't.
Some say faith without works is dead, you aren't saved by works, but if you aren't doing them after you are saved, you aren't really saved.
Some say you have to persevere, overcome, run the race, discipline yourself, and do the deeds God prepared for you before hand.
Some say you have to keep the commandments.

Jesus told us to do a lot of things.
He told us to go forth preaching unto all the nations. He told us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
He told us trees that don't bear fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
He said that some people, even though they think they are following him, prove that they aren't by their actions (even though they profess to believe in Him).
He told us to keep the commandments.
He told us to love one another.

Do we have to do everything God/Jesus told us to get to heaven?
Is that really all you want, is just to get to heaven? Do you want additional rewards?
Do you want to be more honored in the kingdom?
Some believe our salvation is entirely in God's hands and we have no say over it.
Some believe salvation is entirely in our hands, our choices and decisions.
Many believe it is a combination of both of the above.

 

[Brad Huber]

Serve the Lord and obey Him, with gladness and sincerity.

 

[faithfulservant]

A Christian can become saved and do very little in the way of maturing or works for Jesus, and still be saved. The problem is our faith is likened to a plant, and plants must grow to become strong and have staying power. So to come to a saving knowledge of Christ and not grow and become mature is kind of silly, as it puts you in a very weak position spiritually in a world that wants to choke your faith out with weeds or has storms that will pelt your little sprout until it dies.

 

[RJ]

What does the Bible expect a Christian to do as proof they are saved? Is there anything that if I did not do, beyond believing in Jesus, I would not go to heaven?

That is of course a rhetorical question because a Christian with Christ in them is doing something...Christ's works through you.
It is not fare or we can't be judge of that, in fact we are called not to judge, the proof is from God and probably has everything to do with your own separate spiritual gifts and what he has planned for you.
I see an issue here on T.J. regarding this. Some have to and, they swear by it, they have to do,do, do to show proof that they are truly saved. The problem here is their own works to satisfy his proof.

God has given each of us our own measure of faith and spiritual gifts...we all can't be evangelists, preachers, leaders, etc. . Just be patient, move at God's timing and be attentive, he will surely give you things to do.
This might start as simple as doing something small but positive in Jesus name. You don't have to go public,probably better not but just think, I do this in Jesus name or I do this for you Jesus and do it; may be as simple as a smile to a stranger, opening a door. Accentuate all positive things in your life and rebuke the negatives as, not of God! Start your day with, I will be positive and I will do everything in Jesus name. Be consistent and God will give you things to do what he needs done.

As far as I am concerned, your question is a mute point because , in Christ, you will be doing something, otherwise, it would be an oxymoron! When you do anything in Christ, don't let some one else judge you that it is not the correct thing or enough, let God be the judge of that..... Romans 8:1.

 

[DHC]

Ephesians 3:16-19
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend
with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

1 Timothy 1:5
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

 

[Christ4Ever]

The operative words in the title and text of your post are "must" and “proof”.

I'll leave it for others to define what our Lord meant when He told this parable: Matthew 25:21” His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

YBIC
C4E

If you're looking for proof, then when we have the ability to see into the heart of a person, it will be then that the proof can be shown. Until then it will be purely speculation on our own parts. My part is to love them regardless of their eventual destination.
Love you brother.

 

[Born Again 2004]

What does the Bible expect a Christian to do as proof they are saved? Is there anything that if I did not do, beyond believing in Jesus, I would not go to heaven?

There is nothing to do, you believe and are saved; you don't and your not! It is pretty simple. When you die, God looks for Jesus in you, if not, then you do not enter His kingdom!
You believe in Jesus or you don't!

 

[B-A-C]

James 2:19; You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

 

[Born Again 2004]

James 2:19; You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

So, your point is?

 

[B-A-C]

So, your point is?

You say, all you have to do is believe, but even the demons believe. So are they saved?

James 2:24; You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

 

[Born Again 2004]

You say, all you have to do is believe, but even the demons believe. So are they saved?

James 2:24; You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

That is a bit ridiculous, don't you think?They believe He is who He says He is; not that He is their personal Savior...now, you knew that, so , again, what is your point in all this? I thought you were a "Born Again" Christian , are you not?

 

[Born Again 2004]

That is a bit ridiculous, don't you think?They believe He is who He says He is; not that He is their personal Savior...now, you knew that, so , again, what is your point in all this? I thought you were a "Born Again" Christian , are you not?

You keep repeating yourself over the years with that same James verse. We all know that he is referring to the works of the Holy Spirit in you, don't we?

 

[Downunder]

What does the Bible expect a Christian to do as proof they are saved? Is there anything that if I did not do, beyond believing in Jesus, I would not go to heaven?

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto *Peter and the rest of the apostles, [Men] Brethren, what shall we do?
2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto remission of your *sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2:39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.

Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
10:32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’
10:33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
10:45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
10:46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
10:47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

 

[Downunder]

What does the Bible expect a Christian to do as proof they are saved? Is there anything that if I did not do, beyond believing in Jesus, I would not go to heaven?

Romans 8:9 But YE are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that God’s Spirit dwelleth in you. But if any hath not Christ’s Spirit he is none of his.
8:10 And if Christ is in you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.
8:13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the doings of the body, ye shall live.
8:14 For as many as are led by God’s Spirit, these are God’s sons.

 

[Downunder]

What does the Bible expect a Christian to do as proof they are saved? Is there anything that if I did not do, beyond believing in Jesus, I would not go to heaven?

Galatians 5:18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, divisions, heresies,
5:21 envyings, drunkennesses, revellings, and the like of these; of which I forewarn you, as also I did forewarn, that they who practise such things shall not inherit God’s kingdom.
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness
5:23 gentleness, self control; against such there is no law.
5:24 And they of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts.
5:25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
5:26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

[B-A-C]

You keep repeating yourself over the years with that same James verse. We all know that he is referring to the works of the Holy Spirit in you, don't we?

Perhaps, but the example he gives here actually involves doing something yourself.

Jas 2:15; If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
Jas 2:16; and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Jas 2:17; Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Matt 25:41; "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
Matt 25:42; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
Matt 25:43; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
Matt 25:44; "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
Matt 25:45; "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
Matt 25:46; "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 

[Born Again 2004]

@B-A-C ,after all these years ,I never though I would say this but ,you just don't get it, don't want to or your in denial!

These are works by the Holy Spirit; God says that works from what you do is like " filthy rags"!

The Holy Spirit, you do believe in the Holy Spirit, don't you?
The Holy Spirit is real!
Outside you your works are an affront to God.
With the Holy Spirit in you God accepts YOUR works as good and from Him.
It can be a difficult concept, but not for a person who is Born Again, born of the Holy Spirit.

When you truly believe and are "Born Again" , God inserts the Holy Spirit in you.

All these verse you use to prove Man's Works, are believers with the Holy Spirit in them!!

James always talks like this and he is referring to believers.

 

[B-A-C]

When you truly believe and are "Born Again" , God inserts the Holy Spirit in you.

All these verse you use to prove Man's Works, are believers with the Holy Spirit in them!!

OK, they have the Holy Spirit in them... what does that have to do with anything being spoke of here?
The Holy Spirit empowers us to do things, yes. But whether the Holy Spirit is causing us to do these things, or whether we are doing them on our own,
either way, you better be doing them.

The Holy Spirit doesn't force us to to be obedient to God. That's our choice and our decision.
We have the power to resist the Holy Spirit.

Acts 7:51; “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.

also, just because you had the Holy Spirit in you at some point, doesn't mean you can't turn away.

Heb 6:4; For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5; and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Heb 6:6; and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Heb 6:7; For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;
Heb 6:8; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, we can do nothing without Him. But even with Him, some trees just grow thorns and thistles. They will be burned up.

Luke 13:6; And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
Luke 13:7; And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’
Luke 13:8; But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;
Luke 13:9; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Even though Jesus is the water of Life, some trees refuse to bear fruit, even with Jesus watering them and fertilizing them.

 

[Born Again 2004]

@B-A-C ,after all these years ,I never though I would say this but ,you just don't get it, don't want to or your in denial!

These are works by the Holy Spirit; God says that works from what you do is like " filthy rags"!

The Holy Spirit, you do believe in the Holy Spirit, don't you?
The Holy Spirit is real!
Outside you your works are an affront to God.
With the Holy Spirit in you God accepts YOUR works as good and from Him.
It can be a difficult concept, but not for a person who is Born Again, born of the Holy Spirit.

When you truly believe and are "Born Again" , God inserts the Holy Spirit in you.

All these verse you use to prove Man's Works, are believers with the Holy Spirit in them!!

James always talks like this and he is referring to believers.

OK, they have the Holy Spirit in them... what does that have to do with anything being spoke of here?
The Holy Spirit empowers us to do things, yes. But whether the Holy Spirit is causing us to do these things, or whether we are doing them on our own,
either way, you better be doing them.

The Holy Spirit doesn't force us to to be obedient to God. That's our choice and our decision.
We have the power to resist the Holy Spirit.

Acts 7:51; “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.

also, just because you had the Holy Spirit in you at some point, doesn't mean you can't turn away.

Heb 6:4; For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5; and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Heb 6:6; and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Heb 6:7; For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;
Heb 6:8; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, we can do nothing without Him. But even with Him, some trees just grow thorns and thistles. They will be burned up.

Luke 13:6; And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
Luke 13:7; And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’
Luke 13:8; But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;
Luke 13:9; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Even though Jesus is the water of Life, some trees refuse to bear fruit, even with Jesus watering them and fertilizing them.

God bye sorry to say, but I will not reply directly to you again. If I am in a conversation with someone else and you chime in with your garage , I will reframe from replying to you..We have been at this for years , I give up..
With all due respect, good bye!