Why take a chance?

[B-A-C]

I grew up as a daredevil. I didn't ever really have much fear (or enough sense).
I climbed cliffs, hang glided, I was a fireman for nearly ten years. I was in the military. I raced motorcycles, and
sometimes I drove my car way too fast. I climbed bill boards, dove off of dams, and even repelled across a canyon without
a safety line. For years I never wore a motorcycle helmet or a seatbelt. Now that I'm older (and a little wiser) and a lot more mortal, I wouldn't recommend that anyone ever try doing those things.

I've noticed here on TJ some people don't believe certain things are required for salvation. I've heard things like...
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian.
Being baptized doesn't save you.
Having the Holy Spirit doesn't save you. Laying on of hands isn't required.
Having a personal relationship with Jesus isn't required (I've even been told it isn't possible).
Following the commandments doesn't save you. (I've been told that loving others is THE law).
Confessing your sins isn't required.
Confessing Jesus before men with your mouth isn't required.

... and...maybe none of those things alone can save you.

But why take a chance? If Jesus told us to do all those things, why would you not want to do "ALL" of these things?
What does it hurt? The reasons for doing or not these things has been argued back and forth here on TJ
several times. and yet... I've never really heard a good reason for NOT doing these things.

 

[B-A-C]

A quote attributed to Billy Holliday says - Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than going to a garage makes you a car.
A quote attributed to David Wilkerson says - True, but the car that is frequently maintained in a good garage will live a lot longer.

Why wear a helmet? I'm not going to have an accident today.
Why wear a seatbelt? I'm not going to have an accident today.
Why put on the armour of God? I'm not going to fight Satan today... (good luck with that one).

Why take a chance?

 

[Grace]

Salvation only comes through faith in Jesus as our Savior. However, our obedience is the evidence of our salvation...

1. The only way to get to heaven is through Jesus because of His finished work on the cross. There is no-one else who can provide a way for us to get to heaven (John 5:39-40, 10:9, 14:6, Acts 4:12). Jesus loves us so much that He willingly was punished in our place, and then God raised Him from the dead. That's why our faith in Jesus' blood and His death on the cross (as our substitute) is the only way that God will allow us into heaven. No other religious leader ever died for your sins, and no other religion or spiritual belief can save you.
2. Salvation does not come through any good works or good deeds or good intentions or volunteering at church or any kind of penance. Salvation does not come through any righteousness of our own (we have no righteousness of our own). Salvation does not come through church membership or through growing up in a Christian family and attending church all your life. Salvation does not come through any other religions or spiritual beliefs. Salvation does not come through any religious ceremony such as baptism, confirmation, communion (also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist) or any other rite or ritual or ceremony. For the Scriptural evidence that we are saved through faith in Jesus alone and not through baptism or any other works.
3. Salvation comes to us only through the grace of God (the word "grace" means "unmerited or undeserved favor"). There is nothing we can do, and nothing we can offer God, that can make us deserving of salvation because it's the undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation (going to heaven) is a free gift! We simply have to choose to receive it!

 

[B-A-C]

Salvation only comes through faith in Jesus as our Savior. However, our obedience is the evidence of our salvation...

1. Salvation (going to heaven) is a free gift! We simply have to choose to receive it!

I'm not disputing any of that. But be that as it may... is there any reason not to do the things Jesus asked us to do?
I also would add, that doing good works doesn't get us into heaven, but doing bad sinful works can definitely keep us out.

 

[Grace]

I'm not disputing any of that. But be that as it may... is there any reason not to do the things Jesus asked us to do?
I also would add, that doing good works doesn't get us into heaven, but doing bad sinful works can definitely keep us out.

There in no reason that we should not do what you listed and more. I believe we have missed out on God's best by not observing and doing those you listed and more.
We accept on faith that we are now saved. Faith is not a feeling and it's not an emotion. Faith involves doing something. After receiving salvation, we should now do the things that Jesus wants us to do.
He says that we must live our faith, we must put our faith into action. Actions speak louder than words, and our actions demonstrate what's in our hearts. If we have been calling ourselves Christians but we have been living self-centered lives, then we would be wise to take these words from James 2 as a wake-up call and begin living Christ-centered lives instead. When we get to heaven there will be no more opportunities for rationalizations, excuses, or self-deception, so let's be brutally honest with ourselves while we still have time to change the way we're living our lives. If our daily lives revolve around our own needs and desires or our family's needs and desires rather than focusing on God's desires then our priorities are misplaced. This is one reason why it's important to read the Bible every day, because we need to get to know our Savior and understand what He has commanded us to do.

 

[Hekuran]

Just for the record @B-A-C - Billy Sunday, preacher, not Billie Holiday jazz singer...
But on everything else you are right on the money.

• We obey Jesus commandments because we call him Lord. If we do not do as he commands, we cannot call him Lord
• We obey Jesus' commandments as an expression of our love for him.
• We obey Jesus commandments because we know that he is good, and that his commandments are good for us.

 

[B-A-C]

Just for the record @B-A-C - Billy Sunday, preacher, not Billie Holiday jazz singer...
But on everything else you are right on the money.

• We obey Jesus commandments because we call him Lord. If we do not do as he commands, we cannot call him Lord
• We obey Jesus' commandments as an expression of our love for him.
• We obey Jesus commandments because we know that he is good, and that his commandments are good for us.

Well at least I got a letter in the name right

 

[Dovegiven]

I'm not disputing any of that. But be that as it may... is there any reason not to do the things Jesus asked us to do?
I also would add, that doing good works doesn't get us into heaven, but doing bad sinful works can definitely keep us out.

No reason at all.
Those sins we don't repent of certainly present problems in our relationship with God. Suffering consequences of sin in this life could be part of the "pressure relief valve" as I like to thin it, that works through repentance, which doesn't guarantee we won't pay the penalty of sins. All of us die in the flesh regardless, as all of us have sinned and fallen short of his glory. Thank God for accepting our repentance and his promised forgiveness. So it is that neither our good works get us to heaven, nor do our repented evil works send us to hell. Continued faith in the shed blood of Jesus, all our days pleases God, not what our flesh persons do or don't do.
Oh what a marvelous salvation!

 

[B-A-C]

Those sins we don't repent of certainly present problems in our relationship with God. Suffering consequences of sin in this life could be part of the "pressure relief valve" as I like to thin it, that works through repentance, which doesn't guarantee we won't pay the penalty of sins. All of us die in the flesh regardless, as all of us have sinned and fallen short of his glory. Thank God for accepting our repentance and his promised forgiveness. So it is that neither our good works get us to heaven, nor do our repented evil works send us to hell. Continued faith in the shed blood of Jesus, all our days pleases God, not what our flesh persons do or don't do. Oh what a marvelous salvation!

I think the key here is "repented" evil works.

 

[Dovegiven]

I grew up as a daredevil. I didn't ever really have much fear (or enough sense).
I climbed cliffs, hang glided, I was a fireman for nearly ten years. I was in the military. I raced motorcycles, and
sometimes I drove my car way too fast. I climbed bill boards, dove off of dams, and even repelled across a canyon without
a safety line. For years I never wore a motorcycle helmet or a seatbelt. Now that I'm older (and a little wiser) and a lot more mortal, I wouldn't recommend that anyone ever try doing those things.

I've noticed here on TJ some people don't believe certain things are required for salvation. I've heard things like...
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian.
Being baptized doesn't save you.
Having the Holy Spirit doesn't save you. Laying on of hands isn't required.
Having a personal relationship with Jesus isn't required (I've even been told it isn't possible).
Following the commandments doesn't save you. (I've been told that loving others is THE law).
Confessing your sins isn't required.
Confessing Jesus before men with your mouth isn't required.

... and...maybe none of those things alone can save you.

But why take a chance? If Jesus told us to do all those things, why would you not want to do "ALL" of these things?
What does it hurt? The reasons for doing or not these things has been argued back and forth here on TJ
several times. and yet... I've never really heard a good reason for NOT doing these things.

The way I read the gospel of Christ, really noting is left up to chance for us. It is faith 0% or 100% with God. If 100% faith, then we'll delight to learn about then do to the best of our "understanding" what the Lord wants of us. I love reading what the apostles succeeded at as well as failed at. I have copied Peter, good and bad, in my own life, finding comfort in the patience of Jesus.

 

[B-A-C]

The way I read the gospel of Christ, really noting is left up to chance for us. It is faith 0% or 100% with God. If 100% faith, then we'll delight to learn about then do to the best of our "understanding" what the Lord wants of us. I love reading what the spostles succeeded at as well as failed at. I have copied Peter, good and bad, in my own life, finding comfort in the patience of Jesus.

We will just have to respectfully disagree on this. ...and that's OK.
I don't believe God gets nearly as much glory and satisfaction from making us do the right thing
and watching us grow in him and choosing to do the right thing. In the end it is up to us.

 

[Dovegiven]

I'll re-read yours tomorrow and consider reconsidering my statement. Maybe it was not dealing with your comment. I do appreciate your blessed attitude of peace making.