Chapter 25
Salvation

The nature and requirements for salvation have been a major part of Christianity since day one (or year sixty-something if you’re reading the Gospels.) Preachers bring up this issue endlessly, so it must be important to their religions. The main problem the faithful face is that, even if heaven exists, how does one get there, and what will it be like? We haven’t had a lot of first-hand feedback on this. What does the Bible say? Well, there seem to be a number of ways to gain salvation. Pick one, but be careful — this ends up in a Reformation/Counter-Reformation argument, and we don’t want that again, do we?

Animal Substitutes

25.1 Salvation could be had by movng one’s iniquities into animals.

"And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness." Lev 16:21,22

Human Sacrifice

25.2 Killing another human being by torture would clean our souls.

"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." 1Jn 1:7

Faith

25.3 Sometimes salvation would be by faith alone, but sometimes it would be by faith in combination with other things.

"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." Jn 3:16

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Jn 3:18

"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." Jn 3:36

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Jn 6:28,29

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." Jn 6:47

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Jn 8:24

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jn 14:6

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mk 16:16

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39

"And brought them out, 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

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1Cor 3:11

"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1Jn 5:12

"Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." Gal 3:11

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2Tim 3:15

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb 11:6

"For by grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Eph 2:8

Good Works

25.4 On the other hand, the Bible said that salvation comes through good works-it’s how you live your life, not what you believe. Some say that faith without good works is useless These passages came both before and after the crucifixion.

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." Gen 4:7

"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Mic 6:8

"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" Deut 10:12,13

"…Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecc 12:13

"…Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments…" Mt 19:16

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother." Mk 10:17

"…Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." Lk 18:18

"Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work." Ps 62:12

"…Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham." Lk 19:8

"A Psalm of David. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour." Ps 15:1-3

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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." Jn 5:28,29

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" Jas 2:21

"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" Jas 2:25

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" Mt 7:24

"Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD." Ezek 18:4-9

"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." Mt 16:27

"Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." Lk 10:25

"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." 2Cor 5:10

"1Cor 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God."

"But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:35

"…give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" 2Pet 1:10

"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" Rom. 2:5,6

"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Rom. 2:13

"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." Mt 7:21

"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." Mt 10:42

"But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Lk 14:13

"…There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." Lk 18:29,30

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Jas 1:27

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?…Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone…But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?…Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." Jas 2:14,17,20,24-27

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works…and they were judged every man according to their works." Rev 20:12,13

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be…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." Rev. 22:12,14

Grace

25.5 Although many of the faithful hold that salvation is gained by faith and good works as shown above, the Bible also says that grace is required.

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." Jn 6:44

"But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." 1Cor 12:18

"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." Rom 9:16

"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." Jn 3:27

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" Titus 3:5

"I, [God], am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Isa 43:25

"But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." Acts 15:11

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Rom 3:24"

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6:23

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Rom 11:5,6

"For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell." Ps 86:13

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" Eph 2:5

"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." Eph 2:8,9

25.6 In general, we’re faced with grace earned by faith or good works, but the Bible also says God doesn’t care who or what you are.

"For there is no respect of persons with God." Rom 2:11

"…your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him." Eph 6:9

Predestination vs. Free Will

25.7 Does God knows everything that’s going to happen? If so, he must know who is going to be saved and who is going to be damned. If God runs everyone’s life, then unless God takes a hand to change the destiny of the damned, they suffer eternal torment. But if God intercedes to save them, he falsifies his own foreknowledge. Predestination is, therefore, logically self-contradictory. Besides, a deity that won’t save us from eternal torment, if he could, isn’t worthy of worship, much less love.
The alternative is to believe that mankind has a free will. Without free will, there is no moral responsibility, no justification for punishment, no reason for a future judgment day, and no need for a clergy. But the existence of free will implies that either God either doesn’t know the future (not omniscient), doesn’t run your daily life (not omnipotent), or is just plain cruel. The Christian argument between free will and determinism is an old one. If you don’t believe me, invite a Catholic and a Calvinist to your next Bible-study session.

25.8 Unfortunately, the logical argument for free will and against predestination is undermined by the Bible itself. Predestination is critical to the concepts of salvation, damnation, faith, atonement, evil, the crucifixion, etc.

"…it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people." 1Sam 12:22

"Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;" Job 14:5

"For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him." Job 23:14

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jer 1:5

"…God in whose hand thy breath is…" Dan 5:23

"And the king shall do according to his will…for that that is determined shall be done." Dan 11:36

"A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." Prov 16:9

"The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Prov 16:33

"There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand." Prov 19:21

"Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?" Prov 20:24

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Ps 37:23

"For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell." Ps 86:13

"…and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Ps 139:16

"…to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." Mt 20:23

"…Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" Mt 25:34

"…your names are written in heaven." Lk 10:20

"And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined…" Lk 22:22

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…" Jn 6:44

"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God…" Acts 2:23

"…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47

"For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." Acts 4:28

"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." Acts 13:48

"And…[God] hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;" Acts 17:26

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Rom 8:29

"Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." Rom 9:18

"…which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" 1Cor 2:7

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," Eph 1:4,5

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" Eph 1:11

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph 2:10

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," 1Thes 5:9

"But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk…" 1Cor 7:17

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 2Tim 1:9

"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," 1Pet 1:20

"And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." 1Pet 2:8

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation…" Jude 1:4

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev 13:8

"…and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world…" Rev 17:8

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev 20:15

25.9 The concept of God’s elect-chosen by God for salvation-also implies determinism and lack of free will, at least for some.

"Behold…mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth…" Isa 42:1

"…and Israel mine elect…" Isa 45:4

"…and mine elect shall inherit it…" Isa 65:9

"…mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa 65:22

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. …they shall deceive the very elect." Mt 24:22, 24

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds…" Mt 24:31

"And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. …even the elect." Mk 13:20, 22

"And shall not God avenge his own elect…" Lk 18:7

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect…" Rom 8:33

"…Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded" Rom 11:7

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God…" Col 3:12

"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." 1Thes 1:4

"…I endure all things for the elect’s sakes…" 2Tim 2:10

25.10 The concept of the called (those selected above others) also implies determinism, not free will.

"For the promise is unto you…even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:39

"Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:" Rom 1:6

"But unto them which are called…For ye see your calling, brethren…not many noble, are called:" 1Cor 1:24, 26

"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. …Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." 1Cor 7:20, 24

"But when it pleased God…and called me by his grace," Gal 1:15

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." 1Thes 2:12

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," 2Tim 1:9

"…they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Heb 9:15

"…knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." 1Pet 3:9

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory…" 1Pet 5:10

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…" 2Pet 1:10

25.11 And, again, the concept of "the chosen" (those special ones chosen by God) implies determinism, not free will.

"The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you…" Deut 7:7

"Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them…" Deut 10:15

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." Ps 33:12

"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest…" Ps 65:4

"For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure." Ps 135:4

"…for many be called, but few chosen." Mt 20:16: 22:14

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…" Jn 15:16

"…because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world…" Jn 15:19

"Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God…" Acts 10:41

"…The God of our fathers hath chosen thee…" Acts 22:14

"…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation…" 2Thes 2:13

"…according to the faith of God’s elect…" Tit 1:1

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ…Elect according to the foreknowledge of God…" 1Pet 1:1,2

25.12 Once again, the concept of "the given" (those special ones singled out by God to be given to Jesus Christ for salvation) implies determinism, not free will.

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Jn 6:37

"…I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." Jn 6:65

"As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." Jn 17:2

"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me…" Jn 17:6

"…I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me …" Jn 17:9

"…keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." Jn 17:11

"…those that thou gavest me I have kept" Jn 17:12

"…I will that they also, whom thou hast given me …" Jn 17:24

Universalism

25.13 Of course, if predestination and free will aren’t enough of a contradiction to deal with, one can also hold that everyone is going to be saved anyway. The Bible does.

"…All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men…" Mk 3:28

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Jn 1:9

"…the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Jn 1:29

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Jn 12:32

"For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all." Rom 11:32

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1Cor 15:22

"Who will have all men to be saved…" 1Tim 2:4

"the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." 1Tim 4:10

"he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Heb 2:9

"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1Jn 2:2

Annihilationism

25.14 Then again, reading the Bible could lead one to conclude that no one is going anywhere after death.

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." Ecc 9:5

"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Ecc 3:19-21

Heaven

This is the Bible-believer’s goal, entering Heaven. Jesus Christ is just a means to that end, and his job on earth was to help ferry the souls of humans to heaven. It is reasonable to ask what the Bible says about this ultimate goal, the whole purpose of worship and Bible-based religions.

25.15 If Heaven is so perfect, why was there war there? Could it happen again? What other ugliness goes on there? Is this a good place to spend eternity? What happens to the idea of resting in peace?

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Mt 11:12

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," Rev 12:7

"And the armies which were in heaven followed him…" Rev 19:14

According to the parable of the vineyard laborers ("the last shall be first…") heaven is as unfair as the man who paid all laborers the same daily wage no matter how long they worked. If you can screw your laborers, it’s okay because they agreed to it before knowing what the deal was really going to be. Mt 20:1-16

25.16 Even if we get to Heaven, what can we expect? One assumes that a loving God would remove all of our infirmities and re-build the shattered bodies of those who were blown up, crushed, eaten, diseased, and burned. On the other hand, what happens to our tattoos, implants, face lifts, nose jobs, hair transplants, liposuctions, and wart removals? If we considered our earthly bodies imperfect, would God then retroactively make us less perfect in our own eyes by removing the improvements? If God makes us all beautiful, who’s standard of beauty will He use?