I just learned a bit more today, again!! I always recommended that new people [UN-believers] first read the books of John, and then Romans, to get a good basis/ idea about salvation and the Gospel. Just like... the first thing they told us when getting off the big jet in Vietnam, was.... "Don't bunch up!!" Because the VC--enemy wants to hurl a mortar or rocket round right in the center of us, killing as many as possible with one swift blow, at Bien Hoa Air Base, RVN, in early '68. Duh.... Happy Days, are here again! 2:41 Buffalo Springfield - Stop Children What's That Soundysndkn1,150,533 views
28:40 Vietnam War Helicopter Door Gunners: "Shotgun Rider" circa 1967 US Army UH-1 Huey 29minJeff QuitneyYes, my wife and I keep the house and yard in good repair [Terri does all the work -- I am too disabled at this point....shoot!], but I supply the money, most of it, anyway, with my Chrysler pension, etc. Praise the Lord! I am just saying that we continue to live, work, play, and struggle with all the taxes and bills that we make -- and life goes on. BUT, everything the Bible tells us is true, or will be true! So we start every day with that premise. Hey! I am not looking for any WW-3 or nuclear fall out, but if it comes, ALL MY FAITH AND TRUST IS IN THE LORD, JESUS CHRIST ! It's the 'only game in town...' And just think, the KJV Bible warns that one third of the world will be killed off from war [and we think pretty soon], but why worry? All our 'Prepping' is not going to help much if that stuff drifts our way....Ha!
I have 'Prepped' [and tried to undo all the past damage, with false religion, and living the wrong way...] -- all 3 of my children [AFTER I FINALLY FOUND THE LORD, IN EARLY 1995, for real, even though I had studied the Bible for the past 40 years, getting sucked into various false fake so-called "Christian churches/ religions." JW'S , ETC.]. So please don't think that you are tucked in and secure, just because you were 'raised a certain way, or been a 'church member for a long time !!' Test yourself! This day's Blog post is a good one!! Read it -- Share it !
I also think that, IF, something happens to me soon or what ever, WHAT KIND OF LEGACY will I leave behind for my 2 kids, and others? I am into 'Saving Souls' and only wonder how many I have helped. I only know that I WANT TO HELP as many as possible, only to show my extreme gratitude for Salvation from my Lord and Master, Jesus. I am your humble Soldier, Lord.
Warm Regards,
Tommy Schuckman
Monday, September 2, 2013
What Must We Do to Have Eternal Life?
By Dr. Christopher Cone Tyndale Theological Seminary 
In the third installment of the Indiana Jones franchise (spoiler alert), the guardian of the “holy grail” warned Jones to “choose wisely, as the real grail brings eternal life, the false grail brings death.” Jones proves his wise choice by not disintegrating into a pile of dust (unlike the villain, who chose most poorly). We cheered for Jones and his father, who presumably both gained eternal life. But is eternal life really that simple—just find the right cup and drink from it? Actually, in real life it's much simpler for us (though, of course, we can’t overstate the amazing effort of God in achieving our salvation—just take a look at Ephesians 1 to get a glimpse of the amazing work He accomplished on our behalf).
But we must be careful to distinguish between descriptive passages—which simply tell us what happened at a moment in history, and prescriptive passages—which tell their audience what must be done. John’s Gospel is descriptive, yet with a prescriptive purpose:
John uses the term believe (Gr., πιστεύω) 98 times in his Gospel, and 41 of those times he includes the object:
In short, believing in Him requires understanding something of who He is and what He did. On this point we must exercise extreme caution. It is tempting to quantify exactly what knowledge of Him is necessary, but in the many Biblical accounts of the gospel being presented and accepted, there is not a uniform set of facts presented (one of the many evidences against lordship salvation). Not every piece of data regarding His identity, for example, is in view every time. I would suggest Paul provides us (in 1 Cor 15) with a very useful model, but a little more or less here and there—as we see in other instances—does not invalidate the presentation.
Finally, we should recognize that the moment of belief is just the beginning. While our position is irrevocably determined at that point (we have eternal life, Jn 6:47), our practice has only just begun. After believing in Him, we might read Ephesians 1-3. These chapters help us understand the incredible things God has done for us, and what our new position in Christ really means (including how He saves us from the wrath of God).
Once we understand our new position in Christ, Ephesians 4-6 help us understand how God expects us to live and grow. Ephesians 4:1 exhorts us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called…”
Next, we can read Romans 1-11. These chapters explain in more detail our new position in Christ. Romans 12:1-2 exhorts us to “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.”
Belief in Him, by His grace (Eph 2:8-10), gives us a new relationship with Him. But we don’t stop at being reborn—we want to know Him better, walk with Him, and glorify Him. Jesus explains that the purpose of eternal life is that we might know Him (Jn 17:3).
Let’s not complicate how the relationship gets started, and let’s not neglect how the relationship grows. The moment of belief is the start of a new life. In light of His great mercies toward us, how will we respond?
John's Prescription
John’s Gospel is the only book of the Bible specifically addressing non-believers for the purpose of telling them how to gain eternal life (Jn 20:30-31). Other books offer brief descriptions of how people were justified (declared righteous) in God’s sight. Genesis 15:6 describes how Abraham believed in God and it was reckoned to Him as righteous; Jonah’s prophecy offers the unbelieving Ninevites a stay of judgment pending repentance; Acts 16:31 records Paul’s and Silas’s response to the jailer who wished to be saved; and there are many, many other descriptive passages.But we must be careful to distinguish between descriptive passages—which simply tell us what happened at a moment in history, and prescriptive passages—which tell their audience what must be done. John’s Gospel is descriptive, yet with a prescriptive purpose:
"these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31).John makes it clear to his readers that if they simply believe, they would have life in His name. But believe what exactly? John's Gospel is clear about that too.
John uses the term believe (Gr., πιστεύω) 98 times in his Gospel, and 41 of those times he includes the object:
- 1:12—believe in His name
- 2:11—believed in Him
- 2:23—believed in Him
- 3:16—believes in Him
- 3:18a—believes in Him
- 3:18b—believes in the name of the only begotten Son of God
- 3:36—believes in the Son
- 4:39—believed in Him
- 6:29—believe in Him
- 6:35—believes in Me
- 6:40—believes in Him
- 7:5—believing in Him
- 7:31—believed in Him
- 7:38—believes in Me
- 7:39—believed in Him
- 7:48—believed in Him
- 8:24—believe that I am He
- 8:30—believe in Him
- 8:31–believed Him
- 9:35—believe in the Son of Man
- 9:36—believe in Him
- 10:38—you do not believe Me, believe the works…
- 10:42—believed in Him
- 11:25—believes in Me
- 11:45—believed in Him
- 11:48—believe in Him
- 12:11—believing in Jesus
- 12:36—believe in the Light [John called Jesus the Light in Jn 1:9]
- 12:37—not believing in Him
- 12:42—believed in Him
- 12:44—believes in Me
- 12:46—believes in Me
- 14:1—believe in God , believe even in Me
- 14:10—believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me
- 14:11—believe Me
- 14:12—believes in Me
- 16:9—they do not believe in Me
- 17:20—believe in Me
- 17:21—believe that You sent Me
- 20:31—believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
"the believing one in Him will not perish but has eternal life.”John 3:36a adds,
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life…”These passages and the tremendous weight of evidence they represent help us to understand that eternal life does not come by works, nor by intellectual belief of some general facts, but rather by belief in Him. He is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe in Him, and we have eternal life. John's Gospel is just that simple. To help us understand what information we need to know in order to believe in Him, Paul describes the good news in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 as including information about the person of Jesus (that He is the Christ—the God/man Messiah described in the Hebrew prophets) and His work (died to pay for sin, was buried in proof of His death, rose again in proof of His qualification, and appeared to many).
In short, believing in Him requires understanding something of who He is and what He did. On this point we must exercise extreme caution. It is tempting to quantify exactly what knowledge of Him is necessary, but in the many Biblical accounts of the gospel being presented and accepted, there is not a uniform set of facts presented (one of the many evidences against lordship salvation). Not every piece of data regarding His identity, for example, is in view every time. I would suggest Paul provides us (in 1 Cor 15) with a very useful model, but a little more or less here and there—as we see in other instances—does not invalidate the presentation.
Finally, we should recognize that the moment of belief is just the beginning. While our position is irrevocably determined at that point (we have eternal life, Jn 6:47), our practice has only just begun. After believing in Him, we might read Ephesians 1-3. These chapters help us understand the incredible things God has done for us, and what our new position in Christ really means (including how He saves us from the wrath of God).
Once we understand our new position in Christ, Ephesians 4-6 help us understand how God expects us to live and grow. Ephesians 4:1 exhorts us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called…”
Next, we can read Romans 1-11. These chapters explain in more detail our new position in Christ. Romans 12:1-2 exhorts us to “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.”
Belief in Him, by His grace (Eph 2:8-10), gives us a new relationship with Him. But we don’t stop at being reborn—we want to know Him better, walk with Him, and glorify Him. Jesus explains that the purpose of eternal life is that we might know Him (Jn 17:3).
Let’s not complicate how the relationship gets started, and let’s not neglect how the relationship grows. The moment of belief is the start of a new life. In light of His great mercies toward us, how will we respond?
Related Links
- The Three Tenses of Salvation • BPB (Andy Woods)
- What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation? • BPB (Andy Woods)
- Can Tribulation Saints Lose Their Salvation? • BPB (Tony Garland)
- How Complicated is Salvation? • BPB (Andy Woods)
- Does Repentance Precede Faith? • BPB (Andy Woods)
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