Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!caen!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!lll-winken!iggy.GW.Vitalink.COM!widener!dsinc!bagate!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: smith@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (James Roy Smith jr) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: One way to Heaven Message-ID: Date: 18 May 91 06:18:11 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Northwestern University Lines: 34 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article x7mx@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes: > why *exactly* is being a Christian >neccessary for salvation? As far as I can tell, the Bible is silent on >this. If anything, I can find references that state: > >follow Jesus ==> saved ... or something to that effect. > >I have not seen anything that explicitly states > >not follow Jesus (explicitly ie by name) ==> not saved > >My stand: I personally do not think it plausible that God would condemn >good-intentioned people who do not invoke Jesus' name (lower case "n" ie >the letters JESUS) but who follow his commandments nevertheless "Love one >another ... ". These are people who do not label themselves Christian. > >Chris Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Romans 10:9 "..if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." It is the good-intentioned people who try to follow his commandments that are trying to obtain salvation through works. Ephesians 2:8,9 says that it is by grace that we are saved, not works. Also, a person without Jesus still has sins that need payment. "For the wages of sin is death.." Romans 6:23. This is why Jesus is needed. He is the only means by which we may appear righteous before God. Hope this helps. Jim Smith30z smith@casbah.acns.nwu.edu Northwestern University