What must I do to be saved?

[Hamalas]

So what exactly is the bare minimum that someone must believe to be saved? I am coming more into contact with groups like the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions whose churches teach much false doctrine. But what about the individuals? I think most of us would say that there are individuals who are Christians even though they are in the apostate Catholic church, but how do we determine this? What key doctrines are absolutely non-negotiable? Please provide specific Scripture references if you can!

 

[Michael Doyle]

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

Sorry Ben, I couldnt resist, off to the repentance corner with me

 

[Hamalas]

That will be an extra 20 years in purgatory for you Michael.

 

[gene_mingo]

You need to be part of Gods elect.

 

[Theognome]

Romans 10:9-10 immediately comes to mind. The implications of the simple 'Jesus is Lord' and 'Believe upon the resurrection' are deep and wide. Nonetheless, I believe it to be the smallest distillation of the tenets of the Gospel.

Theognome

 

[Hamalas]

You need to be part of Gods elect.

True, but if I'm speaking with an Eastern Orthodox friend and am trying to determine if he is a Brother in Christ what questions do I need answers to? Obviously we will have many serious disagreements, but what exactly must he hold to to be saved?

 

[gene_mingo]

You need to be part of Gods elect.

True, but if I'm speaking with an Eastern Orthodox friend and am trying to determine if he is a Brother in Christ what questions do I need answers to? Obviously we will have many serious disagreements, but what exactly must he hold to to be saved?

I really think it is an unanswerable question. I don't think it is possible for us to know the plan of salvation by God for some one else. I think the only real distinction you might be able to make is if they would be considered "Christian" in their theology.

Sorry if this isn't a very helpful answer, I just don't think anyone can really answer the question, but God.

 

[Hamalas]

True. I guess I need to rephrase my question, because you're right, we can't determine if someone else is saved. So here is my revised question: "What must someone believe to be considered an orthodox Christian? What are the basic doctrine's one must adopt to be a member of the visible church?"

 

[gene_mingo]

True. I guess I need to rephrase my question, because you're right, we can't determine if someone else is saved. So here is my revised question: "What must someone believe to be considered an orthodox Christian? What are the basic doctrine's one must adopt to be a member of the visible church?"

I would start with the Nicene Creed. I think it is a good foundation for defining christianity.

 

[Michael Doyle]

The Apostles Creed is really the truly fundamental statement to that end as well.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell. [See Calvin]

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

 

[Herald]

So what exactly is the bare minimum that someone must believe to be saved?

I understand your reason for asking this question, but I reject it's premise.

Acts 16:30-31 30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

And what does this look like in the life of a professed believer?

Matthew 10:38-39 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 22:36-37 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

God requires all of us; the material and immaterial. There is no minimum. It's a fallacious argument. This is part of the gospel message. Belief will affect change in the whole man.

2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

 

[DonP]

I really think it is an unanswerable question. I don't think it is possible for us to know the plan of salvation by God for some one else. I think the only real distinction you might be able to make is if they would be considered "Christian" in their theology.

Sorry if this isn't a very helpful answer, I just don't think anyone can really answer the question, but God.

If this was true then how could we preach the gospel if we don't know what it is?

There are some facts that one must believe to be saved. They have to believe something.

And that much must be in the preaching. I do not think the entire content of the gospel needs to be in one message. A person may have to hear several messages before they hear and know what they must believe.

then of course there is the issue of credible profession. What must they know and believe for a session to admit them to membership.

Is this the same content or more or less?

Personally I love the Sum of Saving Knowledge made by the Westminister Assembly and was originally included in the Westminster standards books.

-----Added 3/30/2009 at 12:19:53 EST-----

True. I guess I need to rephrase my question, because you're right, we can't determine if someone else is saved. So here is my revised question: "What must someone believe to be considered an orthodox Christian? What are the basic doctrine's one must adopt to be a member of the visible church?"

I think both are valid questions but yes they are two separate questions. The real question is are they 2 separate answers?

-----Added 3/30/2009 at 12:29:59 EST-----

I think they are great questions and I think the church is not clear on them today.

Manyy say for sure the second is session controlled. ie they do not want to confessionally dictate what specifics one must believe and profess to be allowed membership and recognized as a member of the visible covenant believers.

And for some it is age dependent. They believe less is required to be believed if one is younger.

And I do not think that we have the whole story in scripture passages such as what must I do to be saved. ...

There was more told to the person that they had to know.

Also consider that to the JEw who had been in the covenant and had been educated quite a bit they were told by Peter to repent and believe.
Not much needed other than to repent of not accepting Jesus as the messiah.
And to believe He was.
They had been taught about God since children, seen the sacraments and types, and knew he law, that they were sinners etc.

Whereas for a Gentile with no background more explanation of God, His law etc. was needed. Like what Paul preached in Mars Hill.

So I do agree there is a lot of content to preaching the gospel it is not some short snippet as the evangelicals of today would have us think.

Receive Jesus, Pray this prayer, come forward and profess Christ as savior etc.

I think there is more one must know and believe.

Let see what others say.

 

[cih1355]

So what exactly is the bare minimum that someone must believe to be saved? I am coming more into contact with groups like the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions whose churches teach much false doctrine. But what about the individuals? I think most of us would say that there are individuals who are Christians even though they are in the apostate Catholic church, but how do we determine this? What key doctrines are absolutely non-negotiable? Please provide specific Scripture references if you can!

First of all, I would like to say that if there is a true Christian in the Roman Catholic Church, then he or she is not really a Roman Catholic. I don't see how someone can be considered a Roman Catholic if he or she rejects Roman Catholic teaching.

Acts 11:26 says that disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Disciples of whom? Jesus. Which Jesus? The Jesus of the Bible. Christians are disciples of the Jesus of the Bible. Are Mormons Christians? No, their Jesus is different than the Jesus of the Bible. Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christians? No, the Jesus they follow is not the Jesus of the Bible.

Isaiah 43:10-11 teaches that there is only one God and that there is no other savior besides God. Which God? The God of the Bible. If you believe in a god other than the God of the Bible, then you are not a Christian.

According to Acts 4:12, salvation is found only in the Jesus Christ. Which Jesus is Acts 4:12 talking about? The Jesus of the Bible. If you believe in a Jesus that is not the Jesus of the Bible, then you are not saved. You are not a Christian.

The doctrine of the Trinity is non-negotiable. If someone denies the Trinity, then he does not believe in the God of the Bible. He believes in some other god.

The doctrine of the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ is non-negotiable. God demands that there is punishment for sin. God cannot allow sin to go unpunished. If Jesus was not punished in the place of other people, then they would be punished in hell.

The doctrines of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and justification by faith alone are non-negotiable. If someone thinks that he can merit salvation, then he cannot be a Christian. If someone thinks that his faith, repentance, or obedience is the basis upon which he is justified, then he cannot be a Christian.

 

[DonP]

Do you think the thief on the cross understood the trinity?

Do you think Lydia understood the Trinity??

I didn't think it was even a clearly thought out doctrine to most until 300 years of people had been Christians, let alone thousands of years of believing Jews

Are you sure it is non-negotiable that one must believe in or understand the trinity to have saving faith?

Now we could require it to be a member of a church. But to be converted? Does its understanding and belief come with saving faith?

 

[Jon 316]

This is a tricky and complex question, and having worked in interdenominational contexts, one I have wrestled with for years.

I have come to the place that it is a question of regeneration. Is the person regenerate? Has the Holy Spirit made this person alive? This can obviously be hard to discern. Some argue that we cannot ultimately know. While this may be true to some extent. At the same time Jesus said 'you shall know them by their fruits'.

A conversation about 1) Their experience of God 2) Their scriptural beliefs 3) their conversion 4) Their walk with the Lord 5) Their attitude to scripture etc all need to be taken into account.

We should be able to discern the working of the Spirit in a person's words, testimony and life. This 'evidence' of the Spirit may be small. there me be very little truth, 'Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so' may be the height of their theology. It may exist in a mish mash of trash. Their lives may not 'line up' in many areas (think corinth!). But there will be something somwhere. There will be some testimony of Christ. There must be some sign of spiritual life. And perhaps most importantly their should be some desire to grow and increase in their walk with Jesus.

 

[A.J.]

I learned from a godly Reformed Baptist pastor that the irreducible minimum information a person should know and believe before he can be saved is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. These historical events are of "first importance" in the words of the Apostle Paul.

1 Cor. 15:3f. (ESV) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

The doctrine of justification is inseparable from the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 3-4; Gal. 3). So before a person can be justifed by faith before God, he must know what Christ's death and resurrection accomplished and entail. Paul assumes this in his epistle to the Galatians.

Gal. 2:16 (ESV) we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Therefore, before a person can be saved, he must know that the only basis of his acceptance before God is Christ's righteousness apart from his own righteousness. He must understand that his own merits or good works will never be able to add to the satisfaction of God's justice and wrath. This is where most Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox men and women fail. They believe in the death and resurrection of Christ, but reject the Bible's teaching on justification by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Of course, this does not mean perfect knowledge on the part of the sinner. He doesn't have to know exactly the terms used by theologians in explaining the Bible's doctrine of salvation at the moment of his conversion. But as mentioned, there is an irreducible minimum before one can truly respond to the call of the gospel. Sinners must understand the Bible's teaching on the relationship of Christ' death and resurrection to how they are declared righteous and pardoned in the sight of God.

This is where we see the power of the gospel. God brings sinners to a godly sorrow for their sins (2 Cor. 7:10) and grants them the gift of faith (Phil. 1;29 Eph. 2:8-10) upon hearing the message of the gospel, the death and resurrection of Christ.

Rom. 1:16f. (ESV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

 

[Michael Doyle]

I agree, this is a very complex question. I cannot pretend to know what bit of information the hearer must be exposed to before becoming saved. The thief on the cross again to present to us a minimal example of saving knowledge.

Paul says he preaches Christ crucified. This has always been my example and understanding of how much one must truly know. The rest is all of equal importance but not by way of coming to Christ.

 

[Herald]

I've yet to see one post in this thread that can justify (scripturally) a minimum amount of knowledge in order to be regenerated. There may be a minimum amount of knowledge that the church may require in order to acknowledge a credible profession of faith. The two are not necessarily the same thing.

The scripture is clear on the evidences a Christian should display in his life. Good works (Eph. 2:10), keep Christ's commandments (John 14:15), love the brethren (1 John 3:11). Ours is a whole salvation. It is not just WHAT we know, it is WHO we are; or more accurately, who we are made to be. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). We are to come out of idolatry; including apostate religious systems (2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 18:4). We are to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23,24).

I would call on a professed believer in an apostate religious system to come out and be separate. Would we accept the profession of a person who continues worshipping in the Mormon, Islamic or Jehovah's Witnesses tradition? Why then would we accept the profession of someone who remains in Roman Catholicism or dead orthodoxy? At the point of their profession I am now more concerned with their actions, not just their knowledge.

 

[Jimmy the Greek]

. . . I think most of us would say that there are individuals who are Christians even though they are in the apostate Catholic church, but how do we determine this? . . .

First, I would ask why we think we "must determine this"? There is surely a sense in which we cannot know the heart of an individual. We can condemn RCC teaching in certain areas, but we must be more careful regarding the individual.

Secondly, the facts of the gospel are common ground (between us and the RCC or EO) in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds. The issue therefore is "believing." While some may not allow a real distinction between believing and trusting, I think this is the issue in one way or another.

If I am trusting in more that Christ and Him alone, i.e. Christ plus something I have done or something the church has done for me, I am still in my sins. And that's how I would put it in gut level one-on-one conversation.

 

[Jon 316]

We need to remember that new birth is not a result of believing right stuff but that believing right stuff (primarily Jesus) follows new birth.

This conversation is begining to sound like if I believe x and y I can be saved. The reality is people can believe perfectly orthodox things yet still be unregenerate. This issue always comes down to regeneration by the Spirit.

 

[Mushroom]

So if we are not permitted to attempt a determination, how does a father go about deciding whether to allow a young man to court his daughter? If all other criteria are met in regards to character and ability to support a wife and family, and yet he is RC or EO, or even arminian baptist or charismatic, or PCUSA, do we have the right to ask pertinent questions to determine to the best of our ability where their faith lies?

I have my own position, but want to see what others' opinions are in the matter.

 

[Herald]

So if we are not permitted to attempt a determination, how does a father go about deciding whether to allow a young man to court his daughter? If all other criteria are met in regards to character and ability to support a wife and family, and yet he is RC or EO, or even arminian baptist or charismatic, or PCUSA, do we have the right to ask pertinent questions to determine to the best of our ability where their faith lies?

I have my own position, but want to see what others' opinions are in the matter.

Brad, do you see the evidence of faith in the life this young man? Is he still participating in idolatrous religious activity? Ask this question about any professed believer. We all fall short in our walk at times, but the Christian life is one of becoming more like Christ. Is that evident in the life a person held captive to another god?

 

[DonP]

I've yet to see one post in this thread that can justify (scripturally) a minimum amount of knowledge in order to be converted as an adult. .

Can someone believe nothing and be saved?

Then its that, that you disagree with this statement about.

But yes it is not the same as what one must know to have a credible profession to be admitted to the visible church.
We don't admit people to the invisible church or covenant of grace, we admit them to a fallible human covenant.

 

[Jimmy the Greek]

So if we are not permitted to attempt a determination, . . .

I did not intend to suggest "we are not permitted" to make judgments.

The OP asked for minimum content in terms of facts necessary for salvation, as if we can establish a short checklist to determine one's standing before God. My post and others suggest that this somewhat misses the real points at issue.

Peace.

 

[DonP]

. . . I think most of us would say that there are individuals who are Christians even though they are in the apostate Catholic church, but how do we determine this? . . .

First, I would ask why we think we "must determine this"? There is surely a sense in which we cannot know the heart of an individual. We can condemn RCC teaching in certain areas, but we must be more careful regarding the individual.

Right it is not even our job to determine if one is elect or even regenerated by the Spirit. ( Unless you are a baptist because they can only baptize true believers) (( Sorry))

Our job is only to determine if they have a credible profession that gives us reasonable evidence they may be and enough to allow them as members of the visible church. This is a fallible judgment by fallible humans.

It is not our job to keep unregenerates out of the visible covenant people, as long as they are living in a manner consistent with a credible profession. Israel was full of them, Jesus said to leave them in and He would sort them on the last day.

So keep these separate.
one is
1. Is there some specific knowledge one must believe to be converted by the hearing of the gospel.
2. What is that info, so we be sure to include it in our gospel preaching
3. is this required in an infant that is regenerated, ( again assuming God can regenerate an infant and does not have to wait until he is of reasonable age to regenerate him)

Second is
1. What must one know in order to have a credible profession to be admitted to membership in the visible church which is made up of regenerate and unconverted people, who maintain a credible profession.
2. What visible fruit or evidence in their outward life must they manifest and we see to admit them?
3. Is this age related?

I say the reformed churches, though close, are not united on part one or part 2.

Some ministers go a bit far thinking the keys to the kingdom are actually allowing them to determine who will be in heaven and is saved.

Whereas it really is the only the keys to the visible church kingdom, covenant. ie when they excommunicate and reinstate, obviously the minister did not turn the keys and unregenerate him then regenerate him later.

I know why it is easier to be an Arminian. They don't have to deal with the two parallel truths and keep them separate, Predestination and human responsibility. They only have human free will to consider.

 

[PresbyDane]

Belive in the Lord and be Baptised

 

[DonP]

Belive in the Lord and be Baptised

Which Lord?

Matt 24:24

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
KJV

1 John 4:1-3

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
NKJV

 

[PresbyDane]

Sorry:
The Lord Jesus Christ, son of Mary, also known as Jesus Bar Josef, also known as the carpenter from Nazereth, also known as Messiah and Emmanuel and the son of man and the begotten of the father.
The one who was a babe in a manger, fled to egypt grew up in Nazereth, was lost ones in Jerusalem as 12 years old.
Who was known to heal the sick, feed the hungry, wlak on water raise the dead.
The savior of our soul.

If you get more than one hit on google, ask me for more info

 

[toddpedlar]

As has already been pointed out, though, you can believe a whole lot of correct doctrine and be as damned as Satan. When one tries to pin down some small doctrinal confession (like, say, the Nicene Creed) as the "bare minimum that you have to believe to be saved", one often forgets the fact that you can believe all those things and much, much more and still be damned. Lots of people believe every article of the Nicene Creed that are hell-bound. The question is problematic, then, from the get-go.

 

[DonP]

OK so what if we focus just on the easy one.

What minimum must one know and profess to be recognized b the church as an adult to be granted membership and admission to the table.

Hows that?

BTW I think you need to know nothing to be regenerated. The Spirit gives you a new nature that can understand the scriptures and respond to them. This can occur in infancy or preganancy.

Though if not as a small child then it is usually through the means of the foolishness of preaching the whole counsel of God, but still a supernatural work of the Spirit, not as a result of the means, or any particular understanding in the hearer, but through them as a means, and bringing faith and conviction and sorrow for sin to the mind and will unto repentance.

So we may not know when we were regenerated because the fruit may show up gradually over time. The Bible never tells us to discern the time of our conversion but to check to be sure we are in the faith today, by looking for fruits of repentance and of the Spirit and obedience and ongoing ongrowing conformity to Christ and mortifying sin and the flesh.

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him,"How can these things be?"

10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? NKJV