How Much Is Required To Be Saved?

I recognize I am opening a theological issue that brilliant scholars, theologians, pastors and lay persons have grappled with over many centuries, but it is my goal over the next few posts to just tap the ice as to what biblically is required for a person to be saved.

Really, the question is a wrong one. Anything that is required, or could ever be required, has been fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ on the Calvary's Cross. For He Himself said:

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished! (Gk. tetelestai)" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.

It must be remembered that anything that is ever required in purchasing one for salvation is not in need to be performed. Rather, it has been completely fulfilled. That fulfillment has come through only One - namely, the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He finished the work of redemption and salvation. He is the author and perfector of our faith (Heb 12:2).

But, as far as us as physical, sinful, mortal and fallen human beings. The question is begged, what is required in order to be saved?

Or it could be asked, "what must 'I' do to be saved?"

Let me allow the Heidelberg Catechism to answer that for us:

The question is, in essence, the same when it reads: How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?

Answer: Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.

In essence, what this catechism which was first published in 1563 by the Synod of Heidelberg is saying is that to be saved, one must (1) Know how wretched we are sinful and fallen human beings. This is the fundamental knowledge of all anthropology and soteriology. If one first does NOT grasp this truth, then the whole Gospel is nullified and void. Every single person MUST understand that there is:

Romans 3:11-18 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one." 13 "Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving," "The poison of asps is under their lips"; 14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 Destruction and misery are in their paths, 17 And the path of peace have they not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

(2) We all must understand how we can be delivered from this state of misery. That solution comes through One and One alone, namely the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only way of salvation:

Acts 4:12 12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."

If any person tries to attain the solution to his fallen nature my any other means than running and clinging to the redemption that Christ purchased on the cross for sinners, that effort is in vain and is the worst of all sins. For that person who says to himself, "I can find salvation by some other means than Jesus Christ," really is placing their fallible and finite knowledge above the infallible and infinite mind and redemptive plan of God Almighty.

(3) If one wants to be saved, he must recognize his sinful condition, he must understand the only solution to that problem and finally he must understand how to please God and show gratitude to God for the free gift of salvation:

Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

That is it. There is nothing else. Understand Sin. Understand you stand condemned by sin and burdened by the excessive weight of sin which permeates every single area of your life. Furthermore, you must understand that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. Finally, as a result of that salvation, you MUST show gratitude to God for the free gift of salvation that He granted you. This is done through good works (Eph 2:10). I am a firm and solid believer in what many call "Lordship salvation." I can prove to you from the Scriptures that this is so. To believe anything else is not only un-biblical, it is anti-biblical. There is no easy-believism. True faith that does not change a life is NO FAITH AT ALL. Period.

Salvation comes by faith alone yet that faith is really never alone. True biblical saving faith is always inaugurated apart from works yet it is always evidenced by works.

We are saved by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone. AMEN. But it does not STOP here. It must produce good works.

Matthew 7:16-21 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

Any thoughts? Anyone Agree? Disagree? I want some feedback on this one :-)