For a time, I'd hear messages about obeying God where it was stressed that the only way to obtain salvation was to do and/or avoid specific behaviors. I read the passages and they seemed to make sense.
Other times, faith was emphasized and speakers would explain how works could never save us, but faith alone. I read the provided verses and they made sense too.
Sometimes I was told BOTH faith and works were essential for salvation. Following the verses to which I was directed, that conclusion also seemed to have validity.
All positions seemed to have supportive Bible verses but were the passages correctly interpreted?
Had they been rightly divided ?
(2 Tim. 2:15)
I needed clarification and assurance. I needed to know what was true since, according to my understanding of Scripture, my belief on this most crucial issue was to permanently affect my eternity. On most issues, there was much leeway for accepting differences of opinion or varied perspectives, but salvation was too important and final to be uncertain.
I decided to, "do my best and let God do the rest." That was my saying of resolve on the matter for a long time and I trusted that God would guide me in understanding whatever I needed to know.
Consider what is commonly referred to as
"the thief on the cross".
Did the most unrighteous thief ever work to earn Jesus' promise of being in paradise?
Luke 23:39-43
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
One of the prisoners believed and asked to be remembered when Jesus entered his kingdom. That proved he sincerely believed Jesus was Messiah. He expressed pure belief that Jesus was actually who he said.
The man believed.
The man did no works.
The man was promised paradise.
The man did no works.
The man was promised paradise.
