Is anything more than faith needed to gain salvation?
Once, a rich young Israelite ruler asked Jesus: “What must I do to inherit everlasting life?” (Mark 10:17) His question may have reflected the prevailing Jewish thinking of his time—that God demands certain good works and that by performing enough of those works, one can earn salvation from God. But that kind of formal devotion could spring from selfish motives. Such works failed to provide a sure hope of salvation, since no imperfect human could really measure up to God’s standards. In answer to the man’s question, Jesus simply reminded him that he should obey God’s commandments. The young ruler quickly assured Jesus that he had kept them from his youth on. His response moved Jesus to feel love for him. Jesus said to him: “One thing is missing about you: Go, sell what things you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come be my follower.” The young man, however, went away grieved, “for he was holding many possessions.” Jesus thereafter emphasized to his d
Sorry that i’m at a computer without my Bible so some of these verses and quotations may be just a little off. Please check them in your own Bible. Jesus agreed with the young ruler that following the 2 great commands would lead to life. They are found in many places and say roughly: You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength and that you must love your neighbor as yourself. 1John 5:3 tell us that the love of God means obedience to his commands. True faith will move us to do this. Faith is not the same as credulity or being gullible (the words for ‘faith’ and ‘belief’ are quite different). Therefore Jesus prayed to God and acknowledged that our everlasting life depends on taking in knowledge-John 17:3. 1Timothy 2:4(?) tells us that God’s will is for all sorts of men to come to accurate knowledge (epignosis) not just knowledge (gnosis) of the truth and be saved. Faith is a product of knowledge as Hebrews 11:1 attests. James 2 has already been quoted, h
