A theological dictionary - by Jesus! Underlining is by me for emphasis only.
Call/Confess -
Rom . 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (NKJV)
How does Jesus define "calling on the name of the Lord"?
Matt. 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (NKJV)
Calling/confessing Jesus as Lord for salvation is defined by Jesus as valid only when it is accompanied by doing the will of the Father!
Believe -
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)
How does Jesus define belief as it relates do being an actual disciple/saved?
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
Jesus defines saving belief as that which is accompanied by abiding in His word!
Repent -
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (NKJV)
How does Jesus define repentance as it relates to salvation?
Luke 3:7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (NKJV)
Jesus says that true repentance will have works to validate it.
Faith -
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (NKJV)
How does God's word elsewhere define faith? From James, but all of Bible is Jesus' words!
James 3:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (NKJV)
Saving faith is validated by a change in actions!
Jesus does not define asking Jesus into your heart, because it is not a biblical concept.
In every case we see Jesus defining a decision, whatever the terminology, in light of the changed life that should accompany it. This makes perfect sense considering the "new birth" Jesus said we need -
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (NKJV)
Below we see a description of the one who has been born again in contrast to the one who has not, regardless of whatever decision they may have made -
Rom. 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (NKJV)
When Jesus saves through the word and Spirit we are changed and continue to be changed from the inside out. To claim salvation by a decision without using the scripture/Jesus' definitions - is unwise and unable to save.
All glory to Him!
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
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