Within the past week, I shared this with a Catholic and two Jehovah's Witnesses. The Catholic seemed to listen as I shared one must not trust in the sacraments, church membership and/or Mary for salvation. On the other hand, the Jehovah's Witnesses contested, thinking their organizational ties and “Jehovah” are essential to their salvation with far too little (if any) trust on Jesus. The purpose of this study is to prove from the Bible that it is Jesus and a 100% submissive trust (faith/belief) in him that brings about salvation. The denial of this precious truth is a common characteristic of some false and deadly religious systems of our day.
Hence, if you are in tune with God's Spirit, his truth and are teaching the real gospel like the early Christians, you will be pointing people to Jesus for salvation. If not, then you have been grossly deceived and are lethally deceiving others with a false gospel.
Multitudes have been deceived into making the object of their faith:
All of this means there must be 0% trust/faith/belief in any group, denomination, organization, thing (like water baptism, keeping the Saturday Sabbath as the Israelites were commanded, reading the KJV, etc.) or person such as Mary for salvation as you obediently follow the Lord Jesus. All 100% of our trust, obedient faith and belief is to be in Jesus—not 50% or 75% or even 99.5%. That is the precious truth that many miss, stumble over, fight against and will go to hell over. Examine the Scriptural evidence for yourself:
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:14-18)
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36, NASB)
These passages are also all clear:
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me [Jesus], yet you refuse to come to me to have life. (John 5:39,40)
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40)
I am the bread of life. (John 6:48)
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. (John 7:38)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26)
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46)
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. (Mat 11:6)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11:28)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Mat 11:29)
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. (Mat 12:30)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mat 16:24)
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Mat 16:25)
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Mat 18:5,6)
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mat 19:14)
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mat 19:21)
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Mat 19:28)
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Mat 24:9)
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. (Mat 25:35)
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Mat 25:36)
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mat 25:40)
He will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Mat 25:45)
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' ” (Mat 26:31)
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Mat 26:34)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Mat 28:18)
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. (Mark 2:14)
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:35)
And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. (Mark 9:42)
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel” (Mark 10:29)
You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. (Mark 13:9)
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:13)
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” (Mark 14:30)
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:72)
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, (Luke 5:27)
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (Luke 6:27)
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. (Luke 6:47)
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. (Luke 7:23)
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. (Luke 9:24)
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” (Luke 9:59)
All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Luke 10:22)
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. (Luke 11:23)
I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8)
But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. (Luke 12:9)
But he will reply, “I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!” (Luke 13:27)
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:26)
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26,27)
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16)
All men will hate you because of me. (Luke 21:17)
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:34)
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 1:43)
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” (John 4:39)
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me (John 5:39)
yet you refuse to come to me to have life. (John 5:40)
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37)
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (John 6:56,57)
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37,38)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (John 10:14)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. (John 12:48)
Are you on the side of truth? If so then you listen to Jesus:
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. (John 18:37)
The Heavenly Father pointed people to Jesus, in part, by giving Jesus the words to speak when Jesus pointed people to himself:
These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (John 14:24)
For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them .... (John 17:8)
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. (John 12:49,50)
Since Jesus pointed people to himself scores of times for various reasons and he was speaking the Father's words, then the Father was pointing people to Jesus all those scores of times. But that is not all—the Father draws people to Jesus:
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)
The Father draws people to Jesus (not to Himself), but Jesus also draws people, all of them, to Himself:
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. (John 12:32, 33)
Years ago, while sharing this truth about trusting in Jesus alone with a former Baptist who converted to Islam, he responded with John 5:24 to try to counter what I said:
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
He thought that verse was saying to trust in the heavenly Father, but it doesn't. To believe the Father, as mentioned in John 5:24, can be better understood in these passages:
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Mat 17:5)
It is written in the Prophets: “They will all be taught by God.” Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (John 6:45)
And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, (John 5:37)
In other words, if you believe the Father, you will listen to what Jesus taught about believing in, coming to, following, etc. himself. If all of that isn't convincing enough, please notice the Father's singular command centers around believing in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ:
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. (1 John 3:21-23)
Remember that command and also that the Father glorifies Jesus:
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.” (John 8:54)
When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26, 27)
NOTE what primary sin the Holy Spirit will convict people of:
In regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; (John 16:9)
The Holy Spirit will also glorify Jesus:
He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. (John 16:14)
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus, not the Holy Spirit.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (John 1:6-8)
I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Mat 3:11,12)
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:15-17)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. (John 1:29-37)
As John was completing his work, he said: “Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (Acts 13:25)
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. (Mat 9:9)
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mat 4:19)
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Mat 8:21, 22)
Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:19)
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22)
Indisputably, Jesus pointed people to himself and stated acknowledging or disowning him before others is the big issue. Such will likewise affect the Lord to do the same regarding that person before the Father, that is, acknowledge or disown him. It is what we do with Jesus that makes the all-important difference. Remember those vital words:
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Mat 10:32,33)
Another salvation issue is loving Jesus:
If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him. Come, O Lord! (1 Cor 16:22)
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Mat 10:37, 38)
Hence, loving Jesus is vital, but we are to do this during the same time non-Christians will hate us because of Jesus. We must endure that hatred for salvation:
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mat 10:22)
Being worthy of Jesus is the all-important issue and to be worthy of him we must love Jesus above family members, take up our cross and follow him.
Jesus also magnified loving Jesus as the issue to Peter:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:16,17)
If we love Jesus, we will obey Jesus:
If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15)
The benefits of loving Jesus are stated next:
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)
That certainly is not all. Another vital issue is: Are you ashamed of Jesus and his words?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38)
He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. (Mat 10:40)
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. (John 12:48)
NOTE: Besides the aforementioned, other vital issues are remaining or not remaining in Jesus, which is a salvation issue too:
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6)
Jesus also taught us to trust in Jesus the same way we would trust in God (the Father):
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1)
The following Scripture is a devastating blow to many false beliefs about salvation, including the Catholic Fatima visions (which state Mary is the way to God):
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Regarding prayer, Jesus at times taught we are to ask Jesus for our requests:
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14)
To love Jesus is cause for the Father to love us:
No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (John 16:27)
There are many who profess to be Christians, but are not. Some are addicted to various types of sin, while others are disqualified by their false doctrine. Spiritual life is only found in the Lord Jesus, which was the consistent message of the New Testament Christians:
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5)
It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. (Acts 8:12,13)
Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38,39)
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:9)
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (2 Tim 2:10)
And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 3:15)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1 Tim 1:16)
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (2 Tim 2:10)
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Heb 5:8,9)
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him [Jesus] receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)
He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:30,31)
NOTE: There was no mention of believing in the Father for salvation—only the Lord Jesus. Many other Scriptures show the same truth:
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! (Rom. 5:9)
We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:9-11)
Jesus' followers must testify about Jesus:
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:42,43)
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, (2 Tim 1:8)
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (1 John 1:2)
In fact, to magnify Jesus is both obedience to him and a partial description of Christians:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Christians are witnesses of Jesus and are concisely described by Jesus as those who believe in (obey and trust) Jesus for salvation:
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (John 17:20)
Another vital point from John 17:20 is the disciple's gospel message will cause people to believe on Jesus, that is, if they are teaching the correct message. Hence, to obey and trust in Jesus for salvation is the result of true gospel preaching. Is this the message you are spreading?
By the way, just like John 17:20, the following Scripture shows the disciples also concisely described Christians the same way:
“Lord,” I replied, “these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.” (Acts 22:19)
The people imprisoned and beaten mentioned in Acts 22:19 refers to Christians—the ones Paul persecuted before he got converted. Hence, Christians are concisely described as those who believe in Jesus. (To better understand what it means to believe in Jesus, please read this.)
Here are two more Scriptures showing the same:
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. (James 2:1)
For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” (1 Pet 2:6,7)
Being separated from Jesus in eternal fire (or with him in Paradise) is the salvation issue:
Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Mat 25:41)
Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Mat 7:23)
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:26)
To help us remember Jesus and what he did for us, we are commanded to have communion, which is to be done in remembrance of Jesus:
And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor 11:24,25)
For the ecumenical crowd to remove the Lord Jesus and just refer to God in a general way is obviously both deadly and condemned by many Scriptures. According to Jesus, the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, all non-Christian religions are counterfeit and spiritually disastrous. The sooner people learn this the better for them.
The following passage is also crystal clear to show the same:
Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.” (John 12:44)
Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. (Mark 9:37)
Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me ...” (Luke 9:48)
He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. (Luke 10:16)
I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me. (John 13:20)
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. (John 14:21)
He who hates me hates my Father as well. (John 15:23)
Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.” (John 12:44)
It is impossible to have the Father and not have the Son too. Furthermore, if you have the Son you also have the Father.
Last but not least, to remain in the Son is CONDITIONAL, which refutes the popular doctrine of eternal security:
See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. (1 John 2:24-26)
Salvation centers around:
Note what is commended—being an honor to Jesus:
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. (2 Cor 8:23)
May we all be an honor to Jesus and make this our top goal. Read more about the various names and titles of the precious Lord Jesus.
GOD BLESS YOU.
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