The jailer in Philippi asked the disciples of Jesus saying, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31).
Please Indicate Your Answer
Salvation is not earned or deserved by any alleged Treasury of Merits of the saints.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by any authority given to Peter.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by believing Mary is a co-Redemptrix.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by attending the Mass.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by being baptized as a baby.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by church attendance.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by tithing.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by keeping the Sabbath.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by doing penance.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by confession of sins.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by having the Last Rites administered.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by spending time in an alleged purgatory.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by being forgiven by a pope with a special dispensation.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by reciting the Catholic rosary.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by going on a religious pilgrimage.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by keeping the Law of Moses.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by embracing poverty.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by meditation or the contemplation of infinity.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by knowing a religious catechism.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by lighting a special candle.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by using holy water.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by the use of religious sweet-smelling incense.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by the reverence of an icon.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by water baptism.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by being sorry for, and repenting of sins.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Salvation is not earned or deserved by one’s free will.
I agree ____ I disagree ____
Generally speaking, most Evangelical Christians would affirm each of these statements to be true, except, for some, the last statement.
There are Christians who balk at the thought that ultimately, salvation is not rooted in a person’s free will. However, there should be no hesitation to affirm that salvation is of the Lord, for a free will does not exist, biblically, in the Natural Man.
It is true that man is made in the image of God with intellect, will, and emotion.
However, the Bible reveals that something terrible happened to each facet of the soul of man so that it no longer thinks properly, chooses wisely, or enjoys only holy passions. Theologians speak of this as the Fall of Man, which took place in the Garden of Eden.
There came a day when Adam listened to the voice of the Evil One, freely chose to rebel against the Lord, and enslaved himself, and his posterity to death. Adam sinned and received the just reward of his transgression, death.
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
“For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
Christian, do not talk of your salvation being based on your own free will, for you were dead in tresspasses and sin, and a slave to the world, the flesh, and the Devil when the Holy Spirit came to you and said, “LIVE!” Spiritual life revived, you heard the gospel, God the Father granted to you the gift of faith, and gave you new life, eternal life in His Son, Christ Jesus. Your salvation is all of free grace, not free will. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast”. Believe that, and affirm it to the glory of God, and the humility of your heart.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
