What validates the offer of salvation?

Bingo :thumbs:

 

....... +1

 

Where in Scripture is salvation guaranteed for those keeping the Law. The Apostle Paul tells us:

Romans 3:20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

There is no conflict in Scripture.

 

Galatians 4:21, 22 - "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."

Doesn't sound like the law was an offer salvation to me. It sounds like God gave the law specifically in order to later bring the gospel. In fact, that's what the very next verse says.

 

Paul answers what validated the offer as follows:

Romans 4:25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

The provision GOD made for Salvation through Jesus Christ is HIS choice of some to Salvation in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.

 

...so Jesus lied to him? If it was a genuine offer, and there was no way one can be saved that way, it would have to be.

 

Jesus wasn't telling the rich young ruler how to get to heaven, He was telling him about discipleship. He told the ruler to sell what he had and give to the poor, take up his cross, and follow Him. Just a short time earlier He talked about discipleship in the same terms: deny self, take up your cross, and follow after me. That's essentially what He was telling the rich young ruler.

 

Actually, if a person could keep the commandments 100% thoughout their entire lifetime, they would not die, as the wages of sin is death.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Death is the wage or penalty for sin, so if a person could go their entire lifetime without sinning, they would not spiritually die. So Jesus was telling the absolute truth.

Now, you will argue that it is impossible for a person to go without sinning. That is not actually so. No man is compelled or forced to sin. Never in scriptures does God speak to man as though it is impossible for him to do good and not sin. In fact, the exact opposite is ALWAYS shown. When God gives men commands to do good, it is always in the sense that they have the ability to obey.

God tells men a multitude of times in the scriptures to turn from evil and do good, and always in the sense that man has the ability to do so if he is willing.

Eze 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

The teaching that man is absolutely depraved and utterly enslaved to sin is not scriptural, it is the invention of man. God ALWAYS speaks to men as though they had the ability to obey him and do right if they so choose. Show me anywhere where the scriptures ever say a man is utterly unable to do right.

So, Jesus's statement was genuine and sincere. If a man could keep all the commandments he would not die.

But practically, all men do sin, and so no man can earn salvation. Therefore the only hope all men have is salvation through Christ.

Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

And you will not accept this, but I think God's foreknowledge is shown in this verse. You and I were not born when these scriptures were written, but God had already concluded all men under sin. So you have only two options there, either God decreed all men would sin (which is blasphemy), or God in his foreknowledge saw that all men would sin.

 

I am not convinced that Jesus Christ was offering "eternal life" even though that was the question asked. I have been unable to find in the Old Testament any reference to keeping the commandments and eternal life. The references I found generally just refer to "life". That may be the context in which Jesus Christ was answering.

If you know of any Old Testament Scripture that promises eternal life or salvation with keeping the commandments I would like to know. I did find one Scripture that mentioned salvation and commandments but no promise.

Psalms 119:166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

 

That is just not so. No one has to sin. Sin is a choice we all make willingly. It is true that everyone does and will sin, but it is not true that we are absolutely enslaved to sin.

I have sinned plenty in my life, and at times I've tried to rationalize it away, but never did I truly have to sin. I could have always done the right thing and I knew it. And I think if you are honest you will say the same thing.

 

Jesus did not say a person is caused to sin because they are enslaved to sin, he said exactly the opposite, that the person who sins makes themselves a servant to sin. Read the scripture again.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

If you are a slave to sin, it is because you have yielded yourself to obey sin. You are not forced to sin, the devil is not holding a gun to your head.