Before anyone can be saved God requires two things from us.
1. God requires a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. This life must be pure and without sin from our birth.
2. God requires a perfect sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2.
This is the plight of fallen man, he doesn't have it to offer because he is born into sin, Psalm 51:5. He is born a sinner and lives his whole life as a sinner, This is why Paul wrote, "There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10.
No one can say that they are righteous from birth, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
God does not predestinate fallen sinners to eternal life (Calvinism), nor does God accept the works and the obedience of sinners to eternal life (Catholicism).
No one will enter into eternal life that does not posses the righteousness of Christ, nor will anyone enter into eternal life that God does not see as perfect and complete "In Christ". Before God accepts anyone into eternal life they must be justified and seen as perfect "In Christ".
This is why Paul wrote, "That I might be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" Philippians 3:9.
What does God require for our salvation? God requires perfection. This is why God must see us as perfect and complete "In Christ". When we stand before God in the Judgment, God will see us in Christ. If you are not "In Christ" you will perish. You will be like the man that arrived at the wedding without a wedding garment on and was cast out into outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matthew 22:11-13. You must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ or you will perish.
How is one found to be "In Christ?" By simple child like faith in Christ and his Gospel. It is not the Gospel plus your religion. It is the Gospel plus NOTHING. The work of salvation has already been done, all that we are called to do is accept it and believe it. When you are able to trust in Christ alone, God will give you his Holy Spirit, which is his mark of ownership.
1. God requires a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. This life must be pure and without sin from our birth.
2. God requires a perfect sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2.
This is the plight of fallen man, he doesn't have it to offer because he is born into sin, Psalm 51:5. He is born a sinner and lives his whole life as a sinner, This is why Paul wrote, "There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10.
No one can say that they are righteous from birth, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
God does not predestinate fallen sinners to eternal life (Calvinism), nor does God accept the works and the obedience of sinners to eternal life (Catholicism).
No one will enter into eternal life that does not posses the righteousness of Christ, nor will anyone enter into eternal life that God does not see as perfect and complete "In Christ". Before God accepts anyone into eternal life they must be justified and seen as perfect "In Christ".
This is why Paul wrote, "That I might be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" Philippians 3:9.
What does God require for our salvation? God requires perfection. This is why God must see us as perfect and complete "In Christ". When we stand before God in the Judgment, God will see us in Christ. If you are not "In Christ" you will perish. You will be like the man that arrived at the wedding without a wedding garment on and was cast out into outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matthew 22:11-13. You must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ or you will perish.
How is one found to be "In Christ?" By simple child like faith in Christ and his Gospel. It is not the Gospel plus your religion. It is the Gospel plus NOTHING. The work of salvation has already been done, all that we are called to do is accept it and believe it. When you are able to trust in Christ alone, God will give you his Holy Spirit, which is his mark of ownership.