Salvation™ made Easy!

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Re: Salvation™ made Easy!

I've been reading the Psalms and noticed something confirming that mormons are not Christians. How many people have been deceived by their neat attire and lack of dreadlocks, knocking on the door? The 115th Psalm confirms that people need to be alive to praise Jesus forever.

Psalm 115:16-18 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

Clearly if dead people cannot praise Him then deceased persons are not dead.

(We really should have a sub-forum here called "Serious Biblical Discussions" or something like that. I see it as being a forum that would allow us to say how right God and the Bible are.)

However, to your most interesting point:

The Psalmist did not in any way suggest that dead people do much. When he says " But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD." He speaks of the Nation of Israel - I.e. those who are alive during the various pogroms and punishments that The Lord sees fit to inflict on the Jews.

It is either that, or the Psalmist is hoping for a job in Heaven:

Back in the Day, before Jesus, there was no entry to Heaven, but that is not to say Heaven was empty. There were what we now call Angels and Cherubs and Seraphs (and horses), and other things we do not know the names of but group among the former under the sub-heading "Beasts":

Re:4:6: And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Re:4:7: And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Re:4:8: And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Re:4:9: And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Now I should imagine that, from time to time, a job being one of the Beasts arises. I'm not sure why there should be a vacancy - perhaps one of them gets promoted for saying "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" in a particularly pleasing way to God.

On the Subject of Mormons, this is their Damnation:

They have their own additional texts, directly contradicting not only The Bible

Re:22:18: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Re:22:19: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

And this is the mormon Baptismal Font:

The first thing we note is Brazen Images. The next thing is that the Ox is the symbol of Baal Hadad, a Canaanite god, whose priests Elijah defeated (1 Kings 18:20-40) and whose power Gideon thus proved was illusory.

Mormons are not Christians, they are heathens. They are escaped Arabs practicing a mockery of a discredited god.

[MitzaLizalor]

Re: Salvation™ made Easy!

I've been reading the Psalms and noticed something confirming that mormons are not Christians. How many people have been deceived by their neat attire and lack of dreadlocks, knocking on the door? The 115th Psalm confirms that people need to be alive to praise Jesus forever.

Psalm 115:16-18 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

Mormon baptism trough

Clearly if dead people cannot praise Him then deceased persons are not dead. Calling themselves "latter day saints" doesn't change the fact that they're attempting to trick God with their proxy baptisms, the very embodiment of idolatry. The dreadful basins they plunge into under those gilded hornblowers it's idols all the way, as defined by God in Genesis, and an attempt to subject Him to their own whims and fancies.

The Bible, however, is crystal clear. Deceased persons are not dead because if they were they could not praise Jesus. God's children praise Him evermore which means there's no 2 or 3 millennia hiatus between from this time forth and eventual resumption of blessing Him with praise and adoration. Remember how, at the time of His crucifixion, Jesus told the malefactor beside Him that same day they'd be together in paradise? What exactly the mormons think they're achieving is beyond me.

They love to see their idol floating in the sky

In the thread, God's explanation does not include alternative methods of Salvation sprouted from different gospels having no historical basis whether preached to one another in secret or prattled off on your doorstep.

I Corinthians 15:28-29 When all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

They have their own additional texts, directly contradicting not only The Bible but all the other idolatrous tomes produced from time to time, as do popish heretics (among others) but we always know false doctrines when the idols are set up. Powerless to save they need to be bolted down just so they don't fall over.

People who adore them remain as deserving of perpetual torment as on the day they were born.

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Re: Salvation™ made Easy!

With so many paths to Salvation™, how can we fail?

Challenge Accepted!

Salvation by baptism:
This is not Salvation itself but the door to Salvation, once you have this then Salvation is possible.

However, like any good contract there are terms and conditions (See Bible for details.)

Salvation for all
This is the offer of the contract:

You are now through the door and on the table is the contract to be signed in your life’s blood.
We will see further down that prior to Jesus, nobody went to heaven, and heaven is what potentially awaits the Saved.

Salvation through works
Matthew 16:27 has presented a most difficult verse to translate: What does it mean exactly?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Whose works? Jesus’s or the man’s? Jesus’s Works were many – in fact as He made the earth and everything in it – this verse means “according to everything that Jesus said and did.”

I don’t think there is any controversy here, it merely says Jesus shall judge us. And that is true.

Strangely, Matthew:25 speaks in the negative – he explains what happens if you don’t do “Works” and not what happens if you do. Nobody likes a lazy person and neither does Jesus.

Revelations:20 is no revelation – God does not forget (although He can if He wants to.) but for the lesser characters of Heaven a book is always useful. So what we have here is merely a record that God already knows, and this is the same record as earlier referred to in Matthew 16 – Jesus’s memory of what we were like. – This accords with Re:22:12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Salvation through faith not works (Sola Fide)
The Baptist’s motto, and therefore correct. Romans:4:6 makes this clear: God hands out righteousness and does it to His understanding of Righteousness. Faith cannot exist without the guidance of the Bible – faith is the guidance of the Bible – He is righteous who follows the Bible.

Galatians:2:16 follows this and brings the example of those who by wealth and power are able to effect “Works” – but as we are told to pray in seclusion and not cry “Lord! Lord!” So are our works in secret and in line with the Bible. The Great and the Good are not the Great and the Good – for if you know them, they are self-publicists crying “Lord! Lord!”

These verses then guard against self-righteousness.

Salvation through faith and works

James:2 is not incorrect, it merely needs to be seen in the correct light. We have explained "by Works” does not work, We have agreed that nobody likes a lazy person – so something has to be done – James 2 boils down to “Have faith and don’t sit there on your ass.”

Salvation by grace not faith and works
This is the fine print of the contract: Even if you think you have done all that is necessary, it may not be enough. God is far wiser than you and therefore what you thought was “doing good” or “obeying His Word” or “Having faith” may in fact not have been. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” is not an excuse that God will hear.

Additionally, we must think of great orators and lawyers – is God going to have to sit there and listen to unmitigated bullshit, and allow Himself to go against His own Decision? NO! And that is why James is saying “But God has the final choice."

Salvation by faith and grace not works
This comes close to the actual truth inasmuch as it is in accordance with James and Romans 4:6: No faith, no salvation. On the other hand, even if everyone thinks you’re an asshole, Jesus can still love you and you enter heaven. Jesus has the final say. (We have already dismissed “works”.)

Salvation by washing robes not works
Seriously – this is not going to work, is it? Otherwise soap operas would be known as Salvation Operas. So much for the ASV.

Now Revelations:22:14, seems to indicate some sort of “works” but no! Following Commandments is not “Work” – It is Joy!

Salvation by not blaspheming against the Holy Ghost
This is more like Baptism: accepting Jesus opens the door to Baptism, which opens the door to heaven, which allows you to see the contract on the table.

In fact, it is very generous as a condition – how much easier is it not to do something, than to do something? I am very good at doing nothing and this strengthens my faith.

Salvation by doing what's lawful and right (no need for Jesus as redeemer)
Ezekiel:18 explains a proverb:

Eze:18:1: The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Eze:18:2: What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

That proverb is entirely self-explanatory and what follows is almost non-salvific in its clarity. It explains what will happen to Israel if it is unfaithful to God. It’s all allegorical.

Jesus was simply not involved – He was there in Heaven, He had simply not been born.

Doing the will of the Father (not faith and works)
Essentially this is Sola Fide redux – it’s what “faith” is all about. I have mentioned the leveling influence that The Lord has; how The Lord hates those who boast – these assholes never had faith and everything they did, they did for themselves.

Matthew:7 describes the damned – those “self-made men” who create a god in their own image and then worship their creator.

Salvation by grace and purpose (not works)

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,


Some may have difficulty in grasping being given something before the world was created, but this refers to God’s warehouse in which he keeps souls that are handed out upon conception. The soul has got everything you need to get you on the path to heaven.

This again restates that God can make up his Own Mind about who’s coming in – and that’s got to be fair, hasn’t it?

Salvation by grace and baptism, (not works)
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
We’re back to grace, salvation and “not works”.

Salvation by keeping the commandments
Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

“but if thou wilt enter into life” note that… For those who do not speak American, “wilt” = want/wish/desire to.
And “life” means the life of being “reborn”
To keep the commandments is a good start – this will lead to baptism, the contract and Salvation and thus "being reborn to a new life"

Jesus gives His listeners the Class 101.

Giving everything to the poor (keeping the commandments is not enough)
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor.

One thing a lot of people miss in this verse is “, and give to the poor.” That comma is more important than the Johanine Comma. It separates the previous clause/commandment and does not say: “and give it to the poor.” All the guy had to do was to throw a few Shekels to the poor – but such was his love of money that he fled and now burns in Hell.

Salvation by giving 50% to the poor
This is very similar to the above, and actually demonstrates “One thing a lot of people miss in this verse is “, and give to the poor.” In fact, Jesus is so impressed that he doesn’t mention “the poor”.

Salvation by faith and baptism
Again, baptism is a pre-requisite to Salvation - Faith is all that is needed.

Salvation by hunger and poverty.
Lazarus is a socialistic parasite. Instead of taking his hands out his pockets, he's lying before the hardworking rich man's door, waiting for the government to feed him.

Abraham explains to the rich man:

Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

People think that this is Salvation, but it is not. Lazarus is, in fact denied Heaven. We know this because nobody went to Heaven before Jesus died. In fact, we have Jesus’s Word for this: “Lu:16:23: And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” i.e. not heaven.

(Common sense says that if the poor went to heaven the place would be a cess-pit.)

Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Again, this needs reading – to whom is Jesus talking – He’s blessing the poor (which is fair enough, a bit of sympathy never went amiss) but he then he says to his Disciples “for yours is the kingdom of God.” i.e. the Kingdom of God belongs to the Disciples. (Otherwise He would have said “Theirs is the Kingdom of God.”)

Salvation by obeying Jesus
This is obvious – be baptisted, have faith – how can you do that without obeying Jesus?

Salvation by confession and faith
You have to believe that it was God that raised Jesus.

This does not change Sola Fide at all. If Christ had not died temporarily, then there would be no Salvation – there would have been no sacrifice and, as the Bible says – if that didn’t happen everything in the Bible is lies – and we know it’s the Truth.

Salvation by self-castration
I’m afraid that does not follow, and if any among you have removed their testicles, well, I should tell you that you should have spoken to a Pastor first.

Matthew 19:12 speaks of the “types of eunuch” – it is the last type that “: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake” They are the ones who go around saying “Jesus told me to do it.” i.e. “for heaven’s sake.” Not “for Salvation”.

Now it is clear from the very earliest commandments that “going forth and multiplying” is a primary Godly Order – and chopping of your nuts is not going to help – you are not going to be in God’s good books. So what is Jesus saying here?

In Matthew:19:10, the Disciples are moaning about the divorce laws: Jesus is saying that “If you can’t marry, and you can’t keep it in your pants then chop your balls off – you’ll be better off for it. And who can argue with that? It has nothing to do with Salvation.

Revelations 14:4 would seem to contradict this but, given that castration is not overly popular, yet it is “obeying Christ” we can see that if you do chop them off, then you’ve got to be pretty serious about Jesus and that level of faith, if done in the right spirit, and if God decides to have grace and if you live according to every word of the Bible – yes… I suppose that men with high voices may go to heaven – but not because of that alone.

Salvation by hearing the words of Jesus and believing
Sola Fide again.

Salvation by being Jewish
This need not bother any of the current congregation – back in the day God set up a quota of 144,000 Jews who will enter heaven, if only to laugh at the rest of them burning in Hell.

Jesus’s words
Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Some among those 144,000 must have fallen by the wayside and he was talking about them. I should imagine that they were hard to find (there was no “Google” or “Facebook” in those days) So this was just one part of Jesus’s Mission – He realized he was running out of time, so He enlisted His Disciples for an urgent job.

Of course Gentiles can go to heaven – why else would there be Churches?

Salvation by one’s own words
Matthew:12 is really nothing more than one aspect of Sola Fide: You, I, all of us, will be judged and by our faith we will be tested. But there is a record of all we did – it will be our duty not to excuse or mitigate – it is such words upon which our entry to heaven will depend – will be justified.

Salvation by calling on the name of the Lord
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Lord does not hear sinners. (I explain elsewhere how, if this is so, you could ever repent, as prior to the last word of your repentance, you would be a sinner.) So it is a question of what is meant by “Calling upon the Lord” – to be able to do this, you must be Saved.

Salvation by predestination
This is Salvation by Grace, and who can argue with that?

Salvation by eating Jesus' flesh and drinking his blood
This is popery: It is enough to drink wine and eat bread and think of Jesus. But this is all pointless if you are not saved. It is also heavily allegorical but at the same time literal.

Also: John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

You have to be a little careful here… you live in Hell for eternity.

Salvation by gifts to the church
The jury is out on this one – keep giving to the Church just in case.

Salvation by Prayer
See earlier. If you’re a sinner, God doesn’t hear your prayers. If God hears them, you’re Saved. Saying prayers and having them answered (Yes, No or Wait) means you are already Saved.

Salvation by being poor in spirit.
This is almost incomprehensible. We can only assume that it means “The poor in spirit live in La-La-land” – they are under a delusion that they are already in heaven.

Salvation by forgiving other people.
Mattew:6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Don’t forget… there’s a book and there’s an accountant and He’ll add up one against another, it is no use being an asshole all your life, then forgiving one person. But the catch is that first you have to get to heaven... (clue: Sola Fide)

Salvation by bearing children (only for women)
But only “if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” (I wonder if women can get to heaven without their husband's permission...)

Salvation by loving God and thy neighbour
We can only “love God” by obeying Him. Loving your neighbour as yourself is a little strange. Should we “love ourselves”? Hmmm… We should consider ourselves worthless before God. So this level of “love for one’s neighbour” may not be hard to achieve. The Loving God bit is the clincher for Salvation.

Salvation by ignorance
To me, this is not a problem – and it shouldn't be to you. Everyone is born straight and a Christian – everyone! Some go astray and burn. Any other interpretation is license for abomination, anarchy and atheism.

There's nothing to be saved from
Other than the fiery pit of eternal Damnation

Ecclesiastes was written before Jesus’s sacrifice and was true at the time. Jesus came along to try to get the few Jews who were going to heaven to accept this and then turned His attention to the rest of us.

[Johny Joe Hold]

Re: Salvation™ made Easy!

Thank you for that powerful essay, Pastor Enoe. So many do not know of these paths to Salvation™. We can thank Jesus that Landover Baptist Church is here to help people.

[Pastor Rune Enoe]

Brethren and Sistren

The question that I am most commonly asked after my sermons, is how we can be sure of our Salvation™.

My immediate reply is always that we should put our confidence in God our Saviour Who will have all men to be saved (1st Timothy 2:3-4).

Nonetheless, for those straying sheep that still struggle with their faith I present this handy chart to help on your path towards the light:


Salvation by baptism

In order to make it easy I have put the right answer at the top of the list.

John the Baptist was the greatest prophet ever (Luke 7:28), and Jesus stated unequivocally that you cannot enter the kingdom of God except ye be baptized.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.


Salvation for all

This is the most tempting answer. Before Jesus came to earth we were all lost, because in our wickedness we had rejected God.

When Jesus atoned us with God and paid our debts at the cross, Salvation should be for all, no matter whether we believe or not. It's not the sinners fault that they are too depraved to find Salvation™.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,


Salvation through works

Automatic salvation is a beautiful thought but it's hard to finance a multi-billion dollar enterprise like the Catholic Church if people are already saved. Fortunately there are many places, where Jesus demands works as a condition for salvation.

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Matthew 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Matthew 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

The Catholics have even invented something they call "the Original Sin". The "original" part is that you can pay your way to the Pearly Gates with a "letter of indulgence" or a few wax candles.


Salvation through faith not works (Sola Fide)

Martin Luther preferred to read the epistles of Saint Paul, and concluded that salvation comes only through faith, and not through works:

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
[. . .]
Romans 4,2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.



Salvation through faith and works

The epistle of James appears to have been written with the express purpose of contradicting Saint Paul (and Martin Luther).
James, the brother of Christ, uses the same example of Father Abraham that Saint Paul had used to prove his Sola Fide -- and arrives at the exact opposite conclusion:

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
[. . .]
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[. . .]
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
[. . .]
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
[. . .]
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This is where I usually add that faith without works may be dead, but Saint James says nothing about faith with works. So this is not an excuse to stop tithing.


Salvation by grace not faith and works

Since God determines what we're allowed to think, it follows that it's solely up to God's mercy whether we will repent. Saint Paul reminds us how God hardened Pharaoh's heart:

Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Don't forget that God can make people believe (Acts 16:14) and not believe 2nd Thessalonians 2:11.



Salvation by faith and grace not works

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Salvation by washing robes not works

Our trusty old King James describes the blessed firstfruits who shall live in the New Jerusalem and eat from the Tree of Life:

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

However, the ASV and countless other modern perverted Bibles have a different advice for us

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.


Salvation by not blaspheming against the Holy Ghost

Jesus forgives everything: Pedophilia, cannibalism, slave trading, human sacrifices, genocide and Democrat fund-raising. As long as you don't speak against the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Matthew 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.



Salvation by doing what's lawful and right (no need for Jesus as redeemer)

Ezekiel 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.
Ezekiel 18,22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Ezekiel 18,23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
[. . .]
Ezekiel 18,27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.




Doing the will of the Father (not faith and works)

It's not enough to believe. Hell is full of people who thought they were saved. Doing "many wonderful works" won't help you either:

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Salvation by grace and purpose (not works)

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,


Salvation by grace and baptism, (not works)

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;


Salvation by keeping the commandments

Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.


Giving everything to the poor (keeping the commandments is not enough)

Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
[. . .]
Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mark 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.


Salvation by giving 50% to the poor

Sometimes you don't have to give everything you own -- giving 50% is OK with Jesus:

Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.


Salvation by faith and baptism

In general the three Synoptics (i.e. Mark, Matthew and Luke) don't have any requirement that you have to believe in Jesus. The only exception is the end of Mark (Catholics will claim that this ending is spurious; don't listen to them!!):

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.


Salvation by hunger and poverty

The story of the beggar Lazarus is very interesting. This is the only account we have from the inside of Hell and Paradise:

Lazarus is a socialistic parasite. Instead of taking his hands out his pockets, he's lying before the hardworking rich man's door, waiting for the government to feed him, while letting dogs lick his wounds. And yet he ends up in Paradise, while the rich man goes to Hell. Abraham explains to the rich man:

Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Nothing in the story indicates that Lazarus has deserved his salvation. Neither through works, faith, baptism or repentance. By the same token nothing indicates that the hardworking rich man was in any way wicked: If Lazarus was lying in front of the door, it must have been because he knew he'd get a handout every now and then.

The rich man goes to Hell, only because he's rich, while Lazarus is rocking in the bosom of Abraham.

Jesus said something similar in his Sermon of the Mount (according to Saint Luke this took place on a plain):

Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
[. . .]
Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.


Salvation by obeying Jesus

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;


Salvation by confession and faith

Many Christians believe Jesus arose from the dead by his own powers, but those Christians are going to Hell. You have to believe that was God that raised Jesus:

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.


Salvation by self-castration

Matthew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

In the last book of the Bible -- the Revelation of St. John -- we're getting a description of the first people to enter Heaven:

Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Catholics take this very literally. Just ask Origen of Alexandria.


Salvation by hearing the words of Jesus and believing

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.


Salvation by being Jewish

When everything has been said and done, Jesus was the King of Jews, son of a Jewish god, being born by a Jewish family as the son of David in order to fulfill a lot of prophecies in the Jewish Torah.

If you're not Jewish, then you're out of luck. For instance, there once was a Greek woman who asked Jesus to help her sick daughter. Jesus called her a dog and added:

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

In fact Jesus forbade his disciple to go to the Gentiles:

Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.


Salvation by one's own words

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.


Salvation by calling on the name of the Lord

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Salvation by predestination

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
[. . .]
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:


Salvation by eating Jesus' flesh and drinking his blood

John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
John 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.


Salvation by gifts to the church

There's about 1 billion Catholics in the world who still consider the Apocryphal books to be God's word:

In the second Book of the Maccabees, a lot of men die in a fight because they followed false gods. But Judas Maccabeus starts a collection to redeem the men from their sins before the Resurrection

2 Maccabees 12:43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
2 Maccabees 12:44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
2 Maccabees 12:45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.


Salvation by prayer

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Matthew 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?


Salvation by being poor in spirit. DUH!

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Salvation by forgiving other people

Mattew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:


Salvation by bearing children (only for women)

Saint Paul ends one of his sermons with a promise:

1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.


Salvation by loving God and thy neighbour

Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luke 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luke 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.


Salvation by ignorance

One of the great theological questions is what happens to people, who haven't heard the Gospel. Bleeding-heart lie-berals often think it unfair if all members of some backward Indian village out in the jungle shall burn in Hell just because they've never heard about Jesus.

However, a few verses do indicate that ignorance may be a valid excuse:

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
[. . .]
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

In the above verses, Jesus says clearly that if thay hadn't heard about Jesus and seen his mighty works, they wouldn't be counted as sinners.

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

You're a sinner if you "knoweth to do good" -- so conversely you cannot be a sinner if you don't "knoweth to do good".

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Much is demanded of "whomsoever much is given", so logically you must demand less from those who have been "given less" i.e. haven't received the gospel.

But on the other hand: If you can be saved by ignorance, then missionary work is a crime.


There's nothing to be saved from

I guess you could construe a case, that there's neither Heaven nor Hell, and that dead people feel nothing (sinners like to believe this):

Ecclesiastes 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
[. . .]
Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Job 7:9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

Isaiah 26:14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

Psalm 49:11 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Psalm 49:12 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Psalm 49:13 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
[. . .]
Psalm 49:20 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
Psalm 49:21 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 58:9 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Isaiah 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.


Salvation by paedobaptism and Confirmation

I just put that in for laughs to end on a happy note.
There's nothing about paedobaptism and Confirmation in the Bible



With so many paths to Salvation™, how can we fail?