Mechanics of Salvation

A reader writes:

Recce Rifleman, I was directed to your site by a friend who, though well meaning, felt you were in error when you said God will save the Jews. This person insists that apart from Christ, there is no salvation. I agree with that, but I also agree with you. How do you reconcile this difference, especially in light of my friend's pointing to Romans chapters 9-11? Also, John 14:6 was mentioned as being in contradiction to our viewpoint. How do you explain the difference? By the way, my friend also claimed you wrote that a person could be saved by following the Noahide laws... I see that he may have misread a bit.

Great question! Sorry your friend misread my comments on Noahide laws. Reading comprehension isn't for everyone, I suppose. Hopefully he was only having a bad day.

The Apostle Paul wrote the epistle to the Romans, and in so doing, he laid out God's plan of salvation perfectly. Paul uses allegory after allegory to demonstrate what is going on here, so that even the simplest mind can understand how salvation happens (grace) and why (faith).

Romans 9:
Romans 9, in summary, is Paul speaking of God's election of Israel, though which He would send His Son. Paul elaborates on the fact that not all will be saved, and how the gentiles are being saved (grace again, through faith) and how the Jews are not (trying to be saved through the law).

Key verses - Romans 9:30-32:

So what are we going to say? Gentiles who weren’t striving for righteousness achieved righteousness, the righteousness that comes from faith. But though Israel was striving for a Law of righteousness, they didn’t arrive. Why? It’s because they didn’t go for it by faith but they went for it as if it could be reached by doing something. They have tripped over a stumbling block.

 Again, we arrive at the fact that the reason the Jews whom Paul referenced were not being saved was their reliance on works as a form of salvation. Instead, these Jews should have minded their own Torah - specifically, Deuteronomy 30:16-18:

If you obey the Lord your God’s commandments that I’m commanding you right now by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments, his regulations, and his case laws, then you will live and thrive, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and so are misled, worshiping other gods and serving them, I’m telling you right now that you will definitely die.

 From this passage, "...loving the Lord... walking in His ways... and keeping his commandments..." would be the exact same as repenting (turning from sin), turning to God, and keeping His commandments. The keeping of the commandments is not necessary for salvation, but is a demonstration of salvation.


Romans 10
Romans 10 teaches very clearly that Christ was the One who fulfilled the prophecy and promises from Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Psalms, Leviticus, Joel, and Nahum. Key passage is Romans 10:11-13:

The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives richly to all who call on him. All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved.

Clearly, a Jew who calls on God will be saved. As will a gentile. God's mercy assures us of this. 


Romans 11
Romans 11 discusses Israel and God's faithfulness. Paul goes on to say in verse 26 that all Israel will be saved. In fact, Paul warns Christians not to brag in the key verse - Romans 11:18:

then don’t brag like you’re better than the other branches. If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you.

Clearly, Paul knew that Christians would one day claim salvation and say Jews wouldn't be saved. This is a heretical notion. God does not break His promises, and He promised Israel and all people in Deuteronomy that if they would turn to Him, they would be saved.


John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Does this verse mean that someone must believe in Jesus to be saved? YES.
What about Jews? Jews believe in God.
So? So... John 14:7 -

If you have really known me, you will also know the Father. From now on you know him and have seen him.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
I don't see how belief in one of these will bring salvation, but belief in another will not.

Also, Jesus often spoke in parables and allegorically. Belief in God the Father - which Jesus preached more than He ever preached "belief in Jesus" - is the condition. God requires a blood atonement (Leviticus 17:11), and Jesus was that atonement. 

Jesus death bore the punishment of the sins of all believers in God.


Summary
So, if you think that belief in God the Father will get you eternally condemned, yet belief in God the Son will bring salvation... please go read the Bible some more. Try not to interject your poisonous misinterpretations.

Jesus paid the price for the sins of all believers... past, present, and future. 
Apart from Jesus' sacrifice, there would be no salvation. 

I'm not the only one who thinks so. It would seem several major denominations fundamentally agree with me. 


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