Originally posted by duecer
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
seems pretty clear cut to me.
Yes that is just the first step though. But there are many scriptures that explain that works have to be done also. It's not that there is anything we can actually do to gain salvation because the scriptures make it clear that salvation is a gift.
But when Jesus commanded his followers or Christians to do such things as preach the Good News of the Kingdom earthwide, that was a serious command from him and one a Christian should be doing. And yes it is work and it is a teaching work.
James 2:14 (New King James Version)
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
2 Timothy 2:2 (New American Standard Bible)
2 The things (A)which you have heard from me in the presence of (B)many witnesses, (C)entrust these to (D)faithful men who """will be (E)able to teach""" others also.
2 Timothy 2:24 (New Living Translation)
24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, """be able to teach""", and be patient with difficult people.
Matthew 24:14 (New Living Translation)
14 And the Good News about the Kingdom """will be preached""" throughout the whole world, so that all nations[a] will hear it; and then the end will come.
Matthew 28:19-20 (New Living Translation)
19 Therefore, """go and make disciples""" of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 """Teach""" these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
John 9:4 (English Standard Version)
4 We must(A) """"work the works"""" of him who sent me(B) while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
Acts 26:20 (English Standard Version)
20 but declared first(A) to those in Damascus,(B) then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also(C) to the Gentiles, that they should(D) repent and(E) turn to God, """"performing deeds(F) in keeping with their repentance.""""
James 2:26 (English Standard Version)
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from """works""" is dead.
1 Corinthians 3:13 (English Standard Version)
13 (A) each one’s """work"""" will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed(B) by fire, and(C) the fire will test what sort of """work""" each one has done.
2 Timothy 3:17 (New King James Version)
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good """work""".
Just a few scriptures that have a common theme..."Work".
So why would we not think it fair that if we are to recieve a gift of life that he would not expect something in return?
And so many religions have not seen the importance of the work Jesus told us to do. Instead they focus on one or two scriptures but ignor all the many others that show what is expected of us.
And again Jesus would not contradict himself by saying "just" faith is all that is needed. Once a person admits that they believe in Jesus and what he is for us, then one needs to learn what is expected of him to continue to show he has that faith Jesus said we must have and there is work one has to do to prove it just as clearly as the early Christians did. Why should we do less?