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A thought-provoking look at whether the universe truly exists, or if creation itself was made only for what we can see from Earth.
Who Then Can Be Saved?
Jesus' Conditions for Eternal Life
The disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 19:25 , “who then can be saved”?
Jesus spoke in multiple places in the Bible concerning who will be saved. He spoke in clear simple language so we can know the conditions He has set for us to receive redemption through Him. Let us consider some of what He told us:
Matthew 19:16-26: A wealthy young man approached Jesus and asked Him, what was required of him to be saved. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The young man said he had done so since youth; was there anything more? Jesus told him to go and sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him, and he would be perfect (complete). But the young man was wealthy, and he left saddened. We cannot let the love of the things of this world compete with a love for Christ.
Matthew 7:13-14 >Luke 13:23-27: Jesus in two places tells us the way to salvation is like passing through a narrow gate. Few even find the gate, and few are able to enter. Why? Because it is hard. In one example the easy life was the preferred path (the broad way) and it was preferred over the difficult path. In the other example it was delay (laziness) and disobedience. People will admit, they knew of Jesus in this life, shared meals, heard His teaching, but their hearts were not changed. To these Jesus says He does not “know” people who persist in iniquity.
John 3:3-8: Jesus says we cannot enter the kingdom unless we are reborn of water and Spirit. Without rebirth there is no salvation. In rebirth the former life comes to an end. A new life replaces it. It is a radical replacement. Jesus knows these people, relates to them and leads them.
Keeping Commandments and Following Christ: Our Imperatives
In a sweeping overview, we are made aware that Jesus sets conditons for salvation. Yes, the free gift of eternal life is conditional. It cannot be earned, but nonetheless, we must meet the criteria to receive it, it is imperative.
Are any of these imperatives fulfilled “for us” through grace? We think not. Think of it like this: Grace provides us with all that Jesus did for us on the cross, the part we cannot earn and only His blood can atone. Yet the criteria He has set we must pursue, and if we don’t, He says we will not be in the kingdom. Let’s look at another passage where Jesus speaks about what is required for salvation:
Doing the Will of the Father: Beyond Lip Service
Matthew 7:21-23: 21) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Jesus tells us that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must do the will of the Father and be obedient to the law. Just two chapters earlier in Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus told us to keep the whole law. These verses are all contained in the Sermon on the Mount, the best known in all of Jesus’ teaching recorded in the Bible. While all salvation imperatives are to be met, we think the summary comes down to this—do we obey God? Without obedience, there is no re-birth.
Article updated to version 2.0 (May 2026)
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