The Salvation Equation

What really Counts?
What man has added, that needs to be subtracted
What are the true factors
How to sum it up
How to multiply the product
Why we find ourselves divided

This topic it the basis for everything in this world---and the world to come. Yes there is a heaven and a hell. We are ALL eternal beings. So EVERYONE will either go to Heaven or Hell. There is no in-between. There is no simply “falling asleep” and that is all there is to it. You will face God at death (or at the end of the age) and He will tell you either:
A) Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Matthew 7:22-23

B) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Matthew 25:32-34

I think most all who claim to any form of religion agree on this above information for the most part. We agree there is an eternal end to all lives. However, because of our excessive need to think we all go to Heaven we (the churches of today), have so prostituted the Truth with man’s ways that we have swarms of “illegitimate” people who call themselves “Christians” but who really have no reason to call God their Father!


What really Counts?
Is not weather you know God, but does He know you?


What got me to thinking so much about this was Galatians 6:12-16

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

I began to wonder what would this look like today? In these modern times, we do not worry about circumcision (as means of religious obedience). It is not a big deal. If we want it done we have it done to our babies before we leave the hospital as a means of everyday stuff.

So what would the battle of the uncircumcised and the circumcised be like today. This section that Paul speaks so fervently about. It weighed on my heart heavily. And I must conclude that everything that man has added to salvation just like the list below must be subtracted from the salvation equation for it has nothing to do with it. Just like they tried to do this in Jesus time.
Because of this terrible state of “making sure” everyone gets to go to Heaven we (churches of today), have so badly bastardized how we are “saved” or rescued from hell. In the following list (which is not exhaustive) are observations that I have seen in the past several years in many different “denominations” and churches. They may not say it in their “constitution” but it is written on their hearts in the way they talk and act. How they socialize or criticize, Do they love or think themselves above? do they edify or try to rectify you, how they welcome or reject others etc. Actually by holding up a “banner” is what I call it. This is what we believe, they leave the Gospel out all together. Today many of the “banners” are even listed on churches signs, so that you know just what they are about (instead of Christ) before you even get out of your car!

*are listings for women only.

Saved

Circumcised
Baptized
Saying the sinner’s prayer
Walking down the church isle
Jew
Member of church
*Wearing dresses
*Having lots of children
*Wearing a head covering
*Long hair
no tattoos
wearing a suit to church
singing in the choir
not wearing any makeup
KJV only
Home school
Home business
Perfect church attendance
Beards(or vice versa)
no musical instruments
no wine
no swine
whole food nuts
under the law of Moses
non-resistance
anti-government
patriotism=godliness
no playing cards allowed
programmed discipleship
no wedding bands
G/PG rated TV/Movies

Unsaved

Uncircumcised
Not baptized
Crying out to God for Mercy
Praying on your kitchen floor
Gentile
A no membership church
Wearing pants
Having 1 or no children
Not wearing a head covering
Short hair
Tattoos
Wearing what you have
Praising God in the pew
wearing makeup
obeying what we read in any version
public school
working for others
missing church to witness
clean shaven
musical instruments
wine in moderation
eat anything just don’t “pigout”
do the best you can
liberty in Christ
Military
Law abiding citizen
Allegiance to The Lamb alone
playing card games
one on one investing in others
wedding bands
taking every thought captive

As you can see it is a lengthy list. Many you may be shaking your head or laughing at. But I can tell you they exist. Perhaps even in your own church. And many more little issues are in our churches today. We have confused Salvation with an outward appearance or performance. None of which God has said is true Salvation.
The factors of Salvation is repent and Believe in God! This is not an “easy Believism” at all. It is believing that Jesus is God’s Son, that he was born, died and rose again, that He is the perfect Lamb needed that allows you to come to God. Believing that you are but dust and need a Savior. You realize that you are bound for hell unless God intervenes. You can not get to God in any way of your own.
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 21:32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 5:38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.

Faith sums it all up! It is through Living Faith that God is my God and my love for Him causes me to seek what pleases Him and to obey it. This is the “fruit” of repentance and a changed life. Not a prayer, a pulpit, not anything from the above list has anything to do with Salvation. Not to mention that it is God who gives us this “gift” of Faith anyway!
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 17:19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
John 7:31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"
1 Corinthians 2:5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
Romans 3:25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

When we have repented and are walking in this kind of Faith with God. Listening to the Holy Spirit as He teaches us we will multiply the product that is produced in our lives as we pursue righteousness. The LOVE we have for God and others will be the “shoes” of our “walk” ---- NOT the things on the above list!!

What divides so many churches and people is that we want to come to Faith and walk out our Faith---our way (the list etc.). When Christ said to lay down your life then come follow me. You can’t have both your way and His! Either you are crucified with Christ or you are living for self.
There is ONLY ONE way to Faith. Jesus said He is the Way the Truth and The Life………no comes to the Father except by Him (His ways only! Not by any traditions of man!). Actually churches have forgotten that it is really the “few” not the “many” that come to Him anyway. I do not know why it is such a big deal to have a big church---the more you have the less of Christ there is……….(just a thought).

I praise God that I do not have to be a math major to figure this out!
Just believe in what really counts
Faith
The rest of the answers will come!