Is Diligence A Requirement For A Christians Salvation?

DILIGENT: 1. adj. Showing perseverance and application in whatever is undertaken. 2. Pursued with painstaking effort.
DILIGENCE: 1. noun Persistent application to one's work or duty; persevering effort. 2. Proper heed; care.

I realize that most of you knew the meaning of those words but do you ever consider what a slap in the mouth they give to some people's beliefs?

I don't have any statistics on it, but I would venture a guess that 75%, possibly more, of "Christendom" (used in the broadest sense possible) believe that it does not matter what you do in religion just so long as you believe in God and accept Jesus as your personal Saviour. (Just exactly what that term means, I do not know.) And they use the verses in the Bible which only mention "belief" and "believe" as their proof of this very shallow approach to biblical teaching. Let's check a few verses that imply much more than that without saying so.

Proverbs 8: 17 says "I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me."(NKJV) This single verse totally demolishes the doctrine that all you have to do is believe that God will save you and you're home free. First of all this says that God loves (respects) those who love (respect) Him. Cain and Able are good examples of the truth of this statement. He had respect for Abel's offering because Abel had respect for His command. The opposite applies to Cain. Jesus said "If ye love me, keep my commandments". (John 14: 15) See also 1 John 5:2 and 5: 3. If you do not keep the commands of Jesus (God), then you don't love Him. If you don't know what the Bible teaches, you CAN"T obey His commands!

Secondly, the latter phrase in our scripture binds DILIGENT seeking for God. Strong, perseverence, persistence seeking out God's truths. There are millions of people who know absolutely nothing of what the Bible teaches yet they believe they will spend eterenity in Glory with the loving Father. How sad, that they will receive such a shocking surprise on judgement day. And some of us will face the same fate because we have made no effort to tell them. May God grant us the wisdom, the courage and the resources to tell all who have an interest in their soul. Some spend more of their time ridiculing brethren than they do in spreading God's word.

(2 Peter 3: 14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

(Hebrews 6: 11) And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

(2 Peter 1: 5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue KNOWLEDGE; (Emphasis mine-JHH).

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» left by Jane Bullard (3 years ago.)

Dear Joel, an important and truth-filled article! We need to be sure that we truly love (believe, follow, trust, obey) God through His Son, Jesus, the Messiah. You wrote another important thing, that those who commit themselves into His care and Lordship have a duty of love to teach others these facts of faith, not out of pride (God forbid!) But out of obedience to God and concern for all souls in His Name. This article says very clearly what is needed and the Scriptures guide it.The living branch surely bears good fruit of the Vine! Thank you, dear brother in the Lord.

» left by Joel Hendon⁽¹⁷¹⁾ (2 years 364 days ago.)

Hi Jane, thanks for your kind remarks.