If Jesus hasn't redeemed you then what was the point of His death?
Here are the Gospel verses that show that Jesus is your Savior and you are not part-Savior (contributing to your salvation):
Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Romans 8:33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
John 3:16, "For God so (unconditionally) love the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but has everlasting life."
Romans 5:8, "God shows His love for us in that while we were enemies of God, Christ died for us."
First John 2:2, "Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins."
Titus 3:5, "God saves us not because of our deeds of righteousness but rather in view of His own mercy."
Romans 6:23, "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing but rather it is the free gift of God."
John 3:36, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life."
You see, the free gift of salvation is so free that you don't earn it. When a Father saves a child from death (that's us sinners!), He doesn't wait around for that child to somehow prove his worth.
This idea that Jesus has done it all and there is nothing for us to do is not scriptural.
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."" (1Pet 1:14-16)
Are we still conformed to previous passions?
Are we yet holy as God is holy?
Is there something we can do to become more holy?
”"Since we have these promises, beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit,
and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.” (2Cor 7:1).
WE can do something to cleanse ourselves and become more holy.
“Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14).
WE have to do some striving for holiness.
It seems Jesus left us something to do.
If there is nothing for us to do why does Paul say:
“
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1Cor 11:1)
Why does the writer of Hebrews say:
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and
imitate their faith.” (Heb 13:7)
Then consider this:
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labour. For we are God's fellow workers” (1Cor 3:6-9).
Why was any planting or watering needed if Jesus has done it all?
Why would Paul or Apollos get any wages if Jesus has done it all?
Why would God have co-workers if Jesus has done it all?
Let’s approach this from another perspective.
Many Protestants take an either/or view – that either we do it all (therefore salvation by our own works) or that God does it all. We have nothing to offer.
But all through history God has invited people to participate in his work, starting the Adam naming the animals in the Garden of Eden. This is not just our passive acceptance but active participation.
Paul calls himself one of “God’s fellow workers” (1 Cor 3:9)
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1Cor 3:6-7)
In Acts 18:23 Luke says about Paul “After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”
Was that Paul strengthening the disciples all his own work?
Was it God’s work alone?
Was not Paul watering and God giving growth?
In Mt 16:18 Jesus says to Peter “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church”.
Who is building the Church? Jesus!
But in 1Cor 14:12 Paul tells the Corinthians to “strive to excel in building up the church”
He says in Eph 4:12 that Jesus gave the disciples various gifts “for building up the body of Christ” (which is the Church).
Is Paul contradicting Jesus who said HE would build his Church?
Of course not! Paul and others are actively participating in the work of Christ.
That does not make their contribution of equal value to Jesus’. Far from it!
It is the same with Christ’s work on us, cleansing and purifying us; making us perfect and holy, fit for heaven. We actively participate in that work, not just passive acceptance, but active participation.
What some people want is easy peasy salvation.. We just sit back like couch potatoes because Jesus has done it all.
But Jesus said:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Mt 7:13-14).
What is the hard way that leads to life?
It is the way that Jesus (who is the Way) trod.
It involves:
suffering (Acts 14:22, Rom 8:18)
maintaining faith (Acts 14:22, Heb 10:38, 1Pet1:6-9)
obedience (Mt 7:21, 12:50)
patience and perseverance (Jas 5:7-12,
helping the poor (Jas 2:14-17)
loving even enemies (Lk 6:27)
repenting of sins (Rev 2:5)
self denial (Mt 16:24)
and more
This is the path to holiness. Christ has trodden it before us. We do not tread it alone because Christ is with us. But tread it we must if we wish to enter life.
... Just as Christians are “Catholic or Baptist or Pentecostal, etc.” with important differences between what the different groups believe, I understand that Muslims are Shia or Sunni or