COULD ANYONE HAVE BEEN SAVED BY KEEPING ANY OF GOD'S COMMANDMENTS?

[Eddie Ramos]

The Bible defines salvation by grace as the exclusion of any works that we may impart onto our actual salvation.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV (WS))
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

What works are excluded in salvation by grace? Obedience to any commandment in the Word of God is excluded in salvation by grace.

Galatians 3:9–12 (KJV (WS))
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

In other words, if anyone ever tried to become saved by keeping any part of the law of God, he was required to keep the whole law perfectly, because if he didn't, then he came under the curse of the same law he was trying to keep to become justified before God.

James 2:10 (KJV (WS))
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Why is this important to understand? Because when someone says they made the decision to believe in Jesus Christ in order to become saved, they are saying that they made a decision to keep one of God's commandments in order to become justified before God and have brought themselves under the curse of the same law they were trying to keep to become saved.

How can that be? Because to believe in Jesus Christ is a commandment of God.

1 John 3:23 (KJV (WS))
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

How many people in this world have tragically kept this commandment thinking that it resulted in their salvation?

[1213]

...
In other words, if anyone ever tried to become saved by keeping any part of the law of God, he was required to keep the whole law perfectly, because if he didn't, then he came under the curse of the same law he was trying to keep to become justified before God....

If one keeps the law, he doesn't need any salvation. Only those who break the law need salvation, forgiveness of sins.

[Eloi]

All of Jehovah's creation can be kept in existence in an optimal way (be saved) if it adequately fulfills the good and perfect purpose for which it was created.

Jehovah's standards reflect his will, the purpose for which we were created. Every creation of God has an instruction manual that was established at the time we were created; if those instructions are followed, there will be good, but if they are not followed, then bad things will happen. So, Among the promises to fulfill the law of Jehovah we got: "if you do so, you may continue to live."

Lev. 18:5 You must keep my statutes and my judicial decisions; anyone who does so will live by means of them. I am Jehovah.

However, imperfect people cannot follow set instructions for perfect creations. Although obedience to the law (obedience by works) guaranteed perfect health, imperfect humans cannot obtain that salvation due to our inherent "sick" condition since Adam sinned. That was the reason why a rescue was necessary ... and in the meantime, until human race reach perfection during the millenium, we must exercise faith in the power of that atonement.

If Jesus had not been killed, he would have lived forever, for he was perfect and obeyed God's law to the fullest while he was alive; that is why his sacrifice was the right prize to rescue us out of this condition we live in right now. In a book called "Draw Close to Jehovah" published by the WT, I found this ilustration about the ransom:

"Imagine that you live in a town where most of the residents are employed at a large factory. You and your neighbors are well paid for your labors and lead comfortable lives. That is, until the day the factory closes its doors. The reason? The factory manager turned corrupt, forcing the business into bankruptcy. Suddenly out of work, you and your neighbors are unable to pay the bills. Marriage mates, children, and creditors suffer because of that one man’s corruption. Is there a way out? Yes! A wealthy benefactor decides to intervene. He appreciates the value of the company. He also feels for its many employees and their families. So he arranges to pay off the company’s debt and reopen the factory. The cancellation of that one debt brings relief to the many employees and their families and to the creditors. Similarly, the cancellation of Adam’s debt benefits untold millions."

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

None imperfect person can reach salvation by own efforts. In our imperfect condition, we must do our best to follow God's instructions and become the best version of ourselves, always showing faith that through Jesus we can have hope in the future that God promises us, that we will be there for that rescue that was done for us.

Anyways, when humanity is perfect, it must remain in Jehovah's instructions to continue living.

[Eddie Ramos]

...
In other words, if anyone ever tried to become saved by keeping any part of the law of God, he was required to keep the whole law perfectly, because if he didn't, then he came under the curse of the same law he was trying to keep to become justified before God....

If one keeps the law, he doesn't need any salvation. Only those who break the law need salvation, forgiveness of sins.

Right, in other words, everyone was in desperate need of the salvation of Christ because there is no one who does not sin (break God's law).

Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV (WS))
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

1 Kings 8:46 (KJV (WS))
If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

2 Chronicles 6:36 (KJV (WS))
If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;

Romans 3:23 (KJV (WS))
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

James 2:10 (KJV (WS))
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

[Eddie Ramos]

However, imperfect people cannot follow set instructions for perfect creations. Although obedience to the law (obedience by works) guaranteed perfect health, imperfect humans cannot obtain that salvation due to our inherent "sick" condition since Adam sinned. That was the reason why a rescue was necessary ... and in the meantime, until human race reach perfection during the millenium, we must exercise faith in the power of that atonement.

None imperfect person can reach salvation by own efforts. In our imperfect condition, we must do our best to follow God's instructions and become the best version of ourselves, always showing faith that through Jesus we can have hope in the future that God promises us, that we will be there for that rescue that was done for us.

Anyways, when humanity is perfect, it must remain in Jehovah's instructions to continue living.

I'm not sure I follow. You said we must exercise faith in the atonement of Christ. Do you mean this needed to be done by us in order to become saved? If so, your next statement said no one can reach salvation by their own efforts (which the Bible agrees with), but faith cannot be separated from works, else it's dead faith all by itself. Therefore faith alone could never have saved anyone.

James 2:14 (KJV (WS))
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:17 (KJV (WS))
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.


Furthermore, "believing", which is the act of having faith, is a commandment of God. And if we try to keep that commandment in order to become saved, it's the same as if we would try and keep any commandment in order to bring about salvation. Doing this binds us to keep the whole law (every commandment) perfectly, else we have become guilty of all. Therefore, no one can keep any commandment of the Bible (including the commandment to "believe") and expect it to have resulted in salvation. Yet millions upon millions of people have placed their trust in something they have done (a work) to bring about their salvation. And that was always impossible.

Galatians 2:16 (KJV (WS))
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

[rstrats]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #5]

Is resting on the Sabbath a work? Or not murdering someone a work?

[onewithhim]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #1]

No one could keep the whole Law, that it why mankind needs a redeemer. Jesus is the only one who kept the whole letter of the Law. Mere men can't do it. So Jehovah was loving by pointing this out with the Law itself, and making the way out for people to bring themselves into alignment with God's will.

[Eddie Ramos]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #5]

Is resting on the Sabbath a work? Or not murdering someone a work?

It is. Any obedience to any law of God is a work of righteousness (meaning, a work of the law of God).

Exodus 34:21 (KJV 1900)
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Luke 23:56 (KJV 1900)
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Exodus 20:13 (KJV 1900)
Thou shalt not kill.

Luke 18:18–21 (KJV 1900)
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

[Eddie Ramos]

[Replying to Eddie Ramos in post #1]

No one could keep the whole Law, that it why mankind needs a redeemer. Jesus is the only one who kept the whole letter of the Law. Mere men can't do it. So Jehovah was loving by pointing this out with the Law itself, and making the way out for people to bring themselves into alignment with God's will.

You are correct that no one could keep the whole law. This meant that the whole of mankind was under the penalty of death for their sins (Rom 6:23). This is why only God himself could be the one to provide atonement for those he chose to save, the elect. And he did this in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. But Christ's atonement did not provide the way for people to bring themselves into alignment with God's will, all the work was done by Christ, from predestination, to atonement, to salvation, to glorification. Man's will played zero part.

Romans 8:29–33 (KJV 1900)
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Philippians 1:6 (KJV 1900)
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

John 1:12–13 (KJV 1900)
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born (meaning born-again), not of blood (not of bloodline), nor of the will of the flesh (not by man's desire), nor of the will of man (not by man's will), but of God (but by the will of God).

James 1:18 (KJV 1900)
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.