JESUS PLUS NOTHING SAVES YOU - Theological/Technical Post
- Bill Fuller
- 6 days ago
- 55 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Are You Prepared to Meet the Real Jesus?
Hi friend, I’m really glad you’re here today.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve heard the gospel so many times that the words can almost start to blur together. Grace. Faith. Jesus saves. We nod our heads, we say “amen,” and yet… somewhere underneath, a little voice still whispers. Today, I want to gently but clearly push back on that whisper.
We’re going to sit with a simple, powerful truth: Jesus plus nothing saves you. Not Jesus plus your quiet time. Not Jesus plus your self-discipline. Not Jesus plus perfect parenting or a spotless past. Just Jesus.
As we walk through this together, I’m not coming as a theologian up on a stage, but as a fellow traveler who has wrestled with shame, performance, and the fear of “not enough.” I’ve tried adding my own effort to the finished work of Christ—and I’ve felt the exhaustion and anxiety that come with that.
So, I want you to breathe. Let your shoulders drop. You don’t have to impress God right now.
We’re going to look at what Scripture actually says about how a person is saved, how we stay in God’s grace, and what it means—practically—to rest in what Jesus has already done for you.
My prayer is that by the end, your heart feels lighter, your mind clearer, and your confidence in Christ a little steadier.
So, if you’re ready, let’s lean in together. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to make this more than information—to make it revelation for your own story.
Because this isn’t just a doctrine. It’s the best news you’ll ever hear:
Jesus plus nothing… really is enough.
Alright—let’s begin.
God Directs My Footsteps
There was a season when God woke me up every night at 3:36 AM. At first, I didn’t know why. I’d look at the clock, sigh, and try to go back to sleep. But it kept happening. Night after night.
Eventually, I realized God wasn’t letting it go. So, I opened my Bible to John 3:36:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”
It was like God was saying, “This is your message. This is what I’ve entrusted you with. Make it plain. Make it simple. Make it about Me — not religion.”
Not long after, I built this website. And shortly before she passed, your mother laid her hand on me and said, “Your work will matter. You have David’s heart.” I’ve held onto that. I still do.
We All Have the Same Dilemma
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. One, every human being is born a sinner in need of a Savior. Two, the wages of sin are death. The truth you must resolve is whether Jesus is the only savior who can and did remove all sins, past, present, and future. Also, is Jesus the only one qualified to take away or defeat death?
Therefore, you must resolve in your mind, heart, and will three questions that you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer. Your eternal destination depends on it.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe "Only Jesus Plus Nothing" is not the only way to God the Father in heaven but also answers these three questions.
One: Why Do We Need to Be Saved?
We don’t like the word saved. It can feel dramatic or old-fashioned. But the truth is simple: We all go our own way. We all try to run life on our own wisdom, strength, and goodness.
And it wears us out.
We don’t need saving because we are bad. We need saving because we are beloved — and we’ve wandered away from the One who loves us.
Yes! You need to be saved because you have two significant problems. You are born with the sin nature of Adam—you are a sinner. You are born spiritually dead—you are separated from God. If you die a sinner, spiritually dead, then you will be separated from God for eternity.
Therefore, two things must happen for you to be saved. The cause of death must be eradicated or cured, and the spiritually dead man must be brought back to spiritual life. It only stands to reason that the God who created you can save you from this state of eternal sin and death.
Two: What Does It Mean to Be Saved?
It means coming home.
It means being restored to a relationship with the God who made us.
It means no longer carrying the burdens of my life alone.
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about belonging.
Salvation from sin takes place in the “forgiveness of sins,” and Salvation from eternal death takes place in the “resurrection of the dead.” It is precisely what Jesus did. At the cross of Christ, the cause of death, which is sin, was forgiven. At the resurrection of Jesus, the spiritually dead were restored to spiritual life—the eternal life of Jesus.
There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Nothing rescues you from God’s wrath except Jesus. You are totally dependent on and in desperate need of a Savior. That Savior is Jesus Christ. Only Jesus was the incarnation of God--Emanual: God became man and dwelt among us.
Believe or Reject God’s Way to Salvation
Whether the first man, Adam, would live dependent on God or independent of God was determined by what he believed. After Adam’s sin, all humanity is born in the image and likeness of Adam (Gen 5:1, 3). You are born with a sin nature (Rom 5:12) and are spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). You are also confronted with believing the truth of God or the lie of the devil. Believing is to accept Jesus, and unbelief is to reject Him.
Three: How Are We Saved?
Not by effort. Not by being “good enough. Not by fixing ourselves first.
We are saved by trusting Jesus — who He is, and what He has done.
Not Jesus + good behavior. Not Jesus + religious performance.
Not Jesus + perfect theology.
Just Jesus. Only Jesus. Jesus plus nothing.
The Heart of It
If salvation depended on me, I would lose it.
If salvation depended on my strength, I would fail.
But salvation depends on Jesus, and He does not fail.
I rest in that. I want you to rest in that, too.
Only Jesus Plus Nothing. And that is enough!
If you don’t believe in God’s “Plan of Salvation” in Jesus Christ, you will remain a slave to your sin nature and spend eternity spiritually dead, separated from God. This is why you are under God’s wrath. Your fleshly nature is to sin, just like Satan’s nature is to lie. You will live in his domain and by his rules. He cannot tell the truth because it is his very nature to lie.
"You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).
You will continue to sin because you are a sinner. So, you believe his lies and slide down the dark path from sin to debauchery, and finally, death. A death that separates you from God forever and leaves you in hell, outer darkness, or the lake of fire! Therefore, only Jesus plus nothing can save you.
Likewise, Jesus cannot lie because the truth is His very nature.
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can come to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
When you believe in Jesus, you receive a new divine nature, your sins are forgiven, you have eternal life in Heaven, and God's wrath is removed forever.
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
Biblical Jesus Is Sufficient to Save
When we talk about salvation, we’re not talking about an idea, a system, or a set of spiritual “to-dos.” We’re talking about a Person. Jesus—and Jesus alone—is fully able to satisfy the wrath of a holy God and fully meet the demands of His justice. In Him, nothing is missing, and nothing needs to be added.
Because of Jesus, every believer:
is set free by His truth,
born again by the seed of His Word,
purified from sin by His blood,
forgiven through His substitutionary death,
justified by His righteousness given to us,
saved purely by His grace,
reconciled to God through His mediation,
and held eternally secure by His promises.
Let’s walk through each of these slowly and let the Word speak.
Set Free by His Truth
Jesus doesn’t just talk about truth—He is the Truth, and His words break chains we didn’t even realize we were carrying.
"So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
Born Again by the Seed of His Word
New birth isn’t self-improvement or a spiritual makeover. It’s a miracle God works in us through His living Word—something that can’t fade, die, or be undone.
"...for you have been born again not of seed, which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).
Cleansed From Sin by His Blood
We don’t clean ourselves up and then come to God. We come into the light with all that we are, and the blood of Jesus does what we never could—cleanses us from all sin.
"But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
Forgiven By Jesus' Substitutionary Atonement
At the cross, Jesus didn’t just feel sorry for us—He stood in our place. He took what we deserved so we could receive what He deserves. Every wound, every blow, every accusation fell on Him so that true healing could be offered to us.
"But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds, we are healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all to fall on Him. Because He poured out His life unto death and was counted with wrongdoers; yet He Himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the wrongdoers" (Isaiah 53:5-6, 12b).
Justified by His Imputed Righteousness
On our own, we could never stand righteous before God. But in Christ, something stunning happens: our sin is placed on Him, and His righteousness is placed on us. We don’t just get a “second chance”—we get a new standing.
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Saved Based on His Grace
Grace doesn’t just rescue us; it retrains us. The same grace that saves us teaches us how to live—sensible, upright, godly lives while our eyes stay fixed on the hope of seeing Jesus.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds" (Titus 2: 11-14).
Reconciled to God by His Mediation
We were not just distant from God—we were estranged. Through Jesus, God doesn’t simply “tolerate” us again; He brings us near, restores our relationship, and then hands us the privilege of carrying that message of reconciliation to others.
"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Eternally Secure by His Promises
Our security is not anchored in our grip on Jesus, but in His grip on us. The Father gives us to the Son, and the Son promises He will not lose a single one. Our future is not fragile—it is held.
"Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day" (John 6:37-39).
All of this—freedom, new birth, cleansing, forgiveness, righteousness, grace, reconciliation, security—flows from one Source: The biblical Jesus is completely sufficient to save.
Nothing needs to be added. Nothing can be taken away.
Honest Questions About Jesus
Our heartbeat—and what we believe Scripture clearly reveals—is that only Jesus can rescue us from God’s wrath and righteous judgment. No one else qualifies.
That naturally raises some honest questions:
Why is Jesus Christ the only way to be saved from God’s wrath?
Why can’t other religious leaders—like Confucius, Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, or anyone else—save us?
Isn’t it narrow, or even arrogant, to say Jesus is the only way?
Don’t all roads lead to God? Aren’t there many paths, many truths, that could bring salvation?
Those are real questions, and they deserve real answers. The answer, according to the Bible, is actually very straightforward: Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father because He is not just a religious teacher. He is God the Son, the second Person of the Holy Trinity.
He is not a way among many. He is the Way. Therefore, "Jesus Plus Nothing Saves You."
Jesus Christ Is Deity—He Is God
From the earliest days of the church, Christians have confessed this core truth: Jesus is fully God and fully man. This isn’t a side issue or a minor doctrinal detail. It’s central. It’s what the historic creeds—the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and others—were meant to protect and clarify.
When we speak of the deity of Christ, we’re saying:
Jesus is God incarnate—God in human flesh.
He is not merely a prophet, moral teacher, or spiritual guide.
The One called “the Son” in the New Testament is the second Person of the Trinity, sharing the same divine nature, essence, and attributes as the Father and the Spirit.
This belief shapes everything:
how we understand salvation,
how we understand redemption,
how we understand the very nature and heart of God.
If Jesus is not God, then He cannot fully reveal God, cannot fully bear our sin, and cannot be the all-sufficient Savior Scripture claims Him to be. If He is God, then “Jesus plus nothing” isn’t narrow—it’s simply true.
Biblical Evidence for the Deity of Jesus Christ
The Bible gives us a rich, layered picture of who Jesus is. Let’s walk through some of the key passages that affirm His deity.
Key New Testament Passages
John 1:1, 14 – The Word Who Is God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
John doesn’t leave us room to think of Jesus as just a wise teacher. The Word was God—and that Word became flesh. God stepped into human history.
John 10:30 – One with the Father
Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one.”
This wasn’t a poetic metaphor. His Jewish audience understood exactly what He was claiming—and they accused Him of blasphemy because, in their eyes, He was making Himself equal with God. That claim was serious enough to warrant stoning under their law.
John 20:28 – “My Lord and My God”
After the resurrection, doubting Thomas finally sees the risen Christ and blurts out:
“My Lord and my God!”
Jesus doesn’t correct him. He doesn’t say, “No, no, just call Me Teacher.” He receives this worshipful confession as true.
Colossians 2:9 – Fullness of Deity
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
Not a portion, not a reflection, not a hint—all the fullness of Deity in human form.
Philippians 2:6-7 – Equal with God, Yet Humble
“…who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
Jesus already existed in the form of God. He didn’t climb up to divinity; He stepped down from it in humility, taking on true humanity.
Hebrews 1:3 – Exact Representation
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…”
Jesus doesn’t merely point toward God—He perfectly reveals Him. To see Him is to see what God is like.
Old Testament Foreshadowing
Long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Old Testament was already hinting through prophecy at a divine Messiah.
Isaiah 9:6 – The coming child is called “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father.” Those are not titles you give to a mere human leader.
Micah 5:2 – The Messiah is described as One “whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting,” pointing to eternal existence, not just a human beginning.
Genesis 1:26 – “Let Us make man in Our image…”This plural language has long been understood by many Christians as an early hint of the Trinity—a shared divine life and counsel within God Himself.
Scripture also shows Jesus doing the very things only God can do.
Omnipotence & Creation: Jesus is credited with creating all things and sustaining them.
(Colossians 1:16–17, Hebrews 1:3)
Forgiveness of Sins: In Mark 2:5-7, Jesus forgives sins directly. His opponents are outraged because they know only God can truly forgive sins at the deepest level.
Miracles and Authority: He calms storms with a word (Mark 4:39), raises the dead (John 11:43–44), and knows the thoughts of people’s hearts (Matthew 9:4). These are not the acts of a mere teacher—they are the works of divine authority.
Worship: Jesus receives worship from His followers (Matthew 14:33), and Scripture speaks of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Worship is reserved for God alone—yet Jesus receives it rightly.
Why His Deity Matters for Your Salvation
This isn’t just an academic exercise. If you belong to historic, biblical Christianity, the deity of Christ touches the very center of your faith and hope. Believing that Jesus is God shapes:
Atonement – Only a divine Savior could bear the full weight of human sin and satisfy holy justice.
Revelation – Jesus is not just a messenger; He is God’s perfect self-disclosure.
Worship – We don’t just admire Jesus; we adore Him, because He is worthy of the same honor as the Father.
Incarnation – He is fully God and fully man, able to truly represent God to us and us to God.
Trinity – The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are co-equal, co-eternal Persons, one in essence. Jesus stands alongside the Father and the Spirit, not beneath them.
Salvation – There is access to God only through Christ, because only Christ is both God and man, the perfect Mediator.
For centuries, the early church fathers, church councils, and creeds have stood on these truths—not inventing them but guarding what Scripture has already revealed. At the end of the day, it comes down to this: If Jesus is who the Bible says He is—God the Son, fully divine and fully human—then only Jesus, plus nothing else, saves you.
Not because Christianity wants to be narrow, but because reality is narrow at this point: There is only one Person who is both holy God and sin-bearing Savior. And His name is Jesus.
Jesus Is God—the Great “I AM”
When God wanted to reveal His personal Name to His people, He didn’t give a title, a label, or a job description. He gave a simple, breathtaking phrase:
“I AM.”
This Name echoes through Exodus, Isaiah, Revelation, and the Gospel of John. And at the center of it all stands Jesus.
In the Burning Bush: God Reveals His Name
Picture Moses in the wilderness—tired, doing “ordinary” shepherd work—when something extraordinary catches his eye: A bush that’s on fire… but not burning up.
“The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So, Moses said, ‘I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ … ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” Now they may say to me, “What is His name?” What shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’” (Exodus 3:2–3, 13–14)
“I AM WHO I AM.” God names Himself as the One who simply is—the self-existent, eternal, unchanging One. This phrase can sound small and almost easy to skip over, but in Scripture it carries enormous weight. And it becomes very important when we reach the New Testament.
“I AM” and Jesus in the Gospel of John
In Judaism, “I AM” is understood as a divine Name—a way God reveals Himself. So, when Jesus uses this “I am” language about Himself, He isn’t being poetic. He is making a claim to deity.
In Greek, the phrase is ego eimi— “I Am.” When it’s doubled or emphasized, it’s like saying: I AM God. I AM the One.
That’s why, whenever Jesus makes strong “I am” statements—especially when He takes on divine attributes—the religious leaders recognize what He’s doing. They accuse Him of blasphemy and try to stone Him, because in their minds: This man is claiming to be God.
They understood Him clearly. They just didn’t believe Him.
“I Am” in Isaiah: God Alone Forgives
Centuries before Jesus, God speaks through Isaiah and uses this same kind of language:
“I, I alone, am the One who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).
“I, I alone…” It’s the same strong emphasis: I Am God, I Am God. God is making it clear—He alone forgives sins. He alone carries the power and the authority to wipe away guilt. So, when Jesus steps onto the scene and forgives sins and uses “I Am” language, He is stepping right into this divine identity.
“I Am” in Revelation: The Eternal One
The book of Revelation is filled with “I Am” statements, especially in:
Revelation 1:8, 17–18
Revelation 2:8
Revelation 21:6
Revelation 22:13
One of the clearest:
“‘I Am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Revelation 1:8).
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jewish rabbis used to say that God is the Aleph and Tav—the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The meaning is rich:
God is over everything.
There is nothing outside His sovereignty, His understanding, or His capacity.
There is no time beyond His reach.
He is not bound by the clock or the calendar like we are.
Why? Because He is God.
The key takeaway here is this: Christ is fully divine, and He dwells in the eternal present. He is not limited by time because He created time as part of this universe. He does not grow, age, or change. He is the same—yesterday, today, and forever.
The Real Jesus?
Some say He was a great teacher. Some say a prophet.
Some say a man with compassion and wisdom. And He was all of those things.
But He also said something no teacher or prophet would ever say: “I AM.” The same words God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. When Jesus said, “I AM,” He was saying:
“I am God. The One you’ve been searching for. The One who has always loved you. The One who died for you.”
The Jewish people hearing Him knew exactly what He meant.
It wasn’t a metaphor. It wasn’t poetry. It was a declaration.
And that changes everything.
“The Father and I Are One”
Jesus doesn’t just hint at His unity with the Father; He states it plainly.
“The Jews answered, ‘We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God’” (John 10:33).
They heard His words. They saw His claims. They understood that He was presenting Himself as one with the Father, sharing God’s identity and authority. They rejected the claim, but they didn’t misunderstand it.
Seven "I Am" Statements of Jesus
In the Gospel of John, there are seven times Jesus says, "I Am," referring that He is God and offers graces, blessings, forgiveness, and eternal life to those who believe in Him. He uses metaphors with common items to emphasize His divine nature and Godhead. Each of these “I am” proclamations furthers our understanding of Jesus’ ministry in the world and to us today as born-again Christians.
1) Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty" (John 6;35).
"I Am the Bread of Life." Jesus establishes a pattern that continues through John’s gospel—Jesus makes a statement about who He is, and He backs it up with something He does. In this case, Jesus states that He is the bread of life just after He had fed the 5,000 in the wilderness. At the same time, He contrasts what He can do with what Moses had done for their ancestors: “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die”.
2) "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12).
"I Am the light of the world." This comes right before He heals a man born blind. Jesus not only says He is the light; He proves it. Jesus’ words and actions echo Genesis 1:3, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
3) "So, Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:7-9).
"I Am the door." This “I am” statement stresses that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven by any other means than Christ Himself. Jesus’ words in this passage are couched in the imagery of a sheepfold. He is the one and only way to enter the fold. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber”.
4) “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15).
"I Am the Good Shepherd" portrays Jesus' great love and care. He is the One who willingly protects His flock even to the point of death. When Jesus called Himself the good shepherd, He unmistakably took for Himself one of God’s titles in the Old Testament: “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).
5) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies" (John 11:25).
"I Am the Resurrection and the Life" was made immediately before raising Lazarus from the dead. Again, we see that Jesus’ teaching was not just empty talk; when He made a claim, He substantiated it with action. He holds “the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:18). In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus showed how He can fulfill Yahweh’s promise to ancient Israel: “[God’s] dead shall live; their bodies shall rise” (Isaiah 26:19). Apart from Jesus, there is neither resurrection nor eternal life.
6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
"I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life." Jesus is not merely one way among many ways to God; He is the only way. Scripture said that “The very essence of [God’s] words is truth” (Psalm 119:160), and here is Jesus proclaiming that He is the truth—confirming His identity as the Word of God. And Jesus alone is the source of life; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and the Giver of eternal life.
7) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:1, 5).
"I Am the True Vine." The final metaphorical “I am” statement in the Gospel of John emphasizes the sustaining power of Christ. We are the branches, and He is the vine. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it is joined in vital union with the vine, only those who are joined to Christ and receive their power from Him produce fruit in the Christian life.
7 More "I Am" Statements in John's Gospel
The Apostle John in his Gospel states another 7 times that Jesus refers to Himself as God, the "I Am". He reveals Himself to the woman at the well, to the disciples as He walked on water, to the Roman soldiers arresting Him, and to the Jewish Pharisees who were trying to kill Him. The emphasis was on believe in me, do not be afraid, believe in Me or die in your sins, believe the Father sends Me, believe I Am God before Abraham, and to be identified by Judas who betrayed Him.
Jesus said to her (the woman at the well), “I who speak to you am He” (John 4:26).
"Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid” (John 6:19-20).
"Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
So, Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me" (John 8:26).
"Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.' Therefore, they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple" (John 8:58).
"From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” (John 13:19).
"They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So, when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground" (John 18:5-6).
What This Means for Us
When Jesus calls Himself “I Am,” He is not borrowing language carelessly. He is consciously stepping into the divine Name revealed at the burning bush, affirmed in the prophets, and echoed in Revelation.
The God who spoke from the burning bush…
The God who said, “I Am who I Am” …
The God who alone forgives sins, stands outside time, and holds all things together…
That God has come near in the person of Jesus Christ.
So, when we say Jesus is God—the Great “I Am”, we’re not using poetic language. We are echoing Scripture’s own witness: The eternal God of Israel, the Alpha and Omega, the One who was and is and is to come, is fully present in Jesus. Jesus is God the Great "I Am"
The only conclusion is that Jesus is God, the great "I AM."
Jesus from Heaven, Jesus on Earth, Jesus returns to Heaven
All other religious leaders were mere men. Were they religious men, probably; wise men, possibly; men sent from God in heaven, no. Only Jesus is God.
He was not just a good man, though He was.
Jesus was not just a prophet, though He was.
He was not just a great teacher or Jewish Rabbi though He was. Jesus was God before He came to earth. He was fully God and fully man while He walked on this earth. He is God right now in heaven. Therefore, Jesus says,
"I Am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’…And He laid His right hand upon me (Apostle John) saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I Am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead and, behold, I Am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Hell)” (Revelation 1:8,17,18).
Lunatic or God?
It is why C.S. Lewis, a great apologist of our time, wrote the following, in his book A Grief Observed,
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic, on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg, or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man Jesus was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool (as the Romans did), or you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon (as the Jews did), or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God (as all Christians do). But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great moral teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
YOU MUST DECIDE
Respond to Jesus!
Only Jesus came from Heaven. Only Jesus lived a perfect life without sin. He took all the sins of the world upon Himself. Only Jesus died on the cross for all sins, past—present —future. He descended into hell to defeat death. Only Jesus rose from the dead. He ascended back into heaven. Only Jesus has prepared a home in heaven for all who believe in Him. Only Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father.
At the cross of Christ, all man’s sins were forgiven. At the resurrection of Christ, all humanity was restored to eternal life—reconciled to God. God is calling you to Himself. It is a free gift, but you must respond!
"Today, if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 4:7). "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling (to Jews) and a rock of offense (to Gentiles), and he who believes in Jesus will not be disappointed" (Rom 9:33).
The Exclusivity of Jesus
The Apostles Paul and Peter, and even Jesus Himself, that Salvation came exclusively through Jesus. There is no other name between heaven and earth to be saved. There is one mediator between God and men, His name is Jesus. There is no way to Heaven, no truth of Heaven, and no life from Heaven except through Jesus.
Peter said, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Paul said, "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"(1 Timothy 2:5).
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, No One comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
The appropriate response to the calling of God is to believe by faith in Jesus.
Do You Believe In Jesus?
Accept Jesus and Escape God's Wrath
Accepting Jesus is the only escape from God's wrath, sin. spiritual death, and eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire. Accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior is more than saying a prayer; it's believing in your heart by faith. The following tells you how and why!
In my testimony, all I ever taught my kids was Jesus. That only Jesus, plus nothing, can save you. If anyone adds anything to Jesus, it is no longer the good news of Jesus Christ. Well, Jesus is all I ever teach to anyone, even to this day. I can’t separate Jesus from any part of the Holy Scriptures. He is all in all. He is the manifestation of God’s grace, truth, and light. He is the manifestation of God’s love and mercy. So, this blog is all about the revelation of Jesus Christ. Believe in Jesus, and the gift of salvation and grace is yours, forever and ever and ever. Even though the following Scripture is for the Jewish nation, it also applies to every born-again Christian.
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
Salvation and grace are all free gifts from God.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
This message of salvation is manifested to us through the works of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the gospel, the good news, and all we will ever need for forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and godliness. Jesus is the absolute and perfect expression of the Father in heaven.
You Must Believe the Biblical Jesus!
To continue our discussion on “who is Jesus?” and why only Jesus plus nothing saves you we will now examine how the Bible describes Jesus' Deity. God’s Word is clear about the essence, character, and purpose of Jesus Christ, the promised and foretold Jewish Messiah. Why do we go to the Bible? The Bible is God-breathed and given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, what does the Bible say about Jesus Christ?
This is not an exhaustive list, just enough to give you a hint of His Majesty. Jesus was God in heaven (in unity with the Trinity) who created the world. Not only did He create but He holds all things together. He is the light that dissipates the darkness. Jesus became flesh and lived among His creation (Emmanuel-God with us). He brought grace (love and mercy) and truth to a dying world. Jesus explained the radiance of God the Father, which is the exact representation of His nature. He literally is the image of God. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is mankind’s salvation and eternal life. Is it any wonder that all believers live, move, and exist in Him?
 "In the beginning, was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him, not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it” (John 1: 1-5). |
 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior because He existed before me.’” For of His fullness, we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:14-18). |
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"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). |
 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17). |
 "But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined to the faith that was destined to be revealed. Therefore, the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:22-26). |
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"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2: 4-7). |
 "For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ (Acts 17:28). |
 "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:1-4). |
 "And after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31). |
 "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). |
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"Who are chosen, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you" (1 Peter 1:1b, 2). |
How Are Christians Saved?
Believe in Jesus
"But as many, as received Him, to them, He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
The following are a few ways of describing how Jesus' cross and resurrection save every Christian. Jesus saves you by God's grace alone and not by works, through faith alone in Him, from sin's punishment and power, because of God's love and mercy; based on Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, at the moment of faith, and throughout all eternity.
By God's Grace Alone, not of Works
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph 2: 8-9).
Through Faith in Christ Alone
"The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
From Sin's Punishment
"in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9).
Because of God's Love and Mercy
"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
On the Basis of Jesus Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection (Gospel)
"Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor 15:1-4).
At the Moment of Faith
"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Throughout All Eternity
"And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9).
Conditions of the Heart
People may recite a prayer believing they are sincere, yet they might not be. The Parable of the Sower provides insight into this. It emphasizes the importance of not only hearing God's Word but also truly believing it by faith from the heart (mind, will). As it is said, "For with the heart, a person believes," leading to adherence, trust, and reliance on Jesus, which brings about righteousness, justification, and salvation.
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus illustrates four manners in which we receive God's Word and four corresponding ways it manifests in the depths of our believing or unbelieving hearts. The essence of the Parable of the Sower is that the reception and belief in God's Word are contingent upon the state of one's heart.
“Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately because they had no depth of soil. But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. The one who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:3-9).
Now Jesus explains the parable.
“Listen then to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much” (Matthew 13:18-23).
But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance" (Luke 8:15).
Therefore, Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower highlights four different responses to the gospel. The seed is “the word of the kingdom.”
The hard ground (road) represents someone whose heart is hardened by sin; he hears but does not understand the Word, and Satan plucks the message away, keeping the heart dull and preventing the Word from making an impression.
The stony ground pictures a man who professes delight with the Word; however, his heart is not changed, and when trouble arises, his so-called faith quickly disappears.
The thorny ground depicts one who seems to receive the Word, but whose heart is full of riches, pleasures, and lusts; the things of this world take his time and attention away from the Word, and he ends up having no time for it.
The good ground portrays the one who hears, understands, and receives the Word, and then allows the Word to accomplish its result in his life. The man represented by the “good ground” is the only one of the four who is truly saved, because salvation’s proof is fruit (Matthew 3:7-8, 7:15-20).
Simply put, your heart determines what and how you believe by faith. The bad grounds are where the heart is hardened by sin, and Satan plucks away the message of the word. Also, the heart is not changed, and faith disappears quickly. The heart is distracted from the world by riches, pleasures, and lusts, and steals our time and attention. It is where the heart is dull, preventing the Word from making an impression. The only hearts that hear, understand, and receive the Word are truly saved that bear fruit.
Is Repentance Necessary to be Saved?
Before examining how we can demonstrate our faith, belief, and trust in the fact that only Jesus can save us, let's first define what it means to repent and consider whether repentance of sins, along with faith in Jesus, saves you, as some might suggest. The answer is a definite NO! If this is true, then you would be responsible for doing something, repenting. This would be Jesus plus repentance.
However, if by repentance you mean changing your mind about something, someone, or an institution that has the power to save you other than Jesus, then the answer is yes. Repentance can be interpreted as either. The meaning of the word is determined by its context.
A crucial law of biblical hermeneutics is that Scripture is interpreted in the context in which it was written. Understanding a passage or word contextually involves meaning within the sentence, paragraph, chapter, book, and entire Bible. I believe there is a semantic fallacy that applies to the meaning of repentance. It is called the error of totality transfer.
Error of Totality Transfer
The "error of totality transfer" is a semantic fallacy in which one assumes that a word consistently includes its full range of meanings in every context. This occurs when a word has multiple meanings, and one mistakenly applies all of them to a specific use of the word, disregarding the context and the word's more precise meaning. I think this concept occurs when trying to understand repentance. Most people, including theologians, believe repentance pertains solely to sins.
The debate is whether repentance of sins is necessary before you believe in Jesus to be saved. This implies that repentance of sins plus Jesus saves you. What is important is that you acknowledge you are a sinner, or else why would you need a Savior? That not repentance.
The other point of view is that you believe by faith in Jesus, and you are saved. You are immediately filled with the Holy Spirit, empowering the spiritually born-again Christian to acknowledge and repent of their sins. It is a daily part of maturing in the Christian faith. This process of becoming more like Christ is called sanctification. Salvation leads to repentance, NOT Repentance leads to Salvation.
Definition of Repentance
The Greek word for repent is metanoeo. It means “to change one’s mind” or “turn around” in a way that involves a change in thought, behavior, and attitude. The concept of metanoia goes beyond mere regret or remorse for past actions. It involves a conscious decision to turn away from sin and align one's life with God's will. This transformation is an emotional response and a deliberate choice to pursue righteousness and holiness.
It is often translated as "repentance," highlighting the necessity of a sincere change of heart and mind as a response to God's grace. The order is God initiating His grace and man responding with faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). In Hebrews, it is often translated as "repentance" or "return," reflecting a similar concept of turning back to God. These Hebrew terms emphasize the importance of repentance as a return to God and a transformation of one's life following His will.
Most theologians agree with these definitions of repentance. Naturally, in the Christian life, repentance is essential when it comes to yielding to temptation regarding specific sins. The following Scriptures are addressed to Christians for the repentance of sin once saved.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
"Bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8).
"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
"Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4).
"Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25).
What is Saving Repentance?
First, we must answer, "What is saving repentance?" Saving repentance is not: being sorry for your sins, is not turning away from sin or reforming your life, is not the willingness to turn your life over to God so that He can direct your paths, and most importantly, saving repentance is not repenting of your sins before you believe in Jesus. These are statements you might hear from today's pulpits. Saving repentance has absolutely nothing to do with regretting your sins or resolving to turn from them. God is willing to save you just the way you are. Grace, as God's "undeserved favor" to His creation, is a gift given freely.
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Saving Repentance is to stop trusting in gaining eternal life through religion, religious rituals, obedience to God's laws, works, and ideologies. You must change your worldview. Those who believe that eternal life can be earned through good works (behaviors) or religions, rituals, and ideologies (proper thinking) are commanded in Scriptures to change their minds and repent.
The Biblical command is clear. If anyone believes that his religion will get him into heaven, he must repent (Matthew 3:7-9). If anyone believes that obeying the laws of God is necessary to save him, he must repent (Luke 13:1-5). If you believe that you must perform some religious rites or sacraments, you must repent and stop trusting in any of those things to save you (Hebrews 6:1).
The author of Hebrews refers to them as "dead works." It is not possible to simply include Jesus among various other actions or qualities needed for entry into heaven. You must completely reject, change your mindset, and repent of those other things, recognizing they hold no saving power, and place your faith solely in Jesus Christ.
IF faith is the hand that accepts Salvation through Jesus Christ Alone,
THEN, Repentance is the hand that rejects salvation by any other means.
Therefore, saving faith does not simply affirm that Jesus' death is necessary; it must believe and affirm that His death alone is enough! That it is sufficient all by itself to pay for your sins apart from any human effort, and it is a free gift. Jesus said on the cross, "It Is Finished," meaning I have accomplished all that is necessary for mankind to be saved from sin (cross) and death (resurrection).
"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly” (Galatians 2:21).
"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.' Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith (nor any other work or ritual).” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:10-14).
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision (Jewish law, rules, and ritual to be saved), Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness" (Galatians 5:1-5).
"Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor (free gift), but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness ... For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified" (Romans 4:1-5, 14).
A Detailed Example of Saving Repentance (not repentance of sins)
Acts 20:21 Is the Perfect Example of the Importance of Context
“… solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Some would say, “Doesn’t this passage teach that faith and repentance are not synonymous and that repentance is a separate requirement?” You need repentance and faith in that order.
Paul is summarizing his ministry in Ephesus and what he solemnly proclaimed to both Jews and Greeks, specifically, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The two words, repentance and faith, are joined by one article in the Greek text, which indicates that the two are inseparable, though each focuses on a different aspect of the one requirement of salvation, namely, faith in Christ. We can legitimately translate it like this. “Solemnly testifying … a change of mind about God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In context, repentance focuses on changing one’s mind about their previous conception of God, or disbelief in God, or false beliefs (polytheism and idolatry) about God.
"For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Therefore, Paul is emphasizing the distinction between the particular needs of Gentiles and Jews. Gentiles who were polytheistic (many gods) and idol worshipers needed to change their minds and realize that only one true God exists in the person of Jesus. Only now can they believe by faith in Jesus.
"When they heard these things, they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance (a change of mind) that leads to life” (Acts 11:18).
The Jews needed to change their minds and believe that Jesus was resurrected, thus realizing that He is their true Messiah. On the other hand, belief in Christ, as an expression of a change of mind, focuses on the new direction that change about God must take, namely, trusting in Christ, God’s Son, as personal Savior and repenting of their umbilical interpretation of Judaism.
More Scriptures That Can Denote Saving Repentance
"I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance (change your mind about anything that is not the will of God) without regret, leading to salvation (belief in Jesus), but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (change your false beliefs) and believe in the gospel (Jesus' death, burial, & resurrection)" (Mark 1:15).
"Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works (change your beliefs, world view) and of faith toward God" (Hebrews 6:1).
"Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance (change your worldview) toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21).
"When they heard these things, they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance (a change of mind) that leads to life” (Acts 11:18).
Turn Away from Manmade Religions
All Religions are "Manmade and Merit-based." An example of saving repentance would be repenting of the belief that the Roman Catholic church saves you. The Roman Catholics say works (keeping the sacraments, church doctrines, and tradition) plus Jesus saves you. In this case, you must change your mind and turn your belief and faith that only Jesus can save you, not the church. Only after you accept that truth can Jesus save you by grace through faith. Every religion adds to Salvation its truth or requirements to be saved.
Paul, the Apostle, takes the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ seriously. He warns us of a different Gospel, a distortion of grace. Anyone, even Angels, who teaches and distorts the truth of Christ is to be accursed. At the core of false teachings is that man is saved by works or any other means apart from or added to Jesus.
"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!" (Galatians 1:6-9).
"For we maintain that a man is justified (saved) by faith apart from works of the Law" (Romans 3:28).
It is true whether it be a Christian-like religion:
Roman Catholicism (observing the sacraments, tradition, confessing to a Priest, Mary and Saint worship, the pope as Vicar of Christ (only the Holy Spirit takes the place of Christ), merits and rituals, plus Jesus).
Legalistic Protestantism (keeping the 10 Commandments, continual confession of sins for forgiveness, works to stay saved, repentance of sins to be saved, merits and doctrine, plus Jesus).
Mormonism (the ultimate works-oriented religion that promises salvation and one day, if you keep the rules, you will be a God and rule your own planet, works and doctrine, plus Jesus)
Seventh Day Adventist (you’re only to worship God on Saturday, and if you don’t, you're not a true Christian, founded on false doctrines, merits and doctrine, plus Jesus).
Jehovah's Witnesses (don’t believe in the Trinity, based on one man’s biblical interpretations, only 144,000 people will go to heaven, door-to-door witnessing required, works and doctrines plus Jesus).
It is true whether it be a world religion:
Buddhism (following the seven-fold path, works with no belief in Jesus).
Hinduism (bathing in the Ganges River to wash away sins, polytheist, works and teaching with no belief in Jesus).
Islam (praying five times a day, making a pilgrimage to Mecca, and ridding the world of all who do not believe in Allah, works with no belief in Jesus).
It is true whether you're a secular humanist or a Jesus hater.
New Age Ideology (humans are good, moving into a new age of enlightenment, and the world will live in harmony without Jesus, doctrines without Jesus).
Secularism (human knowledge, enlightenment, and science are ultimate truths and replace God, life without Jesus).
Atheism (there is no God, yes, it’s a religion, rejection of and life without Jesus).
Agnosticism (skepticism, maybe there’s a God, but it can’t be proved, so I don’t know, life without Jesus).
Idolatry (worshiping anything before God—political parties, addictions, strategies, materialism, wealth, comfort, world isms—communism, Marxism, socialism, totalitarianism; music, media, creation, pagan idols, sexuality, life without Jesus).
Every religion, and all are manmade, except Christianity, are based on merit or how well you keep the moral laws or religious rites. Therefore, you must repent of your worldview, change your mind, and turn to Jesus as your Savior.
Only Christianity is based on a person, rather than moral codes and rituals, the God/Man Jesus Christ. Please see my post The Bible's Central Figure is Jesus for details. Click Below www.fullerofgraceandtruth.com/post/the-bible-s-main-truth-is-jesus-christ
The Five Solas of Christianity Necessary for Salvation
The five Solas are five Latin phrases popularized during the Protestant Reformation that emphasized the distinctions between the early Reformers and the Roman Catholic Church. The word sola is the Latin word for “only” and was used in relation to five key teachings that defined the biblical pleas of Protestants.
1. Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone”
2. Sola fide: “faith alone”
3. Sola gratia: “grace alone”
4. Solo Christo: “Christ alone”
5. Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone”
At the start of the Reformation, each of these Solas can be seen both as a corrective to the excesses (heresy) of the Roman Catholic church or any manmade religion, and as a positive biblical declaration of truth.
Solo Christo “through Christ alone”) emphasizes the role of Jesus in salvation. The Roman Catholic tradition had placed church leaders, such as priests, in the role of intercessor between the laity and God. Reformers emphasized Jesus’ role as our “high priest” who intercedes on our behalf before the Father. Hebrews 4:15 teaches,
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus is the One who offers access to God, not a human spiritual leader."
This concept of "Jesus Alone" or "Jesus Plus Nothing" is imperative, crucial, and necessary to implement true Salvation from sin and eternal death. Jesus alone is sufficient!
Sola Scriptura emphasizes the Bible alone as the source of authority for Christians. By saying, “Scripture alone,” the Reformers rejected both the divine authority of the Roman Catholic Pope and confidence in sacred tradition. Only the Bible was “inspired by God” (2 Peter 1:20-21) and “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Anything taught by the Pope, or any world religion, or in tradition that contradicted the Bible was to be rejected or repented of before you could believe by faith in Jesus and be saved.
Sola Fide emphasizes salvation as a free gift to all who accept it by faith (John 3:16). The Roman Catholic church of the time emphasized the use of indulgences (donating money) to buy status with God. Good works, including baptism, were seen as required for salvation. Salvation is not based on human effort or good deeds (Ephesians 2:9). Therefore, any religion that adds to this truth you must change your mind through repentance to be saved.
Sola Gratia emphasizes grace as the reason for our salvation. In other words, salvation comes from what God has done rather than what we do. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches,
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Any other view must be repented of to accept Jesus as Savior.
Soli Deo Gloria emphasizes the glory of God as the goal of life. Rather than striving to please church leaders, keep a list of rules, or guard our own interests, our goal is to glorify the Lord. The idea of soli Deo gloria is found in:
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Salvation is believing in Jesus Alone, and all to the glory of God Alone.
Believe it or not, this is heresy to the Roman Catholic church, which proclaimed at the Council of Trent(s) that anyone who believed just one of these Solas was excommunicated, an anathema, meaning dammed to hell and cursed to eternal damnation. This was because Roman Catholicism believes Jesus plus the church saves you. All of the tortures, burnings at the stake, and beheadings of Protestants in the Dark Ages were due to these erroneous beliefs. You can see how a Roman Catholic must repent of such heresies before they can truly believe in the Biblical Jesus. These are all examples of saving repentance. This is a big deal since there are millions of unknowing Catholics whose eternal destiny is in jeopardy.
For detailed information on Roman Catholic heresies, see my seven-part series, Are Roman Catholics Christian or Heretics? There are seven (7) major differences between Roman Catholic Doctrine and Biblical Christianity. They are a different Church, different Authority, different Jesus, different Gospel, different Mary, different View of Sin, and a different Path to Eternity. www.fullerofgraceandtruth.com/post/are-roman-catholics-christians-or-heretics-3
Why the Gospel of John was Written
The stated purpose of the Gospel of John is to bring men to faith in Christ, yet John never once uses the word repent, not once. If repentance, when used in connection with eternal salvation, is a separate or distinct requirement from faith in Christ, then Apostle John does not give the whole gospel.
"Therefore, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31).
Thus, any requirement added to Jesus, such as repentance, is not supported by the Bible. Repentance of sins occurs after salvation, which is achieved solely through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing extra is necessary. Jesus alone is adequate and sufficient to save anyone who believes in Him from God's wrath, sin, and eternal death!!!
Are There Steps I Can Take to Demonstrate Faith in Jesus?
There aren't necessarily steps or formulas you can take to demonstrate your faith in Jesus. But there are some essential things you need to believe by faith. Therefore, search your heart and see if God is calling you to receive His Son Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. The following are general truths that will help you understand God's Plan of Salvation.
TODAY DON'T HARDEN YOUR HEART
"Today, if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 4:7).
ADMIT YOU ARE A SINNER
"For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
YOU ARE DEAD IN YOUR SIN
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
SEE YOU ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD, SPIRITUALLY DEAD
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins (spiritual death), in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2).
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
"Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE
"Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).
REALIZE GOD LOVES YOU
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR YOU
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners (unforgiven and spiritually dead), Christ died for us. Much more than, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Romans 5:6,8,9).
CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in justification (righteousness), and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed" (Romans 10:8-11).
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
"Nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified (made righteous) 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" (Galatians 2:16).
JESUS DIED FOR ALL, RAISED FROM DEATH TO LIFE
"And He died for all so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf" (2 Corinthians 5:15).
CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
"For the Scripture says, whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame (disappointed). For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom 10:8-11).
Decision Time
Would you agree that you are a sinner?
Would you like to be forgiven for your sins?
Would you like to have eternal life in Heaven?
Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
Are you willing to place your faith in Jesus and what He alone has done for you? This means agreeing with God in sending His Son, Jesus, into the world to die in your place for your sins.
Also, it means setting aside trusting in yourself, your own ideas about God, your good works, or any other path to God and Heaven. Are you willing to repent, change your mind, and believe by faith that Jesus Alone Saves You?
Do you want to place your faith and your trust in Jesus Christ right now for the forgiveness of your sins and receive God's gift of eternal life?
Respond to God's Call
Now is the time to respond to God’s calling. All that is necessary is to believe and have faith in Jesus, the Savior of the world. Your Savior. God is calling you to pray and be thankful. God is the only one who can save you. He does so according to His sovereign will and purposes. He calls His children to run to the living waters and drink freely. He offers Salvation as a free gift of His choosing. He is now calling you to respond to His initiation of grace and love through confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart. God the Father draws you to Jesus. Jesus sets you free from sin and death. God, the Holy Spirit, gives you life, eternal life. You can now, by faith, trust in what the Triune God has done for you.
If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, repeat the following prayer. All praise and glory to God Almighty!
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Dear Heavenly Father, I now see that I am a sinner, that I cannot save myself, and that I need a Savior. I repent of believing that I could be saved in any way other than Jesus (works, religion, anything). I am also spiritually dead, separated from God under His wrath. I believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was God in heaven. He came to earth to identify with His creation as “Emmanuel,” God with us. Jesus was born of a virgin, making Him fully human. He was conceived by God the Holy Spirit, making Him fully God. Jesus lived a perfect life, tempted in every way, yet without sin. He died on the cross as a substitute for my sins, giving me complete and total forgiveness (past, present, future). He rose from the grave, defeating death and giving me eternal life. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for all who believe by faith in Him. And He will come again to judge the world of unbelief. I believe by faith that Jesus is my only savior and my only way to God the Father and heaven. Thank you, Jesus. In Jesus’ glorious and saving name, I pray, amen.
There is no magic in saying this prayer or any prayer of Salvation. It is only a way to confess with your mouth and demonstrate that you believe only in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. In fact, it can lead to what many call "easy believism." The truth is that many say this prayer and believe they are saved, but they are not. What saves you is Jesus and a personal encounter with Him. God the Father draws you to Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin, a need for a Savior, and convinces you that He is real, and the ONLY way, truth, and life. This is a born-again and regenerated experience.
What Happens When You Are Saved?
It's important to examine your heart and understand that there are no formulas or shortcuts to Salvation. You must believe in Jesus Christ by faith. He is the object of and reason for your faith. When this happens, and only God knows, the following transformation will take place. The following are just a few changes that take place when you truly believe and are born again.
You will be born again and regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will immediately reside in you.
All your sins past, present, and future are forgiven.
You are justified; the righteousness of God is imputed to you.
You are spiritually and eternally alive in Christ Jesus.
Jesus lives in you, and you live in Christ.
There is no condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus.
You will live forever in the presence of the Holy Trinity.
Nothing can separate you from the love of God.
You became a child of God, and you belong to His family.
You are assured of going the heaven.
You have a friend who understands what you are going through and is there to help you in times of need.
Prayer of Thanks
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your “great love” and that you are “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4), to me and all who love you. “Because of Your great love (loving-kindness, mercies) I am not consumed, for Your compassion will never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” Lord unto me (Lam 3:22, 23). Father God, it is of great comfort to me that Your plans for me are “plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future” (Jer 29:11), that when I am faithless You remain faithful (2 Tim 2:11), and that nothing can separate me from Your love (Rom. 8:39). I ask right now Father that “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10) in my new life. That you would open my eyes and that I might see the Salvation of the Lord in my daily walk. Thank You, Father, for saving me from my sins and giving me eternal life in Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I pray in Jesus’ loving and saving name. Amen.
Conclusion
When you strip away the religious noise, this whole message really comes down to one big, beautiful question: Are you prepared to meet the real Jesus? Not the Jesus of vague memory, childhood religion, or cultural clichés—but the Jesus of Scripture, the One who actually saves.
The heart of it is simple: Jesus plus nothing saves you. Not Jesus plus your best behavior. Not Jesus plus willpower and spiritual performance. Not Jesus plus the right church, the right background, or a spotless past. Just Jesus. Every human being is born with the same problem: we have a sin nature, and we are spiritually dead, separated from God. Because of that, we desperately need to be saved—from sin, from death, and from the wrath of a holy God. Salvation means being brought back home to God forgiven, made alive, and restored to a relationship with the One who made us.
This message gently walks through three big questions:
Why do I need to be saved? Because without Christ, we remain sinners, spiritually dead, and cut off from God forever.
What does it mean to be saved? It means sin forgiven at the cross, death defeated through Jesus’ resurrection, and our spirits brought to life with His eternal life.
How am I saved? Not by trying harder or cleaning ourselves up, but by believing in and trusting Jesus alone—who He is and what He has done.
The “real Jesus” of the Bible is not just a good teacher or gentle healer. He is God the Son, fully God and fully man, the only One qualified to bear our sin and satisfy God’s justice. Because of Jesus, those who believe in Him are set free by His truth, born again by His Word, cleansed by His blood, forgiven through His sacrifice, declared righteous by His righteousness, saved by His grace, reconciled to God, and held eternally secure by His promises.
In contrast, rejecting God’s way in Christ leaves a person under the influence of the father of lies, still enslaved to sin, and facing eternal separation from God.
In the end, this isn’t just doctrine on a page—it’s an invitation. If salvation depended on us, we would lose it. But salvation rests on Jesus, and He does not fail. The call is to stop trusting in “Jesus plus me” and to rest in Jesus plus nothing. To believe in Him, receive His life, and step into the freedom, forgiveness, and security He offers.
Grace and truth, all the way through—and all of it found in Him.
Thank You for Reading this Theological/Technical Post, May the Lord Jesus Christ Richly Bless You!
Grace and Truth Be with You. Bill Fuller
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