The twelve demands of Scripture

To get us started thinking “outside the box,” we have identified and boiled down from all sides in this great debate what we are calling “The Twelve Demands of Scripture for Salvation and Eternal Life.” we believe they are clear, emphatic, and inescapable. We also think they are exhaustive. See if you agree with them. Also can you think of any we have missed and that we must also satisfy?

The Twelve Demands of Scripture for Salvation and Eternal Life

God’s numerous statements that He will do all He pleases (Isa. 46:10-11; 14:24, 27; 55:11; Psa. 33:11; 115:3; 135:6; Dan. 4:35; Job 23:13; 42:2; Heb. 6:17) and “work(s) out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Eph. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:9). This includes God’s “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9) and “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4), so that “all” who die “in Adam” will eventually “all” be saved “in Christ.” (Rom. 3:23-24; 5:12, 15, 18-19; 1 Cor. 15:22-23).
Grace abounding much more than sin (Rom. 5:15, 20).
Jesus being God’s only provision for and the means of salvation and eternal life as “the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:10).
A special-ness and incentives for those who believe, are saved, and obedient in this life.
Salvation only coming to a person after hearing about it (Rom. 10:13-14, 17).
Salvation only coming to a person after the Father having “mercy on them all” (Rom. 11:32), “drawing” (John 6:44), “enabling” (John 6:65), “un-hardening” (Rom. 9:18; 11:7-10), and/or “re-grafting” them in again (Rom. 11:23).
Salvation only coming to a person after a “willing” and conscious profession of faith and belief, and placing one’s trust in Christ and his work on the cross and resurrection from the dead—all people must do this to be saved (Rom. 10:4, John 1:12; 3:15, 36; 6:47; 8:24). Those who do not so “believe” (per #5, #6, #7), are not saved, do not enter heaven, nor have eternal life. Instead, they are “condemned” (Mark 16:16; John 5:28-29; Jude 4) and “God’s wrath remains” on them (John3:36).
Given the paucity, if not total non-existence, of scriptural support for the orthodox, traditional, and modern-day doctrine and understanding of “hell,” we must reconsider this mainstay of Christianity as not being part of God’s plan of afterlife punishment and/or redemption.
But “eternal” judgment, punishment, loss of rewards, and fire are certainly real and part of God’s justice and wrath in the afterlife—for both unbelievers and believers. For as the Scriptures state: “The law of the LORD is perfect . . . . the judgments of the LORD true and righteous . . . . By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psa. 19:7-11). These must be retained as clear consequences not only of unbelief but also for disobedience. The question is, are these to be understood in retributive terms, in restorative terms, or both?
The individual reality frequently spoken of as both “perishing” and “destruction” must also be worked into this synthesis.
The fate of the “un-evangelized” (those who never heard about Christ or the gospel of salvation) must be better explained than has been done to date. These include those who died as: unborns, infants, young children, mentally disabled, pre-Christ heathen, and post-Christ heathen.
If all the above demands are true and reconcilable in a proposed synthesis fashion, then several other major concepts in modern-day Christianity will have to be readdressed and redefined in better agreement with what the Scriptures actually present and with more accuracy than what is currently being taught and preached today. These include: evangelism, missions, eternal security, the Great Commission, and even the question of what is the gospel.

Sources:

1 Hell Yes / Hell No by John Noe