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Was talking with my boyfriend about salvation, we can make out 3 possible routes to salvation with one obvious winner...which we couldn't quite define:

1) Confess Christ as Son of God, God incarnate, the risen Lord.

Satan does this, but it not saved. BF pointed out beliefism was a danger.

2) Good works

Sermon on the Mount, for example, shows even the righteous fall short of the glory of God and need God's grace. Humans cannot achieve salvation through good works alone - otherwise the old covenant would be enough and no need for a new one in Christ. Plus, BF added the rebel/thief on the cross is saved without good works so it must be possible.

3) Being "in relationship with Jesus/God"

How would one define this differently from points 1 and 2? Or at all? We settled on this one, but kind of scratched our heads on how to define it beyond simply an ineffable experience...

Just wondering what your thoughts were...

The first thing I heard come out my mouth when saved was "I KNOW WHOM I TRUST" I heard myself say that. At the time I never even thought about what to say...it was the Holy Spirit giving me what to say as a testimony to the man I was with.

Fellowship with sufferings.

Dependence. We pray to him who can save us from death and we are heard because of reverence. The eye cannot say to the ear I don't need you.

Dear Dani, in Acts 4:12 we read "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." To have a personal relationship with God we must belong to Him and just how is that done?

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
 
Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, . . .

Romans 12:3  . . .God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
 
Matthew 17:20  Jesus said unto them, . .  If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say . . .   

What small amount of faith did the thief exhibit to be saved? Romans 10:9  That if thou shall say with thy mouth the Lord Jesus . . .

The thief only said in Luke 23:42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. Wow, you mean that's all there is to it?

YES! Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Acts 16:30-31  . . . Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

A Christian is a disciple of what Christ taught.  To become a disciple you had to request A good conscience or A holy spirit. In 2 Corinthians 3 this "conversion" (equated to bapism by Jesus and Luke in Acts) is required to be able to read BLACK text on BROWN paper.

A relationship is that to Master Teacher and Disciple. A "personal" relationship would demand personally seeing the Risen Christ and having friendly relationship.  In most religions, when you read the "scriptures" inspired by that "god" it had the same meaning as an "in person" relation. Our relationship is "by faith" and not by "sight" which makes our faith more powerful than one who had seen supernatural signs.

Being saved means to be added to the Church by Christ when we request it at baptism (1 Pete3:21). That is how BAPTISM SAVES us says Peter.

The issue is whether you want to become a Christian Scholar or just want some assurance. But, you cannot become a mathematics scholar just by believing in addition and subtraction.

Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:
        for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
        and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him

Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:31 And they said,
        Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
        and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

You have to hear the Gospel before you can "believe on" the Lord Jesu Christ.

So, Paul knew that he had to preach the word of the Lord to the man because he still did not believe.  Preaching the gospel demanded preaching what Jesus had taught.

    Acts 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

    Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
    Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

    Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
            and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Something funny happened: when Paul preached the word of the Lord, the jailer showed repentance and wanted to be baptized. Where, oh, where did he get any hint of baptism if Paul was not sent to baptize?  Preaching the gospel preaches baptism which is how God forgives our sins which makes us "a new creature."

    Acts 16:33 And he (jailer) took them the same hour of the night,
            and washed their stripes;
            and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

After the Jailer and his inmates heard the GOSPEL they were baptized INSTANTLY without permission from others: only Jesus can ADD you to the church AFTER He has cleansed you.

Now, after baptism he is a BELIEVER and he HAS been saved:

Acts 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced,
        believing in God with all his house

Reading posts and all is well and good unto salvation. God bless you for that but to have a personal relationship is more than a saving experience. Just think about it...How many relationships have you developed over the years and how did you retain them? TRUST. FELLOWSHIP IN SUFFERINGS. DEPENDENCE. LOVING AS BROTHERS-MERCY.

Symbiosis.

A personal relationship:

In a discussion with someone on a forum the following reply was made to a post that contained a statement about "a personal relationship with God.