It's one thing to say "I believe in Jesus," but for such a statement to have any real meaning, the person "Jesus" must be definitively identified in some way, as well as what He saves us from. Trust in my rich Hispanic friend, whose first name happens to be Jesus, to save me from an overdrawn bank account is not the saving faith the Bible speaks of.
So, how can we definitively identify the Jesus of whom we are speaking? I suppose if we list enough details of his life on earth we can distinguish him from all other humans of history. That still seems rather meaningless. Instead of some list of details, what about Jesus distinguishes Him from everything else in the universe or outside of it? What is it about His very being that makes Him unique? The clear answer in my mind is that He is the God-man: One who is both a part of our own race and God Himself. An enormously important angel, as JW's believe, only distinguishes Him by degree from other angels. As the God-man, He is absolutely unique and trusting in Him means we are trusting in God Himself as both Old and New Testaments tell us to do. "Jesus" means "Jehovah saves" and indeed He does.
Now, from what does He save us? We need look no further than Matthew 1:21. "You shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." Trusting in Jesus as savior involves recognizing that I have a problem with sin in my being. Sin enslaves me, Jesus frees me. Sin destroys my soul, Jesus heals my soul. Sin makes me guilty and deserving a penalty, Jesus absorbs that penalty.
So there isn't a big list of dogma to which we must agree to be saved, but we must identify our savior in a meaningful way and we must know what "savior" means to us as well.
That, I believe, is it. I must believe that there is a God-man who is both willing and able to save me from my sin.
I consider many other things important, but that is all that I will say is vital. I will also say that adding more than this to what we consider vital is a problem. Many would like to do so. Many of us find certain doctrinal positions so appalling that we want to say that those who hold them could not possibly be saved. Beware of the Galatian error. Paul told some that receipt of circumcision would make "Christ of no benefit to" them. Of course, circumcision itself does not drag us to Hell, but thinking it is necessary for salvation apparently can. There is nothing special about that particular addition to faith in Christ alone. Adding requirements of works or knowledge is the same error. So, in our haste to frighten those who disagree with us about the seriousness of their error, let us not rush headlong into a false doctrine on salvation. Trust in the God-man to save us is what we need to save us.
Ed
Return Home