What does Christianity teach that we must do to be saved and go to heaven when we die? The doctrinal statement of the Free Will Baptist church states that repentance, faith, and believing in Christ are necessary. [1]
But the Free Will Baptist also state that salvation is not certain if one’s actions do not conform to God’s standard. At the end of time, we will be judged on the basis of what we have done, either good or evil and this judgment determines whether we go to heaven or hell. [2]
Both statements (the Free Will Baptists call them Chapters) accurately quote the Bible but there is an apparent contradiction. One Chapter says salvation is to be by faith in Jesus but other Chapter says the ultimate judgment of our eternal fate will be based on what we have done. Other Christian denominations have similar statements.
This blog and my book, The Renovation of Our Soul, have long noted this contradiction within the Christian doctrine of salvation. What is curious is that few are interested in discussing it.
____________________________________________________________
[1] A Treatise of the Faith and Practices of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc. Nashville, TN: The Executive Office NAFWB, Inc., 2016, Chapter IX, Repentance, Chapter X – Faith.
[2] Ibid., (Chapter XIII – Perseverance of the Saints, Chapter XXI – The Resurrection, and Chapter XXII – The Judgment and Retribution.
