Practically everyday, I hear someone say, “Yes, but it is not a salvation issue…”

People study and discuss scripture all the time.  That’s a good thing, right?  Iron sharpens iron.
Unfortunately, agreement is not always common.
That makes for even better discussion, as many ideas get to be heard and evaluated. Test them against scripture and pray about it.
This is a good thing, so long as discussion does not devolve into argument, which then devolves into disrespect.  Love your neighbor as yourself, even if they have a different idea than you do.  You can disagree and still be kind [even if they are dead wrong].

Most people on the earth do not agree with me.
So what?
Such is life…

But what about this phrase?
“It’s not a salvation issue.”

First of all, what criteria do we use to determine if something is a salvation issue or not?
Who gets to decide?
Who has that authority?
I’m pretty sure it isn’t me.

I checked my bible and there is not a list of salvation issues.
So now what?

Well, where does salvation come from?
First of all, let’s just go on the record and state that salvation is not a New Testament doctrine.  It is not a post death-burial-resurrection concept.  Of the 166 mentions of salvation in scripture, 122 of them are in the Old Testament.  Yes, that’s right. 73.5% of the salvation ideas in scripture are given to us in the Old Testament.
Let that sink in for a minute…

Peter and John were arrested by the Sanhedrin for teaching about Yeshua Messiah.
While under arrest for this “offense” Peter boldly proclaimed, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  [Acts 4]
In danger of being punished by death, Peter still proclaimed the truth of salvation!!  And he stated that salvation comes through no other than Yeshua Messiah.

We are told the exact same thing by Messiah in John 14:6
Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

OK, so we know there is only once source of salvation, right?
But how do we get salvation?

Ephesians 2:8-9
 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Salvation comes from His grace, which is given because of our faith.
It is a gift, not of something we have done…

If salvation comes by faith, how do we obtain faith?
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So let me get this straight – – – we hear the word of Yahuah, and it gives us faith, and because of our faith, we are given the gift of salvation through grace.

Interesting.
Getting back to the initial thought about salvation issues, what happens if we read the Word and do not believe it?
What happens if we reject the Word?
Maybe not all of it, but some of it?
What if we reject any of it?

I know many people who believe in the gospel message, but reject the Torah instructions which God said are forever, for all generations, never ending…
I know many people who believe in the gospel message, but reject the idea of Noah’s Flood. Or they reject the idea that giants existed, even though they are documented in scripture.
I know many people who believe in the gospel message, but reject the idea of Creation, instead believing the ‘science’ of evolution.
And on and on and on…

Does scripture say that believing or not believing the gospel message brings faith, which in turn brings salvation?

Nope.
Scripture says that hearing the word of Yahuah brings that faith.
Well, the account of Noah’s flood is in the Word of Yahuah.
We are told of giants in Genesis, Numbers, and many other books of the bible, which are the Word.
We are told in Genesis that Yahuah created man and woman from the dust of the earth, and breathed life and spirit into them.

What if we reject any of these ideas out of disbelief, or in other words, a lack of faith in the Word?
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Can we show a lack of faith, and therefore not please Yahuah, and still be granted salvation?
This is a good question. I don’t know the answer.

When the apostles asked about being greatest in the kingdom, Yeshua responded by telling them they must become like little children, otherwise they would not enter the kingdom.

Whoa, this is a harsh warning!!  Did you catch that?
—-They would not be allowed in the kingdom.—-
Here is the direct quote from Matthew 18:1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

How can we be humble like a child?
Small children do not know pride.
Small children do not know arrogance.
Small children believe without question.
Small children do not know hypocrisy.
Small children are not haughty.
Small children are humble and reliant.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

While this is a good discussion, I have not determined a tried and true method to determine if a topic or an issue is a salvation issue.
But we know this: salvation means we will be allowed in the kingdom, right?
Are there any scriptures that talk about being in the kingdom?
Or worse, not being in the kingdom?
Yes, there are.
OK, now we are getting somewhere!

Ecclesiastes 12:13 [by the wisest man to ever live]
 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
We are told that the duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. If this is “man’s all” then it must have something to do with our eternity, right?
Messiah tells us this in Revelation 22:14, speaking of who gets to be in His kingdom:
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
This is in reference to those who will get to enter the City of New Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21. This is the location of the Kingdom of heaven, after all is said and done.  This is the place you want to be!!  But according to Messiah, you have to keep the commandments in order to be able to enter.

Again in Revelation, we are told who the remnant of the church is at end times:
Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Yeshua Messiah.

Hmmm, in order to be part of His people, you have to keep the commandments of Yahuah and have His testimony.

Again in Revelation, we are told what criteria makes us the elect, a saint of the kingdom.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Does scripture ever tell us who will not be in the kingdom?
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

In this direct quote of Messiah, we are told those who practice lawlessness will not be welcomed.  Keep in mind, these are people who called on His name. These are people who prophesied in His name and cast out demons, and many wonders. These are not ordinary people. These are people who thought they were “in” the kingdom. But they were not, because of lawlessness.

So, that means speeding, and shoplifting, and paying your taxes right? Complying with the laws of the government, right?
Nope.
This is in reference to following the commands of God (hey wait, that is what Revelation said several times).

What is sin?
1John 3:4
⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

“Yeah, but that’s ok, because Messiah died on the cross to forgive my sins.  I have grace to cover my sins, my transgression of the law.”

Is that true?
Are you sure about that?
Yes, I agree that Messiah overcame the wages of sin, which are death, and He did so on our behalf.
But what happens after that?
What if we are granted forgiveness by grace, through faith, just as scripture has stated.
What happens after that, if you continue to sin, having known the truth?

Hebrews 10:26-31
The Just Live by Faith
²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hmmm…
So you are saying that continued sin, after coming to understand the truth of the gospel message, that there no longer remains a sacrifice for those willful sins?

No, I’m not saying that.
The bible is saying that.

So you are saying that instead of grace, we can expect judgement and fiery indignation?
No, I’m not saying that.
Scripture says that.

Well, now where do we stand?
What is a salvation issue, and what is not a salvation issue?
We can discuss many topics, agree on some, disagree on others.

But it would seem to me that keeping the commandments of Yahuah, and not sinning willfully is how we avoid salvation issues.
Let’s stop debating what is a salvation issue and what is not a salvation issue, and instead, learn what it means to keep the commandments which according to scripture, WILL KEEP US OUT OF THE KINGDOM.
Not my opinion, but simply what the bible says, sometimes direct quotes of our Messiah!!

Not because I say so, but because Messiah says so.
Again, Revelation 22:14 (those who get to be in the kingdom):
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.