These 15 points are good.
The problem with John Piper’s Calvinistic teaching is that he believes all born-again Christians will walk this way or they weren’t truly born-again. See:
The truth: God has sovereignly chosen to give us free will. Those who are born-again don’t have to obey. God will always enable us to, but we must decide to walk according to the Spirit or according to the flesh. Romans 8:
13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
The main thing is to maintain a clean conscience before God and men so we’ll have faith to enter when we see Jesus face to Face, like Paul did:
“..I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:16).
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From: desiringgod.org
Article by John Piper
Letter to a Friend Concerning the So-Called “Lordship Salvation”
[…]
Appendix: Texts That Point to the Necessity of Yielding to Christ as Lord in Order to Inherit Eternal Life
NOTE: None of these texts means that salvation can be earned by works of the law [old covenant – editor]. Salvation is by grace through faith; it does not come from ourselves; it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). What these texts teach is that the faith which justifies also sanctifies (Acts 15:9). All the obedience of believers necessary for final salvation is obedience that comes from faith (1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:11; Gal. 5:6; Hebrews 10:35-36; 11:8). If it does not come from faith it is legalism and gains nothing but deeper condemnation (Romans 9:32). What is being taught in all these texts is this: “By my works I will show you my faith . . . faith apart from works is barren . . . faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:18, 20, 26). Salvation is by grace through faith. But saving faith is no fruitless mental assent to gospel facts. These texts point to the truth that the faith that saves is a feeding on Jesus with such satisfaction that we are gradually [do these texts say ‘gradually?’ If we choose to willfully, knowingly sin we’re not abiding in Christ, doing what these texts say – editor] weaned away from the enslaving addictions to sin (John 6:35; Hebrews 11:24-26).
The Necessity of Doing Good
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 who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you evildoers.’”
John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of the life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.”
Romans 2:6-10, “For He will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience and well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality He will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.”
Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”
1 Timothy 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
James 2:17,26, “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead . . . For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.”
The Necessity of Obedience
Matthew 7:24-27, “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rains fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rains fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 12:48-50, “But Jesus replied to the man who told him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.’“
Luke 13:6-9, “And He told this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none and he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I found none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, until I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good but if not you can cut it down.’“
Luke 8:11-15, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the Word receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit is not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
John 14:15, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”
John 15:2, “Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.”
Romans 6:12,14, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions . . . For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither the immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor sexual perverts nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor revilers nor robbers will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Hebrews 5:8-9, “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered; and being made perfect He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Hebrews 10:36, “For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.”
1 John 2:4, “He who says ‘I know Him,’ but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (See 1 John 3:1-10.)
1 John 2:17, “And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
The Necessity of Holiness
2 Thessalonians 2:13, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the Truth.”
Hebrews 12:14, “Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
The Necessity to Forgive Others
Matthew 6:12-15, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Note: The eternal significance of this forgiveness in Matthew 6 is made plain in the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18. Jesus is not merely talking about losing fellowship. He is talking about losing God if we go on through life with an unforgiving spirit.
Matthew 18:32-35, “Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The Necessity Not to Live According to the Flesh
Romans 8:12-14, “So then, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, haughty spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not enter the Kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:24, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 6:8, “For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
The Necessity of Being Free From the Love of Money
Luke 14:25-33, “Now great multitudes accompanied Him; and He turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple . . . so therefore whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.’“
Luke 18:18-22, “And the ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’” And he said, ‘All these I have observed from my youth.’ And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.’“
The Necessity of Love to Christ and God
Matthew 10:37-39, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 24:12-13, “And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s lovewill grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
John 8:42, “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God.’“
Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
1 Corinthians 2:9-10, “As it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him,’ God has revealed to us through the Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 8:3, “But if one loves God, one is known by Him.”
1 Corinthians 16:22, “If anyone does not love the Lord let him be accursed.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, “The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish because they refuse to love the truth and so to be saved.”
2 Timothy 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 2:5, “Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?”
1 Peter 1:8, “Without having seen Him you love Him; though you do not now see Him you believe in Him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.”
1 Peter 2:7, “To you, therefore, who believe, he is precious.
1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.”
The Necessity to Love Others
Matthew 25:40-46, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those at His left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Luke 10:25-28, “And behold a lawyer stood up to put Him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law, how do you read?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered right; do this, and you will live.’“
Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.”
1 Peter 3:9, “Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling’; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we have loved the brethren. He who does not love remains in death.”
1 John 4:8, 20, “He who does not love does not know God; for God is love . . . . If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
The Necessity to Love the Truth
2 Thessalonians 2:10, “[They] are to perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
The Necessity of Being Childlike
Matthew 18:2-3, “And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’”
The Necessity to Bridle the Tongue
James 1:26, “If any one thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is vain.”
The Necessity of Perseverance
Mark 13:13, “You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Luke 9:62, “Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.’“
1 Corinthians 15:1-2, “Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast—unless you believed in vain.”
Colossians 1:21-23, “And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His own death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel, which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
2 Timothy 2:11-12, “This saying is sure: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
Hebrews 3:6, “Christ was faithful over God’s house as a Son. And we are His house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope.”
Hebrews 3:12-14, “Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have shared in Christ, if we hold our first confidence to the end.”
Hebrews 6:11-12, “We desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Hebrews 10:36, “For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.”
The Necessity of Walking in the Light
1 John 1:7, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
The Necessity of Repentance
Luke 3:3, John the Baptist “went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’“
Luke 3:8, “Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham.”
Luke 5:32, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 13:1-3, “There were some present at that very time who told Him of Galileans whose blood Pilot had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’”
Luke 15:7, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 24:46-47, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Acts 3:19, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Acts 5:31, “God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 11:18, “When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also, God has granted repentance unto life.’“
Acts 20:21, “Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Necessity of Warfare Vigilance
1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few.”
Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
Hebrews 3:12-14, “Take care brethren lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if we hold our first confidence to the end.”
Hebrews 12:14, “Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air, but I pommel my body, and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
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