You are asking one of the most important questions a person can ask about his personal religious beliefs and the use of religious texts to gain wisdom and insight into God's will for us. It has taken some time to respond because I wanted to find out for myself exactly what
the Bible
says about both salvation and eternity before I wrote back.
After reading in a Bible concordance that there are several different Hebraic
(Old Testament)
and Greek
(New Testament)
words meaning salvation, with each word having its own meaning, I realized that I was looking in the wrong place for an answer. I cannot answer your question. Every person must decide for himself how to understand sacred texts like the Bible, the Koran, and the Torah. That's not the easy answer, but I believe it's the true one.
How can we really know for sure whether the concepts and ideas presented to us in a sacred text absolutely represent God's ways and will for His people (including you and me) throughout over 3,000 years of history? Much depends on who or what you look to as a final authority in your life. Is there another human being who you believe fully represents God and is qualified to tell you what to think and believe? I have never found such a person except for the loving God I find through worship and prayer. He is my divine authority, the final word on what is true, beautiful and good in all of life. I can draw near to Him through the Bible or some other sacred text, but it is only when I finally close the book, close my eyes and enter into that wonderful, silent, sacred space in which I encounter my Loving Father that I understand how humanly inadequate any human person or book is compared with inner Spirit of Truth that leads the way. It is then that I truly understand myself as His daughter and every other person as my brother and sister. It is then I realize that God's creative power and His love and mercy for all His creatures is so great and so beyond the power of my comprehension, that any human attempt to fully understand eternity, infinity, salvation, or forgiveness is inadequate. In my opinion, neither the Bible or any other text touched by the human hand and heart can be the final word. They are great masterpieces of the written word, but they are not the Word, which leads when we choose to be led us by the Spirit of Truth.
As far as understanding salvation, I think that neither God nor Jesus wants us to judge either ourselves or other people. Jesus taught salvation through faith, not works, because only when we stop being concerned with our own status will we be able to truly minister to others (Luke 17:33). He tells us not to judge others, that we not be judged (Mt. 7:1). He also tells us that if we come to him in faith and as little children (meaning humble and hungry for truth), He will be our great Comforter and Savior (Luke 18:17).
Jason, I have answered your question as honestly as I can. I hope that you will write back if you have thoughts you'd like to share about this, of if you have had your own experience of being guided by the Spirit of Truth. I always love to hear the stories of others who are seeking to know and do the will of God. It is true, we are one worldwide family of God. Let us love one another as God loves us.
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