The Biblical Gospel Which is the Only Way of Salvation
The only way of salvation from eternal condemnation in hell is the Biblical gospel which teaches that we are all horrible sinners so we must look to God’s mercy found in Jesus Christ alone. We need Jesus Christ’s righteousness to be applied to our account; God will accept nothing but His perfect righteousness. Justification (ie, God’s declaration that the elect sinner is not condemned before His holy eyes, but instead is accounted righteous in His eyes) is hence on the basis of Christ’s imputed righteousness to the elect believer and not His infused righteousness in the believer. Justification should not be mixed up with sanctification (ie, God’s progressive infusion of righteousness in the elect believer), which is a necessary fruit of justification but is not to be mixed up with justification. As we read in Romans chapters 3 and 4:
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
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4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.